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 .- 11 . (canceled)
12 . The energy relay of claim 8 , 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;
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; and
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.
13 . The energy relay of claim 8 , 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;
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; and
wherein the first energy domain comprises electromagnetic energy, and the second energy domain comprises mechanical energy.
14 . The energy relay of claim 8 , 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;
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; and
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 third 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, the second engineered property comprises refractive index, and the third engineered property comprises acoustic impedance.
16 . 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 the second module comprises an arrangement of the third and fourth component engineered structures in a substantially random pattern in the transverse plane of the energy relay.
17 . The energy relay of claim 16 , 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.
18 . The energy relay of claim 17 , 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.
19 . The energy relay of claim 17 , 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.
20 . The energy relay of claim 16 , 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.
21 . The energy relay of claim 16 , wherein the first energy domain comprises electromagnetic energy, and the second energy domain comprises mechanical energy.
22 . The energy relay of claim 16 , 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 third engineered properties.
23 . The energy relay of claim 22 , wherein the first engineered property comprises cross-sectional size in the transverse dimension of the energy relay, the second engineered property comprises refractive index, and the third engineered property comprises acoustic impedance.
24 . The energy relay of claim 1 , 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, and the second module comprises an arrangement of the third and fourth component engineered structures in a substantially random pattern in the transverse plane of the energy relay.
25 . The energy relay of claim 24 , 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.
26 . The energy relay of claim 25 , 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.
27 . The energy relay of claim 25 , 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.
28 . The energy relay of claim 24 , 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.
29 . The energy relay of claim 24 , wherein the first energy domain comprises electromagnetic energy, and the second energy domain comprises mechanical energy.
30 . The energy relay of claim 24 , 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 third engineered properties.
31 . The energy relay of claim 30 , wherein the first engineered property comprises cross-sectional size in the transverse dimension of the energy relay, the second engineered property comprises one of refractive index or acoustic impedance, and the third engineered property comprises one of refractive index or acoustic impedance.
32 . 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.
33 - 40 . (canceled)
41 . The energy relay of claim 32 , 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; and wherein the first and second component engineered structures comprise substantially similar first engineered properties and substantially differing second engineered properties.
42 . The energy relay of claim 41 , 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.
43 . The energy relay of claim 41 , 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.
44 . The energy relay of claim 32 , 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; and 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.
45 . The energy relay of claim 32 , 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; and wherein the first energy domain comprises electromagnetic energy, and the second energy domain comprises mechanical energy.
46 . The energy relay of claim 32 , 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; and wherein the second energy domain comprises electrical energy.
47 . A method of forming an energy relay, the method comprising:
providing a first energy relay material configured to transport energy belonging to a first energy domain along a longitudinal plane of the energy relay;
forming one or more mechanical openings in the first energy relay material, the one or more mechanical openings being substantially oriented along the longitudinal plane;
integrating a second energy relay material into the one or more mechanical openings, the second energy relay material configured to transport energy belonging to a second energy domain, different than the first energy domain, along the longitudinal plane of the energy relay; and
wherein the energy relay has substantially higher transport efficiency in the longitudinal plane than in a transverse plane, normal to the longitudinal plane, for the first and second energy domains.
48 . The method of claim 47 , 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.
49 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the first energy domain comprises electromagnetic energy, and the second energy domain comprises acoustic mechanical energy.
50 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the second energy relay material is further configured to reflect energy belonging to the first energy domain, and the first energy relay material is further configured to reflect energy belonging to the second energy domain.
51 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the second energy relay material comprises air.
52 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the second energy relay material comprises flexible relay material.
53 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the first and second energy relay material both comprise substantially the same material.
54 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the first and second energy relay materials both comprise a plurality of one or more component engineered particles.
55 . A method for forming an energy relay comprising:
providing a plurality of first and second energy relay materials configured to transport energy belonging to first and second energy domains, respectively, along a longitudinal plane of the energy relay;
arranging the plurality of first and second energy relay materials in a pattern in a transverse plane of the energy relay, normal to the longitudinal plane;
processing the arrangement of first and second energy relay materials into a fused structure while maintaining the substantially non-random pattern of first and second energy relay materials in the transverse plane of the energy relay; and
wherein the energy relay has substantially higher energy transport efficiency in the longitudinal plane than in the transverse plane.
56 . The method of claim 55 , wherein processing comprises performing at least one of the following steps:
applying a compressive force to the arrangement,
applying heat to the arrangement;
applying cooling to the arrangement; and
performing a chemical reaction on the arrangement.
57 . The method of claim 55 , 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.
58 . The method of claim 55 , wherein the first energy domain comprises electromagnetic energy, and the second energy domain comprises mechanical energy.
59 . The method of claim 55 , wherein the second energy relay material is further configured to reflect energy belonging to the first energy domain, and the first energy relay material is further configured to reflect energy belonging to the second energy domain.
60 . The method of claim 55 , wherein the second energy relay material comprises air.
61 . The method of claim 55 , wherein at least the first or second energy relay material comprises flexible relay material.
62 . The method of claim 55 , wherein the first and second energy relay materials both comprise one or more component engineered structures.
63 . The method of claim 62 , wherein the first energy relay material comprises first and second component engineered structures configured to relay energy of the first energy domain, and the second energy relay material comprises third and fourth component engineered structures configured to relay energy of the second energy domain.
64 . The method of claim 55 , further comprising accommodating the arrangement of first and second energy relay materials in a constrained space prior to forming the energy relay.
65 . An energy-directing system comprising:
an energy relay device comprising first and second energy relay materials, the first energy relay materials are configured to transport energy belonging to a first energy domain, and the second energy relay materials are configured to transport energy belonging to a second energy domain, different from the first energy domain;
wherein the energy relay device 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 forming a plurality of first energy locations of the first energy domain and a plurality of second energy locations of the second energy domain along the first surface; and
the energy-directing system further comprising an array of waveguides configured to direct energy to or from the pluralities of first and second energy locations.
66 . The system of claim 65 , wherein a first plurality of waveguides of the array of waveguides are configured to direct energy to and from first energy locations, and a second plurality of waveguides of the array of waveguides are configured to direct energy to and from second energy locations.
67 . The system of claim 66 , wherein the first plurality of waveguides are located adjacent to first energy locations, and the second plurality of waveguides are located adjacent to second energy locations.
68 . The system of claim 65 , wherein a first plurality of waveguides are configured to direct energy to and from the plurality of first energy locations.
69 . The system of claim 65 , wherein the first and second energy domains are substantially the same, and wherein each waveguide of the array of waveguides directs energy to and from a plurality of both first and second energy locations.
70 . The system of claim 69 , wherein the pluralities of first energy locations are energy sensing locations, and the plurality of second energy locations are energy source locations.
71 . The system of claim 65 , wherein each waveguide is associated with a set of energy locations, and is configured to direct energy to or from an energy location of the set of energy locations along a propagation path which is determined at least in part by the energy location of the set of energy locations, the propagation path being defined by two angular coordinates, and each waveguide being defined by two spatial coordinates, whereby the two spatial coordinates and two angular coordinates combine to form a 4D coordinate; and
wherein the 4D coordinates of each propagation path for each waveguide of the array of waveguides are described by a 4D energy-field function.
72 . The system of claim 71 , wherein the first and second energy domains are substantially the same; and
wherein a set of waveguides of the array of waveguides is configured to direct energy to and from both first and second energy locations.
73 . The system of claim 71 , wherein the array of waveguides comprises a set of first waveguides and a set of second waveguides, the set of first waveguides configured to direct energy of the first energy domain to and from a set of the first energy locations, and the set of second waveguides configured to direct energy of the second energy domain to and from a set of the second energy locations.
74 . The system of claim 73 , wherein the array of waveguides comprises a third set of waveguides, the third set of waveguides configured to direct energy of a third energy domain, different from the first and second energy domains, to and from a third set of energy locations along the first surface.
75 . The system of claim 73 , wherein the first set of waveguides directs energy of the first energy domain from the plurality of first energy locations through the first set of waveguides along propagation paths described by a first 4D energy-field function, and the second set of waveguides directs energy of the second energy domain along propagation paths described by a second 4D energy-field function through the second set of waveguides to the plurality of second energy locations.
76 . The system of claim 75 , wherein the first energy domain is electromagnetic energy, and the second energy domain is mechanical energy in the form of sound waves.
77 . The system of claim 75 , wherein the first energy domain is mechanical energy in the form of sound waves, and the second energy domain is electromagnetic energy.
78 . The system of claim 75 , wherein both the first and second energy domains are either electromagnetic energy or mechanical energy in the form of sound waves.
79 . The system of claim 75 , wherein energy of the first energy domain is provided at a plurality of energy devices along the second surface and relayed along the first plurality of propagation paths to the plurality of first locations along the first surface, and energy of the second energy domain is relayed from the plurality of second locations along the first surface along the second plurality of propagation paths to a plurality of energy sensing devices at the third surface.
80 . The system of claim 65 wherein regions of the first surface comprising first energy relay materials are addressed by the array of waveguides, and regions of the first surface comprising second energy relay materials are not addressed by the array of waveguides.
81 . The system of claim 65 ,wherein the energy-directing system comprises a plurality of energy relay devices, the first surfaces of the plurality of energy relay devices arranged in a singular seamless energy surface, such that a separation between first surfaces of the plurality of energy relay devices is substantially less than the minimum perceptible contour as defined by the visual acuity of a human eye having 20/40 vision at a distance that is the lesser of a width of the singular seamless energy surface, or a length of the singular seamless energy surface, from the singular seamless energy surface.
82 . The system of claim 81 , wherein the plurality of energy relay devices comprise an energy source side comprising the second and third surfaces, and a display side comprising the first surface, the first energy relay materials being configured to direct energy along the first plurality of energy propagation paths from the source side to the display side, and the second energy relay materials being configured to direct energy along the second plurality of energy propagation paths from the display side to the source side.
83 . The system of claim 82 , wherein each waveguide of the array of waveguides is configured to direct energy of the first domain along the first plurality of propagation paths relayed from the source side to the display side, and to direct energy of the second domain along the second plurality of propagation paths relayed from the display side to the source side.
84 . The system of claim 82 , wherein the second and third surfaces of each of the plurality of energy relay devices are interleaved along a common surface such that the first and second pluralities of propagation paths are interleaved along the common surface.
85 .- 99 . (canceled)
100 . An energy relay comprising:
a plurality of modules assembled in a structure, each module comprising first component engineered structures and second component engineered structures;
wherein each module in the structure 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;
wherein the first and second component engineered structures are configured to cooperate to transport energy along a longitudinal plane that is normal to the transverse plane;
the energy relay having substantially higher energy transport efficiency in the longitudinal plane than in the transverse plane.
101 . The energy relay of claim 100 , wherein both the first and second component engineered structures are configured to transport at least 10% of the energy transported along the longitudinal plane.
102 . The energy relay of claim 100 , wherein both the first and second component engineered structures are configured to transport energy through means other than internal reflection.
103 . The energy relay of claim 100 , further comprising a third component engineered structure.
104 . The energy relay of claim 100 , wherein the plurality of modules are periodically distributed across the transverse plane of the energy relay.
105 . The energy relay of claim 100 , further wherein the substantially non-random pattern of first and second component engineered structures in the transverse plane of the energy relay comprises a transverse distortion of the substantially non-random pattern.
106 . The energy relay of claim 100 , wherein the energy relay includes a first surface and a second surface, and wherein energy propagating between the first surface and the second surface travels along a path that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal plane.