Optical: systems and elements – Holographic system or element – For reconstructing image
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-19
2001-02-27
Chang, Audrey (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Holographic system or element
For reconstructing image
C359S022000, C359S023000, C359S024000, C359S009000, C359S033000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195184
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to three-dimensional (3-D), hologrammetric display of objects (photographed or reconstituted by computer graphics) in a display matrix such that a dynamic scene can be viewed from any angle in the x, y or z axes. The invention relates more specifically to the display of 3-D map products for strategic or tactical planning to enhance the ability of commanders and their support staff to understand and exchange command and control information; particularly with respect to Battlefield Visualization.
BACKGROUND ART
Prior to the present invention, viewers of (so called) three-dimensional (3-D) holograms were required to view the reflected image(s) within the line-of-sight range of a holographic projection plate. If the viewer's eyes were moved out of the narrow range of the reflected images, the image would “disappear”. In essence, the viewer's eyes were the “display medium” for the hologrammetric images.
Real time, 3-D image display has been the focus of many development efforts. However, the lack of an ideal display medium and apparatus has been the primary limiting factor for obtaining a practical system. For example, conventional holograms (e.g. dichromated gelatin hologram) are able to display a real or virtual 3-D image with only a limited perspective angle. A 3-D image could also be viewed by projecting polarization-encoded stereo images on a large screen or TV monitor. However, the fact that viewer has to wear polarizing goggles, with a narrow field of view, severely limits its visualization applications. Recently, a 3-D image display technique using a laser scanner and rotation screen has been developed (Texas Instrument). In operation, a scanning laser beam is synchronized with a 3-D rotating diffusive screen to display a time-multiplexed 3-D image. The volume of this displayed image is limited due to the need of spinning a large screen at a high speed.
A search of the prior art has resulted in the following patents of some relevance to the present invention:
4,402,927
von Dardel et al
4,610,863
Tewari et al
4,994,672
Cross et al
5,086,085
Pekala
5,111,313
Shires
5,119,214
Nishii et al
5,242,647
Poco
5,294,480
Mielke et al
5,347,644
Sedlmayr
5,400,155
Ueda et al
5,483,364
Ishimoto et al
5,561,537
Aritake et al
5,570,208
Kato et al
5,594,559
Sato et al
5,644,324
Maguire, Jr.
5,644,414
Kato et al
5,717,509
Kato et al
5,724,162
Garcia et al
5,739,812
Mochizuki et al
5,748,382
Maguire, Jr.
Of the foregoing, the following appear to be of greater relevance:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,644 to Sedimayr is directed to a three-dimensional image display device and systems and methods for implementation. The three-dimensional image display device has a projection screen
175
as shown in FIG.
5
. The projection screen display device has multiple layers of transparent material each with a unique coating. A beam of collimated white light
50
has the infrared energy removed and the resultant beam
55
is processed as shown in
FIG. 4
by splitting the beam, filtering it, and passing it through a liquid crystal device acting as a PEMFVORFD, a programmable electromagnetic wave field orientation rotating device. The coating on the various layers
200
,
202
,
204
. . . of the display device each is reflective to an electric field vector that has an orientation at a specific angle. With the beam passing through the transparent layers, the selective reflection of the layers provides a solid image for display.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,313 to Shires is directed to a real time electronically modulated cylindrical holographic auto stereoscope that can display a three-dimensional image over a 360 degree viewing area without using special glasses, the display being in real time from remotely gathered images. Eight laser diodes
15
each with a collimating lens
16
project a beam
20
through a common cylindrical lens
17
through a slit
18
and onto a cylindrical HOE (hologram optical element)
10
. The HOE has eight raster scan tracks
11
, each track having thousands of contiguous holograms. The laser beams
20
fall on subsequent HRS holograms as the HOE is rotated with the beam being diffracted at different pre-defined angles. The beam then defines pixels on a holographic direction selective screen
13
. As the HOE
10
is spun on its axis of symmetry by motor
14
, different holograms on different portions of the corresponding HRS track
11
can be sequentially reconstructed by light beam
20
and illuminated on HDSS holograms
13
. A particular sequence of scanning pixels can vary greatly, as long as each horizontal viewing zone is presented with one complete unique raster scan. An audience around the HOE can see any given pixel as it is scanned horizontally, but it produces a vertical line image. Thus, vertical movement on the part of the viewer will not provide a new perspective.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,085 to Pekala is directed to processing Aerogels that are transparent, essentially colorless and exhibit continuous porosity and ultra fine cell size. The aqueous sol-gel polymerization of malamine with formaldehyde, followed by super-critical extraction leads to the formation of the new type of organic Aerogel. The formation followed by super-critical drying produces the improved Aerogels. The transparent silica Aerogel formed by this inventive process can be sheets or slabs that have substantially better optical and structural characteristics compared to conventional processing. The process of forming these Aerogels is the same except for an improved super-critical drying process using a solvent such as CO
2
. Using this drying process provides higher process yields, reduced processing time and structurally sound Aerogels.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,739,812 to Mochizuki et al is directed to a system for inputting image and commands using a three-dimensional mouse capable of generating in real-time a three-dimensional image. The three-dimensional system has a radiation source
10
with oscillator
11
and dipole antenna
13
, with a radiation controlling switch
15
. A two-dimensional microstrip antenna unit
16
with a plurality of elements
23
is capable of receiving the electromagnetic wave within the frequency range of 100 MHZ to 50 Ghz so as to select a frequency of the hologram. The size of the antenna array
16
is substantially equal to a size of a three-dimensional object, a space in which the transmitting dipole antenna
23
is moved. The signal from the antenna is sent to the hologram data collecting circuit
17
. A holder of the transmitting dipole antenna
13
movable in the three-dimensional directions defines the virtual space which is produced by the system. A command inputting unit
21
held by the hand of the operator inputs signals to the host computer. Host computer
20
responds to these signals as well as the data obtained from the transmitting dipole antenna
13
's movement. A stereoscopic unit
22
mounted on the head of the operator displays a point image, a line image and a three-dimensional image, in response to the data from the computer
20
.
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
By implementing the present invention, viewers would no longer be restricted to direct line-of-sight, hologram plate reflections, but would be able to view a projected 3-D hologram from any position in a room. In essence, a 3-D scene appears in free space, virtual reality. Further, images could be constructed from relatively static data (i.e., terrain features) with a dynamic data overlay (i.e. vehicle locations and unit movements).
A key application of this 3-D display technology in support of Battlespace Visualization, is its potential to accurately portray threat envelopes from enemy radars or other observing systems. Presently, radar threat and line-of-sight models identify areas that are illuminated or shadowed by terrain, but only for the 2-D case (i.e. height of the observer and potential target is fixed). A 3-D rendition will more fully portray the real impact of terrain shadowing upon multiple search fans, thereby revealing potential areas
Bryant Nevin A.
Chao Tien-Hsin
Mintz Frederick W.
Tsou Peter
Chang Audrey
Kusmiss John H.
The United States of America as represented by the Administrator
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