The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 22, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 03, 1997
Elizabeth Anne Downing, Palo Alto, CA (US);
3D Technology Laboratories, Inc., Mountain, CA (US);
Abstract
Three-dimensional objects are displayed in real time within a solid volume of optically transparent material by utilizing two infrared laser beams of different wavelengths to create visible light inside the display material via a two-photon upconversion process. Objects comprising points, lines, surfaces, and volumes are drawn by decomposing them into a set of small three-dimensional cells or 'voxels' located at specific coordinates inside the display medium. Individual voxels are addressed and activated by intersecting the two invisible infrared laser beams at the appropriate coordinate locations. The display material is tailored to provide efficient upconversion in the region of intersection, with minimal visible light generated outside this region by either one of the infrared beams alone. Typical media are rare-earth-doped glasses or crystals having low phonon energies. The general methods for selecting and producing the display material, along with a plurality of system configurations for addressing the display, are disclosed.