Three dimensional virtual and augmented reality display system
A system may comprise a selectively transparent projection device for projecting an image toward an eye of a viewer from a projection device position in space relative to the eye of the viewer, the projection device being capable of assuming a substantially transparent state when no image is projected; an occlusion mask device coupled to the projection device and configured to selectively block light traveling toward the eye from one or more positions opposite of the projection device from the eye of the viewer in an occluding pattern correlated with the image projected by the projection device; and a zone plate diffraction patterning device interposed between the eye of the viewer and the projection device and configured to cause light from the projection device to pass through a diffraction pattern having a selectable geometry as it travels to the eye.
1. A method of presenting a three-dimensional image to a viewer, the method comprising:
selectively blocking background light from entering an eye of the viewer;
projecting an image from a selectively transparent projection device;
modifying the image by applying an accommodation treatment to the image; and
delivering a modified image to the eye of the viewer; and
wherein the selectively blocking background light comprises selectively blocking background light in an occluding pattern geometrically corresponding to the image projected from the selectively transparent projection device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selectively blocking background light further comprises creating an occluded region on at least one portion of a selectively transparent occlusion mask.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising correlating the selectively blocking background light with the projecting the image from the selectively transparent projection device.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the correlating comprises selectively controlling the occluded region to geometrically align with the image from the selectively transparent projection device.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a selectable diffraction geometry on at least a portion of a selectively transparent zone plate diffraction patterning device.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the applying the accommodation treatment further comprises passing the image from the selectively transparent projection device through the selectable diffraction geometry.
7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising correlating the projecting the image from the selectively transparent projection device and the displaying the selectable diffraction geometry on at least a portion of the selectively transparent zone plate diffraction patterning device.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the correlating comprises controlling the selectable diffraction geometry on at least a portion of the selectively transparent zone plate diffraction patterning device to geometrically align with the image from the selectively transparent projection device.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein applying an accommodation treatment to the image further comprises modifying the image from the selectively transparent projection device using the selectable diffraction geometry.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising redirecting light toward the eye of the viewer after projecting the image from a selectively transparent projection device.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein redirecting light toward the eye of the viewer further comprises accepting light into a waveguide at a first angle and outputting light at a second angle.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying an accommodation treatment to the image comprises displaying a series of selectable diffraction geometries on at least a portion of a selectively transparent zone plate diffraction patterning device at a selected frequency.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the selected frequency is 720 Hz.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein selectively blocking background light from entering an eye of the viewer further comprises displaying a blacked out image on an occluding mask display, the blacked out image geometrically correlating to the image from the selectively transparent projection device.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising emitting an initial image from an imaging module.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising transmitting the initial image from the imaging module to the selectively transparent projection device.
17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising receiving the initial image from the imaging module into the selectively transparent projection device.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the modified image to the eye of the viewer comprises delivering eye accommodation cues to the eye of the viewer.