Implementation of a spatially multiplexed pixelated three-dimensional display by use of a holographic optical element array

A pixelated holographic stereogram is proposed and experimentally studied for the emulation of a spatially multiplexed composite three-dimensional (3-D) pixel display. With this approach, pixelated holograms are utilized to compose spatially multiplexed images. Each composite pixel in the holographic optical element array has a diffraction pattern that scatters light into predefined spatial directions. Under reconstruction, each pixel generates different intensities along a range of viewing angles. When the composite holographic pixel array is assembled, it has the capability to deliver 3-D effects. The technique, together with a novel recording scheme that is designed to synthesize a computerized 3-D display system based on this concept, is described in some detail.     

Characteristics of pixel arrangements in various rhombuses for full-parallax three-dimensional image generation

In full-parallax three-dimensional (3-D) imaging systems, the pixel cells often have the shape of a rhombus. Proper arrangement of pixels in these rhombic-shaped cells is important to maximize the quality of displayable 3-D images with a given display panel. The possible number of pixel arrangements in a rhombic cell with a definite dimension is found by considering the number of possible crossings between parallel line families forming the pixel cells, when the slopes of the lines are approximated by the ratio between the number of pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions. To make the rhombic cell have a uniquely defined pixel arrangement, its horizontal and vertical dimensions should be equal to the even multiple of the pixel dimension in their corresponding direction.     

Phase volume holographic optical components for high-brightness single-LCD projectors

Projection systems based on liquid-crystal displays (LCD's) offer new opportunities to display high-definition and large-size TV images. There are two types of LCD projector architectures: the 3-LCD architecture uses one LCD for each primary color, red, green, and blue, whereas a single-LCD configuration employs only one LCD paved with color filters. The single-LCD projector is simple and compact but suffers from a poor luminous efficiency because of losses in the color filters: each filter transmits only ~1/3 of the flux emitted by the lamp. To increase this optical efficiency, we propose to introduce volume holographic elements in the architecture of a single-LCD projector. Innovative systems are presented in which volume holographic elements realize the spatiochromatic illumination of the LCD. This illumination consists of selectively directing all the light that corresponds to a primary color, red, green, or blue, in the pixel addressed with the corresponding video composite signal and exploits the spectral selectivity and dispersion properties of volume holographic gratings and lenses. The two main advantages of such illumination are the suppression of the color filters and the recovery of the light lost in a classical architecture by absorption of the color filters. A complete luminous efficiency analysis of spatiochromatic illumination with volume holographic elements is presented. The achieved performances are compared with classical single-LCD projectors.     

Development of a real-time stereo TEM

We have developed a real-time stereo transmission electron microscope (TEM) with tilting illumination. This system allows us to observe three-dimensional (3-D) images directly with a video-rate of 1/30 s. The system comprises two electrostatic deflectors. The first, included in the illumination system, is able to illuminate a specimen at two oblique stereoscopic angles (left and right of the optical axis) up to ±2.3 °. The second deflector, in the imaging system, is used to correct the image separation caused by defocusing of the tilted illumination. These deflectors are operated in synchronization with an NTSC video signal output from a CCD camera to record left projections on odd fields and right projections on even fields. The time series of stereo pairs is transferred to a 3-D display that enables viewing of the 3-D images without special glasses. Real-time observation of ZnO particles demonstrated that 3-D images were clear even while moving the specimen. We applied this system to observing dislocations in an Al thin film.     

Video display terminal fringing magnetic field measurements

Possible occupational health or public health risks due to video display terminals (VDTs) are addressed. The authors note the errors of current jargon and correctly define the terms needed to describe the fringing magnetic flux density near any magnetically deflected, raster scan, cathode ray tube display. Theory and preliminary measurements have shown that the ELF AC electric field related to VDT display electronics is small, and the electromagnetic field strength at any frequency is truly negligible as an occupational health risk near any cathode ray tube display. Application of Maxwell's equations shows that the commonly used pickup coil responds to the derivative of magnetic flux density. The transducer needs an integrator to respond properly to the sawtooth waveforms of deflection fields. Correct measurements of VDT fringing magnetic fields are presented. A Swedish test method is briefly discussed. The conclusion from this work is strong. Theory and these measurements show there is not a verifiable occupational health risk from the fringing ELF electric or magnetic fields or any frequency electromagnetic fields near VDTs     

Polarization properties of a nematic liquid-crystal spatial light modulator for phase modulation

The polarization properties of a nematic zero-twist liquid-crystal (NLC) spatial light modulator (SLM) were studied. A large ratio between the liquid-crystal (LC) layer thickness and the pixel pitch combined with spatial variations in the applied electric field causes fringing fields between pixels. Depending on the LC alignment, the electric field components within the LC layer can result in a twist deformation. The produced inhomogeneous optical anisotropy affects the polarization of light propagating through the device. We experimentally examined polarization effects in different diffraction orders for both binary and blazed phase gratings. Simulations of the LC deformation together with finite-difference time-domain simulations for the optical propagation were used to calculate the corresponding far-field intensities. It was demonstrated how rigorous simulations of the NLC SLM properties can be used to understand the polarization features of different diffraction orders.     

A 2-D model that accounts for 3-D fringing in MEMS devices

MEMS devices such as comb drives and rotary drives are geometrically simple in that each of the components may be represented as a ‘sweep’ of a 2-D cross-section through a given height. This simplicity leads to simpler CAD requirements, geometric robustness, faster visualization, etc. Further, 3-D electrostatic simulation may be simplified to a 2-D problem over the cross-section if one neglects 3-D fringing. Such 2-D simulations provide a quick feedback to the designer on various parameters such as capacitance and electrostatic forces.However, as is well known, 3-D simulations cannot be avoided if fringing is significant, or when these devices need to be fully optimized. Such 3-D simulations unfortunately involve constructing the full 3-D geometry, volume/surface mesh, etc.In this paper, we demonstrate that one can pose and solve a 2-D problem that accounts for 3-D fringing. The proposed technique does not require the construction of the 3-D CAD model or surface/volume mesh. Instead, the 3-D electrostatics problem is collapsed to 2-D via a novel dimensional reduction method. Once the 2-D problem is solved, the full 3-D field and associated charges/forces can be recovered, as a post-processing step. The simplicity and computational efficiency of the technique lends itself well to parametric study and design optimization.     

Geometrical effects of positional errors in integral photography

The effects of misarrangement of elements (elemental lenses and elemental images) that construct three-dimensional (3-D) images in integral photography are presented. If the lens arrays of the capturing system and the display system are not aligned accurately, positional errors of elements may occur, causing the 3-D image to be reconstructed in an incorrect position. The relation between positional errors of elements and the reconstructed image is derived. As a result, it is shown that a 3-D image is separated by local positional errors and blurred by global positional errors. In both local and global positional errors, 3-D images reconstructed far from the lens array are greatly affected.     

A computer-assisted range image registration system for nuclearwaste cleanup

Building a three-dimensional (3-D) computer-based representation of a large or complex scene from a set of range images requires assembling the range images so that they are spatially registered. This paper will present a technique for finding a homogeneous transformation between a pair of range images while making use of both range and intensity information obtained using a laser range scanner. A demonstrated application featuring this technique consists of building a 3-D representation of a nuclear dumpsite, which then serves to help control a teleoperated nuclear waste remediation system     

Nematic liquid-crystal polarization gratings by modification of surface alignment

The stylus of an atomic force microscope is used to scribe preferred directions for liquid-crystal alignment on a polyimide-coated substrate. The opposing substrate that comprises the liquid-crystal cell is rubbed unidirectionally, resulting in a twisted nematic structure associated with each micrometer-sized pixel. The polarization of light entering from the uniformly rubbed substrate rotates with the nematic director by a different amount in each pixel, and each of the two emerging polarization eigenmodes interferes separately. Two examples are discussed: a square grating that allows only odd-order diffraction peaks and a grating that combines rotation with optical retardation to simulate a blazed grating for circularly polarized light. The gratings can be electrically switched if used with semitransparent electrodes.     

Scale-invariant recognition of three-dimensional objects by use of a quasi-correlator

A method of scale-invariant recognition of three-dimensional (3-D) objects is presented. Several images of the observed scene are recorded under white-light illumination from several different points of view and compressed into a single complex two-dimensional matrix. After filtering with a single scale-invariant filter, the resultant function is then coded into a computer-generated hologram (CGH). When this CGH is coherently illuminated, a correlation space is reconstructed in which light peaks indicate the existence and location of true targets in the tested 3-D scene. The light peaks are detectable for different sizes of the true objects, as long as they are within the invariance range of the filter. Experimental results in a complete electro-optical system are presented, and comparisons with other systems are investigated by use of computer simulation.     

基于介质上电润湿的透射式显示器件

提出了一种基于介质上电润湿效应的新型透射式显示单元结构,它由夹在带有透明电极的两块玻璃板间的有色油滴和水组成,其中一个电极表面涂覆有疏水性介质层．通过改变两个电极间的外加电势,能够调节油滴对介质层的覆盖面积,从而控制显示单元的“开”、“关”状态．制作了具有该种单元结构的4×3显示阵列样机,并给出了初步的测试结果．     

High-Frequency Fringing Fields Loss in Thick Rectangular and Round Wire Windings

This paper examines high-frequency losses of thick rectangular and round wire windings due to the fringing fields of an air-gap. It derives formulas for the losses and validates them numerically using the 2-D finite-element method (FEM). It also provides a procedure for including the effect of self and proximity fields in the loss calculations, using the principle of superposition and a one-dimensional model of self and proximity fields. The paper validates the latter procedure numerically, using a 2-D finite element model.      

Integral floating display systems for augmented reality

Novel integral floating three-dimensional (3D) display methods are proposed for implementing an augmented reality (AR) system. The 3D display for AR requires a long-range focus depth and a see-though property. A system that adopts a concave lens instead of a convex lens is proposed for realizing the integral floating system with a long working distance using a reduced pixel pitch of the elemental image. An investigation that reveals that the location of the central depth plane is restricted by the pixel pitch of the display device is presented. An optical see-through system using a convex half mirror is also proposed for providing 3D images with a proper accommodation response. The concepts of the proposed methods are explained and the validity of system is proved by the experimental results.     

Accommodative responses to stereoscopic three-dimensional display

Experimental examination of the accommodative responses to a stereoscopic 3-D display found that accommodation was elicited by convergence and moved to the stereoscopic distance of the 3-D image. Immediately after the depth of the target was changed, the magnitude of response was smaller than that for a real target, but when the subjects fixated on the 3-D images, the responses were in almost the same position as the position of 3-D images. Measurement of accommodation response time after the subjects viewed 3-D images showed an afteraffect on the far-to-near accommodation response. The results are discussed in terms of the mismatch of accommodation and convergence in stereoscopic 3-D images and of the interaction between accommodation and convergence in human eyes.     

All solution processed organic thin film transistor-backplane with printing technology for electrophoretic display

In this study, solution processes were developed for backplane using an organic thin film transistor (OTFT) as a driving device for an electrophoretic display (EPD) panel. The processes covered not only the key device of OTFTs but also interlayer and pixel electrodes. The various materials and printing processes were adopted to achieve the requirements of devices and functioning layers. The performance of OTFT of the backplane was sufficient to drive EPD sheet by producing a mobility of 0.12 cm2/v x sec and on/off current ratio of 10(5).     

A CMOS smart pixel for active 3-D vision applications

A CMOS smart pixel aimed at three-dimensional vision applications is introduced. It is suitable for scannerless laser ranging systems which employ the indirect time-of-flight measuring technique to recover distance information. The pixel is operated with trains of light pulses generated by an external source to illuminate the scene and contains most of the processing electronics to perform signal accumulation and noise reduction operations. The smart pixel architecture includes an N-well photodiode plus a self-biasing voltage amplifier and a switched-capacitor fully differential stage. The pixel is fabricated in standard CMOS 0.6 /spl mu/m technology and measures 180/spl times/160 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ (including the photodiode) with a fill factor of 14%. Electrooptical test results confirm the smart pixel functionality in a range of distance from 3 m to 9 m, and the accuracy achieved for preliminary distance measurements is 15 cm. Both the accuracy and the extension of the range of distance are supposed to be improved by reducing setup and environmental noise contributions that limit the pixel performance.     

An Internet-enabled image- and model-based virtual machining system

Virtual reality (VR) can be described as a four-dimensional (4-D) simulation of the real world, including the 3-D geometry space, 1-D time and the immersive or semi-immersive interaction interface. VR applications in mechanical-related research areas are becoming popular, e.g. virtual layout design, virtual prototyping, Internet-based virtual manufacturing, etc. However, research in VR applications is facing conflicting requirements for high rendering quality and near real-time interactivity. This paper represents an Internet-based virtual machining system that builds an integrated VR scene, which combines images and models, to overcome the above conflicts. This research is divided into three parts: first, image mosaics techniques are used to implement an Internet-based virtual workshop, which is an image-based virtual scene. The method of obtaining original sequential images, the principle of image mosaics to realize automatic seamless stitching, and projection transformation matrices to reconstruct a closed inward-facing space are presented. Secondly, a model-based virtual milling machine has been constructed with three detailed approaches: a category-based dynamic graph structure to support collision detection, a relation-oriented collision detection method to improve the efficiency of collision detection, and a dynamic modelling method to model a dynamic workpiece object. Finally, an Internet-based virtual milling system, which is the integration of the image-based virtual workshop and the model-based virtual CNC machine, is constructed using the reposition method to achieve visual consistency of the virtual objects and images. This system, which includes an integrated scene, combines the advantages of image-based VR and model-based VR. Consequently, this system has both high rendering quality and good real-time interactivity.     

GCPOF: a novel optical flow estimation algorithm leveraged by sparse ground control points

As a fundamental task in computer vision, optical flow estimation algorithms aim to establish dense pixel correspondences between image frames. This paper presents a novel optical flow estimation framework called GCPOF to handle large displacement and scale variations of scene objects, which appear frequently and pose great challenges in practice. Within the framework of GCPOF, large displacement and scale variations are captured by a new problem formulation leveraged by sparse ground control points. We present detailed theoretical derivation of the solution to the problem based on iterative reweighted least squares. Both qualitative and quantitative evaluations on synthetic and real images demonstrate that GCPOF is able to handle optical flow fields with large displacement and scale variations properly, and it runs significantly faster than relevant optical flow estimation methods.     

Recognition and classification of three-dimensional phase objects by digital Fresnel holography

We demonstrate the validity of wavelet-based processing for recognition and classification of three-dimensional phase objects. One Fresnel digital hologram of each of the three-dimensional (3-D) phase objects to be classified is recorded. The electronic holograms are processed digitally to permit 3-D object information to be retrieved as two-dimensional digital complex images. We use a Mexican-hat wavelet- matched filter (WMF) to enhance the correlation peak and discriminate between the objects. The WMF performs a wavelet transform (WT) to enhance the significant features of the images and the correlation of the WT coefficients thus obtained. We compare the feasibility of a WMF-based object classifier with the matched-filter-based classifier to classify our four 3-D phase objects in a 3-D scene into true or false classes with minimal error.