Three-Dimensional Space-Filling Display System

Our goal is to develop a display system capable of creating volumetric three-dimensional (3-D) moving images using readily available optics in combination with a high frame-rate ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) display which has been developed by Displaytech. Until now the multi-planar technique used to create the volumetric 3-D effect has been impractical due to the inadequate frame rate of standard video displays and due to the large amplitude, high frequency mechanical motion required of its optical elements. These two problems are overcome by Displaytech's new FLC-VLSI displays. (1) Displaytech's devices are presently capable of up to 10kHz frame rates. (2) Their small size allows the use of a novel optical system design which drastically reduces the amplitude of the required mechanical motion or eliminates the need to move the display altogether. Our proposed system does not require the viewer to wear head gear and is amenable to group viewing.Our Phase I objectives are: (1) investigate several approaches to achieving a scanned virtual image, and (2) construct a prototype system using a large refractive lens as the view port for the purpose of evaluating the quality of the 3-D effect. In Phase II the refractive lens view port will be replaced with significantly larger parabolic mirror to allow group viewing.