Man machine interface for a 3D display system
Disclosed are methods and systems for displaying images, and for implementing volumetric user interfaces. One exemplary embodiment provides a system comprising: a light source; an image producing unit, which produces an image upon interaction with light approaching the image producing unit from the light source; an eyepiece; and a mirror, directing light from the image to a surface of the eyepiece, wherein the surface has a shape of a solid of revolution formed by revolving a planar curve at least 180° around an axis of revolution.
1. A method for implementing a floating-in-the-air user interface, comprising:
displaying a first image in a display space of a first floating-in-the-air display;
inserting a real object into the display space of the first floating-in-the-air display;
locating a location of the real object within the display space of the first floating-in-the-air display; and
providing the location as input to the floating-in-the-air user interface,
wherein locating the location further comprises locating a plurality of locations based, at least in part, on a plurality of different locations of a point on the real object at different times, and a path connecting the plurality of locations is displayed by the first floating-in-the-air display.
2. The method of claim 1 in which said first image is produced by computer generated holography.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the real object is a finger.
4. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:
displaying an actuator in the first image;
moving the real object to the actuator; and
interpreting the location input as the real object actuating the actuator.
5. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:
moving the location of the real object;
tracking the location of the real object over time;
interpreting the location input as the real object manipulating at least a part of the first image.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the real object further comprises a plurality of real objects, and using the locations of each of the real objects as location inputs for the floating-in-the-air user interface.
7. The method of claim 1 , and further comprising implementing, based, at least in part, on the plurality of locations, at least one function of the group of functions:
zooming in on the first image;
zooming out of the first image;
cropping the first image;
rotating the first image;
slicing the first image;
measuring a length within the first image;
measuring an area within the first image; and
measuring a volume within the first image.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the floating-in-the-air user interface is used to implement a Computer Aided Design (CAD) user interface.
9. The method of claim 1 in which said input further comprises at least one additional input selected from a group consisting of:
a voice command;
a mouse click;
a keyboard input; and
a button press.
10. The method of claim 1 , and further comprising marking the point so as to substantially contrast with a rest of the real object.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location comprises a line defined by a long axis of the real object.
12. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:
a second floating-in-the-air display displaying a second image at substantially the same time as the first floating-in-the-air display displays the first image.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first floating-in-the-air display displays an identical display as the second floating-in-the-air display.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein the first floating-in-the-air display and the second floating-in-the-air display are used to implement a remote medicine interaction between a first user of the first floating-in-the-air display and a second user of the second floating-in-the-air display.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein the first floating-in-the-air display and the second floating-in-the-air display are used to implement a whiteboard-like collaborative sharing between the first display and the second display.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein the first floating-in-the-air display and the second floating-in-the-air display are used to implement a game in which a first user of the first floating-in-the-air display and a second user of the second floating-in-the-air display participate.
17. A method for implementing a floating-in-the-air user interface, comprising:
displaying a first image in a display space of a first floating-in-the-air display;
inserting a real object into the display space of the first floating-in-the-air display;
locating a location of the real object within the display space of the first floating-in-the-air display; and
providing the location as input to the floating-in-the-air user interface,
wherein the location comprises two locations within the display space, and the two locations determine an axis of rotation in display space.
18. A user interface comprising:
a first floating-in-the-air display; and
a first input unit adapted to accept input from a first location within a first display space, the first display space being a volume within which objects are displayed by the first floating-in-the-air display;
a location determination unit adapted to locate a location of a point on a real object within the first display space,
wherein
the location determination unit is adapted to locate a plurality of locations based, at least in part, on a plurality of different locations of the point on the real object at different times;
the location determination unit is adapted to provide the plurality of locations to the first floating-in-the-air display; and
the first floating-in-the-air display is adapted to display a path connecting the plurality of locations.
19. The user interface of claim 18 , wherein the floating-in-the-air display is a volumetric display.
20. The user interface of claim 18 , wherein the floating-in-the-air display is a two-dimensional floating-in-the-air display.
21. The user interface of claim 18 , wherein the first floating-in-the-air display is adapted to display the first location.
22. The user interface of claim 21 , further comprising a second floating-in-the-air display, wherein the second floating-in-the-air display displays a scene at least partially identical to a scene displayed by the first floating-in-the-air display, including displaying the first location.
23. The user interface of claim 22 wherein the first floating-in-the-air display and the second floating-in-the-air display, are connected by a communication channel between the first floating-in-the-air display and the second floating-in-the-air display.
24. The user interface of claim 21 , further comprising a second floating-in-the-air display, wherein the second floating-in-the-air display displays a scene different from a scene displayed by the first floating-in-the-air display.
25. The user interface of claim 22 , and further comprising a second input unit adapted to accept input from a second location within a second display space, the second display space being a volume within which objects displayed by the second floating-in-the-air display appear.
26. The user interface of claim 18 wherein the first floating-in-the-air display is adapted to display an image within touching reach of a viewer.
27. The user interface of claim 18 , wherein the first floating-in-the-air display is adapted to provide sensory feedback based, at least in part, on the location and on what is being displayed in the location.