Dynamic magnetic bubble display system

Abstract

A dynamic pattern display and optical data processing system is provided including magnetic bubble devices which may be operated in real-time to produce a multi-tone (gray scale) two dimensional pattern. The display pattern is obtained by directing a light beam, which in certain applications may be linearly polarized, through a plurality of two-dimensional magnetic bubble arrays combined in a stack arrangement. Each magnetic bubble array constitutes a layer which differs in thickness from the other magnetic bubble layers. Each magnetic bubble array is also electronically driven by its own bubble propagating circuit which produces, in most embodiments, a different 'local transmissivity' which is determined by whether a bubble or an empty space is propagated to the location. The degree of transmitted intensity is an exponential function of the number of magnetic bubble layers, thus n layers provides 2.sup.n steps of transmitted intensity and a four layer structure provides a sixteen tone gray scale display. The electronic portion of the structure may be driven by signals representing mathematical expressions, patterns, manual inputs and the like to generate holograms, holographic complex filters, three-dimensional television pictures, spatial intensity filters, or ordinary two-dimensional multi-tone television pictures.