Static volumetric three-dimensional display based on an electric-field-controlled two-dimensional optical beam scanner.

Abstract

Using the quadratic electro-optic effect and the gradient of the composition ratio m [Nb/(Ta+Nb) in mol. %] in a potassium tantalate niobate crystal, we have designed an electric-field-controlled two-dimensional optical beam scanner with a wide wavelength range and fast response. This scanner is used to realize a volumetric display based on a two-frequency, two-step upconversion technique that is used to address the imaging volume. Use of appropriately designed imaging optics and custom-designed software to convert 2D renderings of volumetric images into control signals for the scanner along with appropriate infrared laser source selection allows efficient single-color image generation with a large viewing zone, without flicker and with natural depth cues. The resulting system has the potential to increase image resolution to nearly 61.5×109 with high scanning frequency and to expand to display three-color imagery.