Floating volumetric image formation using a dihedral corner reflector array device

Abstract

A volumetric display system using an optical imaging device consisting of numerous dihedral corner reflectors placed perpendicular to the surface of a metal plate is proposed. Image formation by the dihedral corner reflector array (DCRA) is free from distortion and focal length. In the proposed volumetric display system, a two-dimensional real image is moved by a mirror scanner to scan a three-dimensional (3D) space. Cross-sectional images of a 3D object are displayed in accordance with the position of the image plane. A volumetric image is observed as a stack of the cross-sectional images. The use of the DCRA brings compact system configuration and volumetric real image generation with very low distortion. An experimental volumetric display system including a DCRA, a galvanometer mirror, and a digital micro-mirror device was constructed to verify the proposed method. A volumetric image consisting of 1024×768×400 voxels was formed by the experimental system.

Review on tabletop true 3D display

“…As shown in Figure A, a flat display device is obliquely placed, and the image is shifted laterally successively by the mirror scanner to stack the 3D object in the imaging space. Expected to eliminate the distortion caused by the lens, a dihedral corner reflector array is adopted, as shown in Figure B . The precisely designed dihedral corner reflector array, which is a transmissive micromirror device for optical imaging, is arranged in the horizontal direction to reflect a real image of the light source.…”

“…A, Schematic diagram of the volumetric 3D display system using an inclined image plane and a mirror scanner and B, system structure of the floating volumetric 3D image formation using a dihedral corner reflector array device, rRefs …”

“…Expected to eliminate the distortion caused by the lens, a dihedral corner reflector array is adopted, as shown in Figure 12B. 80 The precisely designed dihedral corner reflector array, which is a transmissive micromirror device for optical imaging, 81 is arranged in the horizontal direction to reflect a real image of the light source. An image is projected onto a rear projection screen, and a galvanometric mirror scanner sweeps the image around 3D space.…”

P‐64: Micro Optics Array for Aerial Display System and its Imaging Performance Evaluation Method

“…Recently, micro optics arrays, such as a direct mirror array, a slit mirror array, and retro-reflector, have been developed to form aerial images [3][4][5].…”

Reflection-type Three-dimensional Screen using Retroreflector

“…In the 3D display system using a projector, the diffuser is adopted and modified for the various purposes to represent 3D images. The silver screen for the projection-type stereoscopic 3D display and the spinning screen for the volumetric 3D display are examples of the modified diffuser device for the 3D display system using projector [1][2][3][4]. An electro-floating 3D display system can be regarded as a kind of 3D image projection system assuming that a floating lens is a sort of projection lens with a large aperture [5][6][7].…”