SBIR Phase I: Scanning Automultiscopic 3-D Visualization System

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop a scanning automultiscopic 3-D visualization system. Visual information gathering and interpretation can be significantly improved by presenting information in three dimensions. Current 3-D systems have very limited field-of-view or require intrusive headgear with head tracking to emulate look-around, and suffer from inconsistencies between binocular convergence and eye accommodation. Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes a new class of 3-D displays based on proprietary liquid crystal scanner panels that time-sequentially project a large number of perspective images over a wide field-of-view into the view space in front of the display. POC will investigate the feasibility of the proposed concept through simulation, analysis, design, and experimentation, culminating in a proof-of-concept demonstration. The proposed automultiscopic 3-D visualization system, without glasses or head tracking equipment, will produce a correct 3-D image without convergence and accommodation inconsistencies, thus eliminating eye strain that has recently been identified as a potential cause of eye damage. The proposed research effort will result in a novel kind of high performance 3-D visualization system that overcomes the limitations of current stereoscopic display technologies. The 3-D system will be used for visualization of multidimensional scientific and medical data, for 3-D design, training and education of government and civilian personnel in a cooperative 3-D environment, and for telepresence and teleoperation