Physical Optics Corporation proposes a new real-time true 3D (volumetric) display, based on switchable binary optical elements (SBOEs). Here, a 2D array of surface printed binary optical elements (BOEs) are coated with a rapidly switchable liquid crystal layer covering the entire BOE array. A stack of such arrays form the volume medium of the display. Each BOE, which forms a volume pixel (voxel) element, can be rapidly switched on and off, while a 3 color (RGB) low power laser beam is scanned across the display volume. When in an unswitched state, the medium will be transparent, while in a switched state, the scanning laser beam will be diffracted into a cone shape from the switched voxel elements. In order to produce a 3D image, the scanned laser beam is modulated while scanned over the BOE plane, which is sequentially switched over the whole stack. Using a fast switching Ferroelectric liquid crystal and acoustic optic modulators and beam deflectors, a real-time, flicker-free 3D volume display can be achieved without any moving parts. This research will investigate the feasibility of the proposed concept and lay the groundwork for the development of a unique volumetric 3D display for commercial applications.
