Systems and methods for directing multiple 4D energy fields
Disclosed are systems and methods for manufacturing energy directing systems for directing energy of multiple energy domains. Energy relays and energy waveguides are disclosed for directing energy of multiple energy domains, including electromagnetic energy, acoustic energy, and haptic energy. Systems are disclosed for projecting and sensing 4D energy-fields comprising multiple energy domains.
1. An energy relay comprising:
a first module and a second module, the first module comprising an arrangement of first component engineered structures and second component engineered structures in a transverse plane of the energy relay, and the second module comprising an arrangement of third component engineered structures and fourth component engineered structures in the transverse plane of the energy relay;
wherein the first and second component engineered structures are both configured to transport energy belonging to a first energy domain along a longitudinal plane that is normal to the transverse plane, and the third and fourth component engineered structures are both configured to transport energy belonging to a second energy domain, different from the first energy domain, along the longitudinal plane that is normal to the transverse plane, the first module having substantially higher transport efficiency in the longitudinal plane than in the transverse plane for the first energy domain, and the second module having substantially higher transport efficiency in the longitudinal plane than in the transverse plane for the second energy domain.
2. The energy relay of claim 1 , wherein the energy relay comprises opposing first and second surfaces, the first and second surfaces having different surfaces areas, the energy relay configured to relay the first and second domains of energy along propagation paths extending through the first and second surfaces.
3. The energy relay of claim 2 , the energy relay further comprising sloped surfaces connecting edges of the first and second surfaces, wherein the energy relay applies either a magnification or a minification to energy of at least the first or second domain as it is relayed along respective propagation paths.
4. The energy relay of claim 1 , wherein the energy relay comprises at least a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface, the energy relay configured to relay energy of the first domain along a first plurality of energy propagation paths extending through the first and second surfaces, and to relay energy of the second domain along a second plurality of energy propagation paths extending through the first and third surfaces;
wherein the first and second pluralities of energy propagation paths are interleaved at the first surface.
5. The energy relay of claim 4 , wherein the second and third surfaces are coplanar and parallel to the first surface, and located in substantially different locations.
6. The energy relay of claim 4 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth component engineered structures comprise a flexibility allowing for the second and third surfaces to be in substantially different locations.
7. The energy relay of claim 4 , wherein the first and second pluralities of propagation paths are substantially nonparallel.
8. The energy relay of claim 1 , wherein the first module comprises an arrangement of the first and second component engineered structures in a substantially non-random pattern in a transverse plane of the energy relay; and
wherein the second module comprises an arrangement of the third and fourth component engineered structures in a substantially non-random pattern in the transverse plane of the energy relay.
9. The energy relay of claim 8 , wherein the first and second component engineered structures comprise substantially similar first engineered properties and substantially differing second engineered properties, and the third and fourth component engineered structures comprise substantially similar first engineered properties and substantially differing second engineered properties.
10. The energy relay of claim 9 , wherein the first engineered property comprises cross-sectional size in the transverse dimension of the energy relay, and the second engineered property comprises refractive index.
11. The energy relay of claim 9 , wherein the first engineered property comprises cross-sectional size in the transverse dimension of the energy relay, and the second engineered property comprises acoustic impedance.
12. An energy relay comprising:
a first module comprising an arrangement of first component engineered structures and second component engineered structures in a transverse plane of the energy relay; and
an energy relay material;
wherein the first module and the energy relay material are distributed across the transverse plane of the energy relay;
wherein the first and second component engineered structures are both configured to transport energy belonging to a first energy domain along a longitudinal plane that is normal to the transverse plane, and the energy relay material is configured to transport energy belonging to a second energy domain, different from the first energy domain, along the longitudinal plane that is normal to the transverse plane, the first module having substantially higher transport efficiency in the longitudinal plane than in the transverse plane for the first energy domain, and the energy relay material having substantially higher transport efficiency in the longitudinal plane than in the transverse plane for the second energy domain.
13. The energy relay of claim 12 , wherein the first module comprises an arrangement of the first and second component engineered structures in a substantially non-random pattern in a transverse plane of the energy relay.
14. The energy relay of claim 13 , wherein the first and second component engineered structures comprise substantially similar first engineered properties and substantially differing second engineered properties.
15. The energy relay of claim 14 , wherein the first engineered property comprises cross-sectional size in the transverse dimension of the energy relay, and the second engineered property comprises refractive index.
16. The energy relay of claim 14 , wherein the first engineered property comprises cross-sectional size in the transverse dimension of the energy relay, and the second engineered property comprises acoustic impedance.
17. The energy relay of claim 13 , wherein the first energy domain comprises a first band of the electromagnetic spectrum, and the second energy domain comprises a second band of the electromagnetic spectrum, at least a portion of the first and second bands not overlapping.
18. The energy relay of claim 13 , wherein the first energy domain comprises electromagnetic energy, and the second energy domain comprises mechanical energy.
19. The energy relay of claim 12 , wherein the first module comprises an arrangement of the first and second component engineered structures in a substantially random pattern in a transverse plane of the energy relay.