Laser-etched 3D volumetric display

1. A three-dimensional volumetric display comprising:

a substantially transparent scattering volume containing a three-dimensional array of scattering elements, the three-dimensional array of scattering elements arranged in a plurality of scattering planes tilted relative to the first face of the scattering volume; wherein the three-dimensional array comprises an array of voxel groups, each voxel group comprising a plurality of directional scattering elements positioned such that each voxel group scatters light omnidirectionally; wherein each scattering element is a cavity in the scattering volume formed via laser sub-surface engraving;

a light source that generates a two-dimensional image output comprising a set of image slices; wherein the image output is scattered by the scattering volume to create a three-dimensional volumetric image within the scattering volume; wherein each slice of set of image slices is incident upon a unique scattering plane; and

an onboard computer that receives a three-dimensional image dataset, determines a set of slice partitions of the three-dimensional image dataset according to scattering parameters of the scattering volume, and transforms the three-dimensional image dataset into the two-dimensional image output according to the slice partitions;

wherein the scattering parameters describe a spatial relationship between the light source and the array of scattering elements.

2. The volumetric display of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a digital mirror display.

3. The volumetric display of claim 1 , wherein the scattering elements are spherical cavities.

4. The volumetric display of claim 1 , wherein the scattering elements are coated with a metallic film.

5. A three-dimensional volumetric display comprising:

a light source that generates a two-dimensional image output; and

a substantially transparent scattering volume, coupled to the light source on a first face of the scattering volume, that scatters the image output of the light source in a direction perpendicular to the light axis of the output of the light source; wherein the scattering volume comprises a three-dimensional array of scattering elements, the three-dimensional array of scattering elements arranged in a plurality of scattering planes tilted relative to the first face of the scattering volume; wherein the scattering elements are three-dimensional cavities within the scattering volume;

wherein the image output comprises a set of image slices; each image slice of the set corresponding to a unique spatial partition of a three-dimensional image dataset; each image slice of the set projected onto a plane of the plurality of scattering planes.

6. The volumetric display of claim 5 , wherein the three-dimensional array of scattering elements is further arranged into voxel groups; wherein each voxel group comprises a plurality of scattering elements.

7. The volumetric display of claim 6 , wherein a minimum spacing between voxel groups is more than twice a maximum spacing between scattering elements of a same voxel group.

8. The volumetric display of claim 7 , wherein each voxel group comprises a first scattering element that scatters light directionally on a first axis, a second scattering element that scatters light directionally on a second axis, and a third scattering element that scatters light directionally on a third axis; wherein the first, second, and third axes are orthogonal.

9. The volumetric display of claim 8 , wherein the first scattering element is formed via sub-surface engraving on a first engraving axis normal to a second face of the scattering volume; wherein the second scattering element is formed via sub-surface engraving on a second engraving axis normal to a third face of the scattering volume; wherein the third scattering element is formed via sub-surface engraving on a third engraving axis normal to a fourth face of the scattering volume; wherein the second, third, and fourth faces of the scattering volume are orthogonal.

10. The volumetric display of claim 9 , wherein each voxel group scatters light omnidirectionally.

11. The volumetric display of claim 5 , wherein the scattering elements of each scattering plane are arranged in a regular rectangular grid.

12. The volumetric display of claim 5 , wherein the scattering elements of each scattering planes are arranged into lines; wherein the lines of a same scattering plane are parallel to each other and to the same scattering plane; wherein a spacing between lines is more than five times a spacing of scattering elements within a line.

13. The volumetric display of claim 12 , wherein the lines of a first scattering plane are not staggered relative to the lines of a second scattering plane.

14. The volumetric display of claim 12 , wherein the lines of a first scattering plane are staggered relative to the lines of a second scattering plane.

15. The volumetric display of claim 12 , wherein the scattering planes are periodically scattered.

16. The volumetric display of claim 5 , wherein the scattering volume comprises a set of planar and primarily solid scattering substrates and a fluid between the set of scattering substrates.

17. The volumetric display of claim 16 , wherein the fluid is index matched to an index of refraction of the scattering substrates.

18. The volumetric display of claim 16 , wherein the fluid is not index matched to the scattering substrates; wherein the fluid is a waveguide for light entering the first face of the scattering volume.

19. The volumetric display of claim 5 , further comprising an onboard computer; wherein the onboard computer determines a set of slice partitions of a three-dimensional image dataset according to scattering parameters of the scattering volume and transforms the three-dimensional image dataset into the two-dimensional image output according to the slice partitions.

20. The volumetric display of claim 19 , wherein the onboard computer performs multiplexing of virtual slices to simulate a higher depth resolution.