CN1751205A - Method and system for free-space imaging display and interface - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention comprises a method and system for displaying free-space, full color, high-resolution video or still images while simultaneously enabling the user to have real-time direct interaction with the visual images. The system comprises a self-generating means for creating a dynamic, non-solid particle cloud by ejecting atomized condensate present in the surrounding air, in a controlled fashion, into an invisible particle cloud. A projection system consisting of an image generating means and projection optics, projects an image onto the particle cloud. Any physical intrusion, occurring spatially within the image region, is captured by a detection system and the intrusion information is used to enable real-time user interaction in updating the image. This input/output (I/O) interface provides a display and computer link, permitting the user to select, translate and manipulate free-space floating visual information beyond the physical constraints of the device creating the image.

Description

Method and system for free-space imaging display and interface

technical field

The present invention relates to input/output interfaces for increased realism, to free-space imaging displays, environments, simulations and interactions.

Background technique

Current techniques attempt to exploit existing techniques to create visions of free-floating images through the manipulation of depth cues generated from 2D data. A few examples of these include stereoscopic imaging through shutters and polarizing glass, and autostereoscopic techniques consisting of lenticular screens directing light from conventional displays or real imaging devices using concave lens arrays. All of these techniques are limited by convergence and accommodation. This is caused by the difference between the original two-dimensional image from which the data was generated and the perceived spatial position. The result is eyestrain and fatigue for the user due to difficulty focusing on images that are perceived to appear but not actually present.

To address this visual limitation, images and their perceived locations must be spatially consistent. Existing approaches to address this limitation are by projecting onto invisible planes that essentially occupy the real spatially perceived image locations; however, prior art approaches result in poor image fidelity. Projection onto a non-solid screen was first proposed by Just in 1899 in Patent No. 620,592, where an image is projected onto a simple water screen, known in the art as water mist screen projection. Thereafter, general advances in image quality have been proposed, depending only on improving the laminar quality of the screen which is directly related to image quality. Also, in the prior art, these methods are limited to spatial image stabilization that is sharp, clear and based only on the dynamic properties of the screen, which inherently produces spatially relatively unstable images. The glossy screen fluctuations are also mixed with image distortion. Simply removing a discernible screen from the desirable goal of free-space imaging also sacrifices image fidelity and magnifies image aberrations. The inventive advances allow the device to be self-persisting, overcome the limitations of prior art image stability and fidelity, improve viewing angles, and have additional interactive capabilities.

One of the major drawbacks found in the prior art is the reliance on the availability of screen-creating materials. These devices depend on refillable storage tanks for screen generation materials, or have to be located in or around larger bodies of water, such as lakes, for ease of operation. This limits the operating time of equipment in closed environments, such as chambers that need to be refilled, or plumbing connections for constant operation. This consequence severely limits the ease of operation, portability and displacement of the device due to this reliance. In addition, some water mist projection systems alter the operating environment by supersaturating the ambient air with particles such as moisture or other injected gases. The constant stream of material being sprayed creates a hazardous environment that can cause electrical short circuits, as well as a potential health threat from mold growth in enclosed spaces such as indoors. Instead of using the dehumidification process disclosed in Kataoka's US Patent 5,270,752 and Ismo Rakkolainen's WAVE white paper to collect water vapor to create a projection surface screen, sheet performance is improved as a stand-alone separate aspirator. In particular, the present invention employs a condensation extraction method that acts as a self-persistent particle cloud production and delivery system.

Furthermore, in the prior art, while the projection plane can be optimized for uniformity, thickness, and planarity by improving flake performance, the inherent nature of dynamic systems, which naturally tend to be turbulent, will most likely affect the sharpness or sharpness of the overall image degree, and image spatial stability such as image vibration. These subtle changes, caused by common fluctuating airflow or other environmental conditions found in most indoor and outdoor environments, result in an unstable screen, which affects the image. Existing techniques attempt to address these image degradation and stabilization issues by relying on screen refinement to prevent flake-to-turbulent transitions. U.S. Patent 5,270,752 to Kataoka includes the improvement of minimizing boundary layer friction between the screen and the surrounding air by implementing a protective air curtain, thereby increasing the screen-wide spray distance while maintaining a relatively competitive Flaky thinner screen depth and uniform particle density. Although relatively sheet-like screens can be achieved with existing methods, the generation of spatially stable and sharp images is limited by relying solely on screen improvements.

Unlike projection onto a conventional physical screen with a single first reflective plane, the virtual projection screen medium exhibits a constant thickness, with the result that any imaged projection is visible throughout the full depth of the medium. Also, the image seen is clearest when viewed on-axis from directly in front. This is due to the alignment of identical images stacked through the depth of the screen directly behind each other and coaxial with respect to the observer. To produce highly visible images on invisible to near-invisible screens, high-intensity lighting is required to compensate for the low transmittance and reflectivity of screen clouds. The image seen is brightest and clearest when looking directly at the projected light source to compensate for the lower transmittance and reflectivity of the less dense, invisible to nearly invisible screen. This always causes viewing difficulties when having to stare at the light source. In the case of high particle count (high density) particle clouds, lower intensity lighting can compensate for the high reflectivity of the screen. This invariably causes the screen to visibly shift and requires a larger and more powerful condensation system to collect greater quantities of airborne particles.

Additional advancements described in this invention automatically monitor environmental conditions such as changes in humidity and ambient temperature to adjust cloud density, microenvironment, and projection parameters to minimize particle cloud screen visibility. The present invention improves screen invisibility and image contrast in multiple light source environments by projecting multiple beams that intersect at desired imaging locations to maximize illumination intensity and minimize individual illumination source intensity.

The prior art also creates a limited clear viewing zone that is coaxial or nearly coaxial. The projection source fan angle produces increasingly larger off-axis projections towards the edges of the image, where a slightly biased image is imaged on the front surface of the medium throughout the depth of the medium due to the line of the observer relative to the field of view, thus destroying the Image fidelity. Since the picture is imaged through the depth of the screen, the viewer not only sees the desired front surface image as with conventional screens, but also sees undesired illuminated particles over the entire depth of the screen, which results in blurring and blurring Image. In the present invention, the multi-source projection system provides continuous coaxial illumination, coaxially aligning the same image throughout the depth of the screen, thereby visually stabilizing the image and minimizing image vibration.

By employing a self-persistent particle cloud fabrication process, the present invention does not suffer from these aforementioned limitations, facilitates imaging projections, facilitates microenvironments for improved image fidelity, and includes additional interactive capabilities.

Contents of the invention

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for producing realistic high-fidelity multi-color, high-resolution free-space video or still images with interactive capabilities. The composite video or still images are clear, have a wide viewing angle, have additional user input interactivity, and can reproduce separate images viewing each from separate locations around the imaging location. All these functions of this augmented reality device are impossible to possess by existing water mist screen projections, existing displays or devices disclosed in the prior art.

The system includes self-generating means for producing dynamic, invisible or Nearly invisible non-solid particle clouds. A projection system consisting of image generating means and projection optics projects one or more images onto the particle cloud. The present invention projects static or dynamic images, text or information data onto the surface of an invisible or nearly invisible particle cloud screen. When a direct energy source illuminates this particle cloud, the particle cloud exhibits reflection, refraction and transmission properties for imaging purposes. A projection system comprising single or multiple projection sources illuminates a particle cloud in a controlled manner, wherein the particles or elementary particles in the particle cloud serve as the medium where the image is synthesized, wherein the controlled focusing and intersection of light produces spatially Addressable viewable 3D free-space lighting.

In addition, any physical disturbance that appears spatially in the particle cloud image area is captured by the detection system, such as the disturbance of finger movement, which can realize the update or interaction of information or images in real time. This input/output (I/O) interface provides a novel display and computer interface that allows users to select, translate, and manipulate visual information floating in free space without the physical constraints of the device that created the image.

The present invention provides a novel enhanced reality platform for displaying information that co-exist spatially as an overlay in the real physical world. The interactive non-solid free-floating nature of the image makes the display space physically insertable for efficient concurrent use between physical and "virtual" activities in multitasking situations, including for military planning, conferencing, and video Collaborative environments for games, and showcase displays for advertising and point-of-sale displays.

By utilizing non-flaky, semi-flaky and turbulent particle clouds, the present invention is independent from full-flaky screens in the prior art, and has obvious improvements over existing display screens to display clear images. The novel advantages of the microenvironment utilization method using multi-stage equalization chambers and baffles generate flat sheet-like airflows that reduce pressure gradients and boundary layer friction between the particle cloud and the surrounding environment. In addition, Electronic Environmental Management Control (EMC) reduces the density of the particle cloud by controlling the amount of particles generated and ejected in conjunction with the particle cloud exit velocity, thereby ensuring no near-invisible screens are visible. The delicate balance of particle cloud density and lighting intensity is not possible with existing technology, so clouds are either highly visible or too low density, resulting in overly bright images. Other advances in improved projection systems have improved viewing angle limitations inherent in the prior art, such as vibrations caused by turbulence in the screen. Furthermore, the self-contained and self-sustaining system of the present invention is capable of generating a constant particle cloud flow by condensing water vapor from the surrounding air, thereby enabling the system to operate independently without affecting the usual operating environment. Furthermore, the present invention employs interactive capabilities not found in the prior art.

The multiple projection sources of the present invention have the capability of producing multiple images; each separate image projected from a different source can be viewed from a different location. This allows separate images to be produced and viewed independently from the front and back of the display, for example, for video game situations where opposing players are able to view their respective "viewpoints" while also being able to view their opponent through the image. In addition, multi-source projection redundancy mitigates occlusions that would prevent image display, such as, in the prior art, a person standing between a projection source and a screen.

By projecting from only one side, the display can also act as a one-way privacy display, where the image is viewable from one side and nearly transparent from the other, which is useful for e.g. television, plasma or computer CRT and LCD monitors It is impossible to wait for traditional monitors. Changing the projected lighting intensity and cloud density can further reduce the transparency and opacity of the image, which is not available in the existing technology. Furthermore, since the image is not contained in a "physical box" that includes a front-view flat physical screen such as a traditional display, the image can be displayed on a variety of geometries that are not limited to flat surfaces. Furthermore, the size of the image is substantially larger than the size of the device generating the image, since the image is not confined within a physical enclosure such as a conventional LCD or CRT. Displays can also adopt varying geometries, producing particle cloud surfaces other than planar, such as cylindrical or curved. For these types of particle clouds, the optics are adjusted or corrected to compensate for the variable focus distance of the projection.

Since the displayed image is non-physical and thus unobtrusive, this technique has a wide range of applications. The imaged information could be displayed in the center of the room, where people or objects can be moved through the image, for teleconferencing, or could be used as a "virtual" heads-up display in a medical operating room without interfering with surgery. The system of the invention not only frees up space where traditional displays might be placed, but also, thanks to its variable opacity and multi-view capability, enables devices to be at the center of multiple parties to freely view, discuss and interact with images together with each other. The device can be hung from the ceiling, placed on the wall, on the floor, hidden in furniture such as a table, and can project from all directions and retract the image when not in use. The scaled down form allows portable devices such as PDAs and cell phones to have "virtually" large displays and interactive interfaces in physically small enclosures.

Description of drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the main components and processes of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows the optical characteristic of the ball lens of prior art, similar to single spherical cloud particle;

Figure 3 shows the polar angle illumination intensity for each projection source;

Figure 3a shows a side imaging projection embodiment;

Figure 3b shows a bilateral concurrent or reverse imaging projection embodiment;

Figure 3c shows a bilateral split imaging projection embodiment;

Figure 4 shows the positional optical properties of individual cloud particles in a multi-source projection setup;

Figure 5 shows the principle of multiple sources of light on a larger scale than appears in Figure 4;

Figure 6 shows the imaging clarity level of a single projection source;

Figure 7 shows the level of imaging clarity from multi-source projections;

Figure 8 shows the multi-projection source of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of an assembly of the present invention;

Figure 9a is a close-up view of a bulkhead vent used to create the mini-environment of the present invention;

Figure 9b is a schematic diagram of environmental management control processing;

Figure 10 shows a plan view of multi-source projection;

Figure 11 is an optional plan view of single-sided remote multi-source projection;

Figure 12 is an alternative plan view of a bilateral single multi-source projection;

Figure 13 shows a side view of the detection system of Figure 9;

Figure 14 is an axonometric view of the detection system of Figure 13; and

Figure 15 shows an example of an image captured from the inspection system; single click (translation) and double click (selection).

Detailed ways

The schematic diagram in Figure 1 shows the basic building blocks of the invention. The best mode of carrying out the invention is through heat pump extraction equipment (1), using solid state elements such as thermoelectric (TEC) modules, compressor based dehumidification systems or other means that create a thermal differential to cause condensation build up for subsequent collection, from Water vapor is extracted from the ambient air (22). The extraction device (1) can be detached from the main unit to a separate location, for example above the particle cloud (5). The extracted condensate is stored in a storage tank (2), which may include an external connection (34), for additional refilling or for operation without extraction of the device (1). sending the condensate to a particle cloud manufacturing system (3) to be described further in this document, which converts the condensate into fine particles by mechanical, acoustic, electronic or chemical means, or a combination of one or more means Cloud Matter (5). A particle cloud delivery system (4) ejects a fine particle cloud by locally rehumidifying the surrounding air (21), creating an invisible to nearly invisible particle cloud screen (5) contained within a controlled microenvironment (37) . An EMC system (18) including a controller (35) and sensors (36) adjusts the screen (5) density (number of particles per defined volume), velocity and other parameters of the particle cloud (5). The sensor (36) reads external environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity and ambient brightness, and sends them to the controller (35), which interprets the data and instructs the particle cloud manufacturing system (3) to adjust parameters, To ensure an effectively invisible to nearly invisible screen for imaging.

Signals originating from an external source (12), VCR, DVD, video game, computer or other video source pass through an optional scan converter (38) to the processing unit (6), which decodes the incoming video signal. For example, stored video data (13) contained in a hard disk, flash memory, optical or other storage device may be used as a source of content. A processing unit (6) receives these signals, interprets them and sends instructions to a graphics board (7), which generates video signals (8) which are sent to image generating means (9) to generate still or video images. The image generator (9) includes means for displaying still or video data for projection, which may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), digital light processing unit (DLP), organic light emitting diode (OLED), or a laser-based for directing or modulating light from any light source used to produce still or video images. The single image delivery optics (10) including telecentric projection optics may include adaptive anamorphic optics for focusing onto a non-linear screen such as a curved screen. In a simplified embodiment, components (38, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) may also be replaced by video projectors. Anamorphic optics and digital keystone correction can also be used to compensate for off-axis projection onto non-parallel planes.

In the preferred multi-source embodiment, the single projection source (9) includes a multiple transmission optical path (20) including a series of lenses, prisms, beam splitters, mirrors and Other optical components are needed, the "phantom" source is located around the perimeter of the device and repositions the projected beam onto the particle cloud (5). In an alternative embodiment of multiple image generation, multiple images are generated on a single image generator such as one projection unit or on multiple projection units (19) and utilize a single light transmission path (10) or utilize multiple transmission optics The multiple transmission paths of (20) locate, segment and reassemble projections on it. Compensate and correct image focus due to off-axis projection using optical or software-based means known in the art, or a combination of the two, including image quadrilateral distortion correction for one or more axes (i.e. , 4-point keystone) In all examples, directional projection illuminates the particle cloud (5), where the free-space image (11) appears to float in a protective microenvironment (37) in the surrounding air (21). The microenvironment (37) serves to improve the boundary layer performance between the particle cloud and the surrounding ambient air by creating a shielded air flow with a jet velocity similar to that of the particle cloud (5). The properties of the microenvironment (37) and particle cloud (5) can be continuously optimized to compensate for changing environmental conditions in order to minimize cloud visibility, as discussed in further detail below.

In an interactive embodiment, spatially co-located with the image (11) is an input detectable space (39), enabling the image to act as an input/output (I/O) device. A physical disturbance in the input detectable space (39) of the particle cloud (5), such as a user's finger, a spike or other external object, is recognized as an input command (14). This input is registered when an illumination source (16) having a specific wavelength, such as an infrared (IR) source, is directed at the detectable space to emphasize disturbances. Illumination includes reflecting light off objects in the defined detectable area through the use of laser line stripes, IR LEDs, conventional lamps, or the same source from image projections illuminating the detectable space. In its preferred embodiment, light divergently reflected from a user's finger or other input device (14) is captured by an optical sensor (15). The optical sensor or detector (15) may comprise a Charge Coupled Device (CCD), Complementary Metal Oxide Silicon (CMOS) sensor or similar type of detector or sensor capable of capturing image data.

The sensor (15) can operate at a finite or optimized sensitivity response approximately or equal to the wavelength of the illumination source (16) to filter out unwanted "noise". Light outside the frequency response bandwidth of the sensor is ignored or minimized so that background interference is reduced and only desired inputs are recognized (14). Coordinates that exist in the perturbed space illuminated by the illumination source correspond to similar two- or three-dimensional positions in a computer environment, such as in a graphical user interface (GUI), where the perturbed input (14) is used as a mouse cursor, similar to a virtual touch screen. Send highlighted coordinates captured by sensors to controller (17), read highlighted input data, and utilize blob recognition or gesture recognition software in processing unit (6) or controller (17) interpret. Thus, in the GUI, for example tracking software accompanied by mouse emulation software instructs the operating system or applications running on the processing unit (6) to update the image. Other variations of detection systems include the use of ultrasonic detection, proximity-based detection or radar-based detection, all capable of sensing location and translating information.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention operates only on a power source independent of the water source by generating its own particle cloud material. By passing ambient air through a heat pump, the air is cooled and dropped below the dew point where condensate can be removed and collected for cloud material. One method known in the art involves a dehumidification process whereby the compressor induces cooling and condensation of water vapor in the air through evaporative coils or fins used to lower the coil temperature as condensate rejects heat. Another variant involves the use of a series of solid-state Peltier TEC modules, such as a sandwich of two ceramic sheets "coupled" between small bismuth telluride (Bi ₂ Te ₃ ) arrays, capable of producing Collected condensate. Other variants include extracting elements from the surrounding air such as nitrogen or oxygen, among other gases, to create a supercooled gas or liquid by diffusion, and as a result, create a thermal gap to create a cooling cloud material. Another approach involves electrothermal energy conversion, such as used in fuel cell technology, involving two electrodes sandwiched around an electrolyte in which water and electric current are generated. Oxygen through one electrode and hydrogen through the other generate the electrical current to run the device, as well as water and heat for the cloud material, as by-products.

Particle cloud synthesis consists of a large number of individual condensation globules held by surface tension with an average diameter in the range of one to ten microns, too small to be visible to the viewer, but large enough to provide an illuminated cloud for imaging. Focused and controlled intensity of illumination onto the entire cloud enables a single sphere to act as a lens, coaxially transmitting and focusing the optical fiber at the highest density, whereby the brightest and clearest image is seen by viewers directly in front of the screen and projection source . In a multi-source embodiment, directing light from multiple sources onto the particle cloud ensures a clear image from all directions, providing continuous on-axis viewing. The on-axis imaging transmittance of the cloud screen coupled with multi-source projection ensures a clear image regardless of the position of the viewer and compensates for any aberrations caused by the turbulent breakdown of the cloud. Intersecting rays from multiple sources also maximize the illuminance at the desired image location by positioning the sum of illuminance from each projected source arriving at the same particle cloud imaging location. In this way, the illuminance outside the particle cloud is minimized on undesired surfaces, the same as found in the prior art, where the majority of the light passes through the screen and creates more light on surfaces other than the desired particle cloud. bright picture. Similarly, multi-source projection also minimizes the luminosity of individual projected sources, allowing the viewer to view directly on-axis without having a plethora of single high-intensity projected sources as in the prior art.

In alternative embodiments, the particle cloud material may include fluorescence emitting additives or doping solutions, using specific excitation sources to create up or down fluorescence transitions, using non-visual illumination sources to produce visible images. For example, soluble non-toxic additives injected into the cloud stream at any point in the process include rhodamine, or tracking dyes such as xanthates, each with Specific absorption spectrum excited by an excitation source. A three-color mixture of red, green, and blue visible-emitting dyes, each excited by a specific wavelength, produces a visible full-spectrum image. These additives have low absorption delay times and fluorescence lifetimes ranging from nanoseconds to microseconds, preventing blurred images on dynamically moving screens and yielding high fluorescence yields sufficient for imaging luminosity. An integrated or separate aspriator module collects the additives from the air and prevents these additive dyes from being scattered into the surrounding air.

In the prior art, lenticular screens have been used with which predetermined images are selectively orientated so that specific eyes or positions of a specific viewer can reproduce discrete images. Similarly, when the particle cloud screen of the present invention is illuminated with an intensity level lower than that which produces the internal refraction and reflection occurring within each sphere that scatters propagating light, the individual particle spheres act as small spheres performing optical properties similar to lens imaging. lens unit, and make the cloud work as a lens imaging system. This concept will be further explained in Figures 2-7.

Figure 2 shows the optical system of a single cloud particle, similar to the light refraction properties of a spherical lens, where D is the diameter of an approximately perfect sphere of the particle naturally formed by surface tension. When it enters the sphere (30), it diffracts the input light along the optical path (E) with resolution (d), and then focuses on the point (31) of the coaxial (E), which is located at the coaxial maximum At intensity ( 31 ), the distance from the center (P) of the particle is the EFL (Effective Focus Length). This process is repeated on adjacent particles throughout the cloud depth, and continues on-axis until finally reaching the viewer's position (110).

On-axis illumination intensity is determined from source intensity, cloud density, and cloud depth expressed in polar coordinates in Figure 3, with maximum intensity and clarity at on-axis zero degrees (128) ahead and minimum at 180 degrees rearward (129). These imaging properties arise when the illumination intensity is below the saturation illumination level of the particle cloud, which produces omnidirectional specular scattering to undesired neighboring particles in the cloud that does not necessarily receive the undesired illumination. Thus, the floating image acting as a privacy one-way screen can be clearly seen from the front of the screen with a rear projection setup, while invisible to nearly invisible from the rear (129). Thus, when viewed from the rear, the cloud provides a vacant surface for projecting alternative or reversed images, independent double-sided images for viewing from the rear or the front, which makes each split image the most visible.

Figure 3a shows a side projection embodiment where a viewer (181) views a projected image "A" projected from one or more sources (182) onto a particle cloud (183). A viewer at position (184) would not be able to view image "A", or at most would be able to see a nearly invisible reverse image. Figure 3b shows image "A" projected onto the particle cloud (187) from both sides (185, 186), where viewers at positions (188, 189) are able to see image "A". One or more projection sources on each side can reverse the image so, for example, text can be read from left to right from both sides, or the images can correspond so that on one side the image can be reversed. Figure 3c shows an embodiment of two-way viewing, where one or more projection sources (190) project image "A" while one or more projection sources (191) simultaneously project discrete image "B" onto the particle cloud (192 )superior. A viewer at (193) is able to view image "B" while a viewer (194) views image "A".

Figure 4 shows multi-source projection at angle theta (9) between projection sources (122, 123) and particles (195), providing an on-axis to near-on-axis image independent of viewer position, whereby Clear images are guaranteed. For a viewer at position (121), the projected image from projection source (123) along path (145) is clearly visible, while projected image rays (144, 145) originating from projection source (122) projected at angle theta produce The sum of the intensities of each source. When the distance _L is equal to or approximates the binocular distance between the user's left and right eyes, and the attenuation of each projection source is large enough so that only the desired projection source is viewable for the desired left or right eye , then discrete stereoscopic images can be projected at angle theta for simulated 3D imaging.

Figure 5 shows an overall view presenting to a viewer two identical or separate images projected from separate source locations. The light (149) from the projection source (124) illuminates the particle cloud (146), which transmits most of the on-axis light (147) directed towards the viewer's eyes (148). Similarly, a separate or identical image from the projection source (125) along light rays (27) impinges on the particle cloud (146), which is directed toward the projected Shaft (28).

Figure 6 shows the angular sharpness drop for a single projection source in Cartesian coordinates, with maximum image intensity and sharpness at zero degrees (196) on-axis. The combination of individual tiny particles acts as a complete lens array, focusing most of the light in front of the projection source and coaxially producing this illumination pattern. These inherent optical properties of the particle sphere, and the particle cloud as a whole, guarantee a reduction in off-axis illumination intensity as the orientation of the projected similar or discrete images can be viewed from a particular location (on-axis or near-on-axis to in front of the projection source) Controllable device with multiple optical paths.

Figure 7 shows an example of multi-source projection with three signal sources, although there could be n signal sources. The three signal sources are (Pa), on-axis (0), and the source (Pb) with the threshold of sharpness (OT). The angular threshold angles are the midpoint (126) between Pa and on-axis (0), and the midpoint (127) between on-axis (0) and Pb.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the invention depicted graphically in FIG. 7. FIG. The signal source Pa is shown as (24), the coaxial source (0) is shown as (25), and the signal source Pb is shown as (26), projected onto the surface (23) with a depth of (150). When the viewer (152) watches the particle cloud (23), since the pixel depth (151) is parallel to the viewing axis (153), the projection source (26) illuminates the largest and clearest illuminated image, and the viewer sits at the Location. As the viewer moves to position (154), the image he or she sees is illuminated by an on-axis projection source (25), wherein the image projection is imaged throughout the depth (197) of the particle cloud (150). Similarly, when a viewer moves around the particle cloud (150) and is at a location (155), the viewed image originates from the signal source (24). A viewer at or between any of these locations would simultaneously view the entire image composited from multiple projection sources from which each successive or simultaneous projection of light rays was directed to the particle cloud (150).

Figure 9 illustrates operational details of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Ambient air (156) is drawn into the device (32) by a fan or blower (40). This air is passed through heat exchangers (33, 41) comprising cooling surfaces such as thermoelectric cooling plates and evaporator fins or coils (33) which may be incorporated or separate from the extractor, located above the particle cloud, acting as a collector device. The air then passes over the hotter side of the TEC module heat sink or condensing coil (41), rejecting the generated heat to the ambient air (49), or through the fans (59, 60), and below the fan (56), so that the exhausted air has a similar temperature. Condensate forming on cooling plates, coils or fins (33) drips by gravity or air pressure and is collected in disc (42), through one-way detection valve (50), to storage pool (43). Optionally, the pool (43) allows the device to operate independently without the use of a heat exchanger, with openings (44) or other attachments, filled with water or connected to external water pipes. A level sensor, optical or mechanical switch controls the heat exchanger to prevent the pool (43) from overflowing. In a conventional dehumidification process known in the art, a compressor (157) may be used to pump fluoride or other coolant through lines (46) and (47).

As a process requiring higher power, maximum condensation is key. Enhancing airflow and maximizing the surface area of the evaporator is necessary to ensure constant operation and minimize overloading of the heat exchanger, TEC or compressor. In a solid state TEC embodiment, the compressor (45) may be absent, and the hotter and cooler sides of the TEC module may be substituted with appropriate heat sinks to collect water vapor on the cooler side and extract heat from the other side Evaporator (33) and condenser (41). Due to the time delay before condensate forms, the pool (43) allows the equipment to operate while condensate is formed and collected. The stored condensate passes through a sensing valve (51 ) controlling the appropriate flow through a sensor or switch (55 ) into a spray-forming expansion chamber ( 52 ) for use in the particle cloud production process.

In a preferred embodiment, the expansion chamber (52) uses electromechanical atomization to vibrate a piezoelectric disk or transducer (53) that is used to ultrasonically oscillate and atomize the condensate, producing a fine A cloud of fine particles for subsequent use. Other cloud generation techniques may be used, including thermal sprayers, thermal cooling using cryogenic, spray or atomizing nozzles, or additional means of producing fine mist. The design of the chamber prevents larger particles from leaving the expansion chamber (52), while allowing water mist to form in the expansion chamber (52). A level detector (55), such as a mechanical float switch or an optical sensor, maintains the expansion chamber (52) at a specific liquid level to maintain a defined particle generation. When the liquid level (54) falls, the valve (51) opens, thereby maintaining the predetermined depth for optimal atomization.

A fan or blower (56) injects air into the chamber (52), mixes with the water mist produced by the atomizer (53), and passes through the central nozzle at a velocity determined by the height required to create the particle cloud (58) (58) to spray the air/water mist mixture. Additionally, the nozzle (57) may include a tapered geometry to prevent the resulting liquid from being on the lip of the nozzle (57). The spray nozzle (57) can have many different shapes, such as a curved or cylindrical surface, to create various possibilities for extruding the particle cloud. Particle clouds (58) include sheet, semi-sheet or turbulent flow, use of particle cloud screens for imaging.

Fans (59 and 60), including baffles or vents, pass through the vents (61 and 88) to introduce ambient air into the heat exchanger or to expel air from the heat exchanger to create a cloud surrounding the cloud screen (58). Sheets protect the air microenvironment (62, 63). For the sheet particle cloud screen (58), the microenvironment improves boundary layer performance by reducing boundary layer friction and improving the sheet quality of the imaging screen (58).

In the prior art, it is necessary to note that "Reynolds number" was a factor used to determine image quality and maximum size in the past, when the present invention integrated multi-source projection, which reduced the reliance on flake quality. The Reynolds Number (R) determines whether the airflow is lamellar or not. The viscosity (u), velocity (V), density (ρ) and thickness (D) of the gas flow determine the transition point between sheet and turbulent flow, which is the limiting factor in the prior art. In addition, EMC constantly modifies the microenvironment and particle cloud ejection velocity to compensate for changes in particle cloud density in order to minimize cloud visibility. Variations in particle cloud density directly affect cloud viscosity, so jet velocities must be varied to maximize sheet flow.

$R=\frac{\mathrm{\ρ\; VD}}{\mathrm{\μ}}$ (current technology)

The ejected particle cloud follows a straight path trajectory (64) creating a particle cloud surface or volume for imaging, and is eventually scattered at (85) and not used for imaging purposes. The particles at (58) are returned to the device (84) to create a continuous loop system. The air laden particle cloud water vapor returns to the device (84) without affecting the humidity level of the room in which the device is operating. Cloud density is continuously monitored to make it invisible by an on-board Environmental Diagnostic Management Control EMC (66), which monitors ambient parameters including but not limited to humidity, temperature, and ambient brightness, by multiple sensors (65 ) to collect these factors. For example, sensors (65) may include light emitting diodes or light sensors, thermometers, barometers, and other climate sensors to collect data. The sensor information is interpreted by the diagnostic management control (66) which adjusts the screen (58) by optimizing the intensity of the particle cloud production at (53) and the projected brightness from the source (69) relative to the ambient humidity and ambient brightness to control the invisibility of the cloud screen (58). Cloud visibility can be calculated by monitoring the amount of light reaching the detector from the light emitter using an illuminator disposed on one side of the particle cloud and a photodetector disposed on the opposite side, thereby minimizing cloud visibility.

Images stored on internal image or data storage devices such as CDs, programmable memories, CDs, DVDs, computers (67) or external computers produce raw data formed on image generating means (70) comprising Auxiliary external video sources such as TV, DVD or video games (68). The image generation device (70) may include an LCD display, an acousto-optic scanner, a rotating mirror assembly, a laser scanner, or a DLP micromirror to generate and orient the image through an optical focusing assembly.

Illumination sources (69) in the electromagnetic spectrum, such as halogen bulbs, xenon arc lamps, UV or IR lamps, or LEDs, direct beams of emitted energy, including monochromatic or polychromatic, coherent or Extraneous, visible or invisible lighting. Light rays directed from an illumination source (69) to an image generating device (70) pass through a focusing optics system (71) to generate light rays (76) directed to an external location as a "phantom" transmission source location (77). The phantom source (77) may use one or more optical components, including mirrors or prisms (83), to redirect or direct projections (79, 80) towards the particle cloud (58).

At distortion correcting optics (77 or 78), collimating optics such as parabolic mirrors, lenses, prisms or other optical components may be used to compensate for off-axis keystone projections of one or more axes. Furthermore, electronic keystone correction may be used to control the generator (71). The distortion correcting optics (78) may also include beam splitting means for directing the light source passing through the image generator to a different source, such as a source (77) located around the boundary of the cloud (58), and to collimate the beam until it reaches the source ( 77). Beam splitting can use plate, tubular beam splitters or rotating scanning mirrors with electronic shutters or optical choppers to split the original source projection into multiple projections. Directing projection beams (76) towards single or multiple phantom sources, or redirecting light rays (79, 80) to locations around cloud (58) on said cloud (58) for imaging. Imaging rays (81, 82) outside of the particle cloud (58) continue to diminish and become defocused due to depth limitations in the field of view of the optical system (71, 78, 83).

The detection system includes an illumination source (72) directed to generate a single (131) or double-striped plane of illumination beam (130) of light (131, 132), which is bounded by a sensor image (133, 134) included in a cloud screen (58). ) optical sensor (86) in the cone of visibility to capture disturbances. Similarly, two separate sources may be used to generate two separate planes, or a device may operate exclusively with one plane of light. When an external target disturbance passes through the planar light source (131, 132) parallel to the image, the illumination reflects the disturbance and the disturbance is captured by the optical sensor (86). The detected information is sent via a signal (135) to a computer (67) running the current software or operating system (OS) to update the image generator (70) according to the input information. The device also includes user audio feedback for identifying selections or interactions using non-solid images, thereby providing the necessary user tactile feedback.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the detection system uses optical, machine vision means to capture physical perturbations in the detectable perimeter of the image, but other detection methods may be used. Examples include acoustic-based detection methods, such as ultrasonic detectors, brightness-based methods, such as IR detectors, to locate physical objects such as hands or fingers for real-time tracking processing. The area in which the image is synthesized is monitored for external physical perturbations such as fingers, hands, pens, or other physical objects such as scalpels. The detectable space corresponds directly to the overlapping regions of the image, enabling the image coupled with the detection system to act as an I/O interface for manipulation through the use of a computer. To reduce external detection interference in this preferred embodiment, the detection system relies on an optical detector (86) operating in a narrower band within the invisible spectrum, allowing illumination of undesired background targets that are not correlated with user input. Ambient background lighting is minimal. In addition, operating the detection system wavelength does not interfere with imaging and is guaranteed to be unnoticed by the user. A preferred embodiment uses a narrow bandwidth illumination source (72) outside the visible spectrum, such as infrared (IR) or near infrared (NIR) illumination, which is then synthesized into a light beam by collimating the illumination. The light beam generated by the illumination source (72) is sent to one or more line generating devices, for example using line generating cylindrical lenses or rotating mirror devices, to generate single or double illumination planes of light rays (73, 74), spatially parallel Coexist on or over images on the cloud. The interactive processing will be described more clearly below.

Figure 9a depicts the microenvironment generation process to impart a high degree of uniformity to the sheet airflow of the protective cloud, thereby ideally enhancing image quality over existing protective air curtains. One or more chambers or baffles of varying size and shape, multi-stage ventilation or baffle setup of vents or meshes reduce macroscopic variations in temperature and velocity between the microenvironment and the cloud, thereby causing friction and cloud fragmentation Minimal, ideally improving image quality over existing technologies. Ambient air or exhaust air from the heat exchanger (198) is passed through means for moving air, such as axial, tangential fans or blowers (199) surrounded by a cabinet (200) with side walls. Air is mixed into the first stage equalization chamber (201) to balance the air velocity and direction in the air chamber (202) in the chassis (200). Air is then passed through linear parallel baffles or vents (203) whose length and cell diameter dimensions are determined by the Reynolds equation to create a sheet in which the jet orifice end (233) and injection end are collinear with the sheet airflow microenvironment (235) shaped airflow. Simultaneously, particle cloud flake emission (thin-walled nozzle (204)) injects particle cloud material into the flake airflow microenvironment (235) outside (205). Since there are always slight differences in temperature and velocity between the cloud and the microenvironment, both air streams pass through a final equalization chamber (206) for further stabilization before being injected into the air (205). Further equalization can be achieved by offsetting the baffles so adjacent units share the airflow, minimizing air velocity gradients. The outer jet baffle or vent (207) is shallow in thickness and depth to prevent condensation and allow wider use.

Figure 9b shows the main process of maintaining high fidelity of images suspended in free space by minimizing cloud visibility and reducing vibrations caused by particle cloud turbulence. An environment detector (209) monitors the ambient air (208). The sensors include, but are not limited to, ambient temperature detectors (210), such as solid state thermistors, to measure temperature. Similarly, a relative humidity sensor (211) and an ambient brightness sensor (212), such as a photodetector, collect additional data (211), such as binary resistive voltage or current values. Sending the data (211) to a controller (214) comprising electronic hardware circuitry to collect separate sensor value information to create a composite sum value corresponding to an absolute or relative amount of change as a signal for future modification of the parameters of the particle cloud ( 228).

The signal (228) reduces the particle cloud build density (216) by controlling the amount of particles produced by adjusting the voltage or power applied to the ultrasonic nebulizer. Similarly, the signal (228) can alter the exit orifice of the particles escaping the expansion chamber, thereby controlling the amount (217) of particles ejected into the cloud (221). Since the amount of particles injected is directly proportional to the viscosity defined by the Reynolds equation, modifying the density of the particles (the amount of material injected into the air) requires both the particle cloud injection velocity (218) and the microenvironment injection velocity (219) Make changes proportionally. The signal (228) controls the jet velocity by varying the fan speed, eg using pulse width modulation to vary the exit velocity of the particle cloud (221) and the microenvironment (220).

Augmenting these detectors to operate as independent units, the cloud visibility detector (224) includes an illumination source (222), such as a light emitter or laser, and a corresponding photodetector (223), such as a cadmium sulfide light emitting unit. The detectors (223) and illumination sources (222) each located at opposite ends of the particle cloud are arranged so as to collect a known amount of light from the illumination sources (222) passing through the particle cloud (221), which is detected by the detectors on the opposite sides to receive. The signal strength lost in light reflected from the particle cloud (221) and not received by the detector (223) corresponds to the density and thus viscosity of the particle cloud. This signal (225) can be sent to the controller (214) to adjust the density and speed which changes the visibility of the cloud (221). Similarly, other methods include acquiring particulate air sample data in the particle cloud (221) by an airborne particle counter (226) to determine a particle count corresponding to the density or viscosity of the particle cloud (221). The particle data (227) is sent to the controller (214), commanded (228) to adjust the particle cloud production (216) and exit velocity (215) in the same manner as previously described.

Figure 10 shows a top view of a multi-source embodiment of the invention, where the main projection (90) and optics (91, 92, 104, 195, 106, 107) are part of the main unit (93). Image projections originate from an image generator (90) that includes high frame rate projectors, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), digital light processing (DLP) units and others that direct light directed to collimated optics (91) to The foregoing method of the beam splitting mechanism (92). In solid state embodiments, these optical components include a series of prisms and/or beam splitters to progressively split the raw beam into multiple beams, as is well known in the art. Without limiting the number of split powers, the original beam is directed towards a single or multi-faceted rotary scanner (104), redirecting the beam to multiple sources such as (101, 102, 103). It is necessary to use optical interrupters such as optical choppers or electronic shutters to create successive image segments, in a manner similar to traditional reel-to-reel movie projectors with moving frames . In addition, anamorphic optics (106, 107) correct for off-axis projection, either as part of the main imaging unit (93) or at a separate light source (101, 102, 103). Distortion optics and keystone correction in all embodiments ensure that the projection beams (229, 230, 231) are directed at and illuminate the particle cloud (232) used in the same projection situation, being focused at the same location on the particle cloud (232) Each identical image is projected and focused from each source.

Figure 11 shows a top view of an alternative multi-source embodiment where the projection and optics (158) are separate from the main unit (94). The image source (95) directs the beam to a beam redirecting device (96). The beam redirection means (96) includes means of directing or reflecting input projections from the image unit (95) and may include cube beamsplitters, plate beamsplitters, mirrors, wedge prisms or scanning mirrors. The projection is sent to a phantom source (97, 98, 99) where the image is composited onto the cloud (100). Figure 12 depicts a third embodiment in which each projection source (136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141) is a separate unit projected onto the cloud (142). In another variation, fiber optics may be used to transmit image projections to each source.

In order to make the explanation of Figures 13 to 15 clearer, the detection system is shown independently. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Figure 13 shows the stand-alone detection system shown in Figure 9 and the capture user input device, utilizing optics such as a CCD or CMOS detector (159) using a lens or bandwidth filter (160). detectors, sensors or cameras. The capture means (159) solely captures reflected illumination within image boundaries in a defined image range (162, 164) of the particle cloud (163).

The illumination source (167) reflects the beam of light exiting the beam splitter (176) to the mirror (165) and mirror (108) into two separate planes of IR light (109 and 177), said illumination source having a function similar to, for example, The spectral output of the frequency response of the detector of the IR laser projecting the beam through the line generator and collimator (166). Line generation techniques known in the art can be used at (108,165), such as Ohmori's patent #5,012,485, to create a light plane, eg, using a rotating mirror or cylindrical lens. The finger (111) intersects the beam (109) which returns light to the detector (159) for real-time capture. Similarly, finger (112) intersecting beams (109 and 177) reflects two separate highlights captured by detector (159). In another embodiment, each plane of detectable light operates at a different wavelength. Similarly, the present invention can operate with a single plane of detectable light and use dwell software known in the art, or the same as in a computer OS, by "double-clicking" across the plane twice in rapid succession to create choose.

FIG. 14 shows an axonometric projection of FIG. 13 . An illumination source such as a laser diode (171) directs light to collimator (170), where the beam is split by means such as beam splitter (178). Similarly, illumination sources include projected source illumination (172) or calibrated IR LEDs parallel to the particle cloud. Split beams directed at plane generating means such as rotating mirrors (179, 180) create dual detection beam planes (168, 169). The finger (119) intersects parallel detection beam planes (79 and 80) centered at positions x, y, z in three-dimensional space. The detector (173) captures the highlighted intersection as a two-axis coordinate, or by combining two separate detectors or sensors to provide three axes for tracking position information. This information is sent to the controller (174) and interpreted by the processor or computer CPU (175) using the operating system or software. Point recognition software, known in the art, in conjunction with mouse emulation driver software translates the captured pixels into addressable coordinates within the desktop environment or application, allowing the user to navigate freely with a finger or point. The captured data can be interpreted using software such as those designed by NaturalPoint, Xvision, Smoothware Design, operating the software driven interface in a mouse style environment. Similarly, the input interface can be enhanced with gesture recognition or speech recognition.

Figure 15 is an example of user input light reflections captured by the detection system when the finger (113) intersects it at the first detection beam (118). The illumination is reflected from the finger (113) and captured by the optical sensor (143), simulating the corresponding pixel of the optical sensor (143) indicated by (115). The center of the half-moon pixel (115) corresponds to the user input at point (116), which represents the x and y coordinates. In a similar manner, the highlighted double half-moon is captured by the detector when the finger (117) intersects both the detection beams (118 and 120). Moving the user's finger over the image surface, thereby gently stroking the image surface, allows the user to navigate using the finger as a virtual touch screen interface. When the user needs to select, which is equivalent to a double-tap on the usual OS, the perturbation or finger has to go further into the image, like a selection, similar to pushing a button.

Industrial applicability

The present invention provides apparatus and methods to utilize condensation from the surrounding air to generate one or more images projected on a cloud of non-solid particles, and furthermore, provides the ability to modify the images by intersecting directly with the images. The invention can be used for recreational as well as industrial use, such as architecture, product designers and model designers, to generate images and, when desired, modify the images by interacting directly with the images.

Claims (64)

1. one kind is used to create the system that free space shows, comprising: heat pump; Device by heat pump guiding ambient air; In heat pump, create the device of heat difference; Utilize the heat difference from surrounding air, to extract the device of condensate; The device that condensate is led to expanding chamber; The atomizing condensate is to create the device of particle cloud material in expanding chamber; Injection nozzle apparatus is used for particle cloud material is ejected into air to create particle cloud screen; Spray the device of the parallel sheet air-flow that surrounds particle cloud; Produce the device of one or more images; And projection arrangement, with one or more image projection on particle cloud screen.

2. system according to claim 1 is characterized in that also comprising: be positioned near the checkout gear of particle cloud screen, be used for catching the image of institute's projection or near disturbance; Read the device of the position of each disturbance; Send the device of disturbance location information to controller; And the response storm positional information is revised the device of image generator device.

3. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that heat pump comprises the anti-circulation cooling and dehumidifying system based on compressor.

4. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that heat pump comprises the system based on thermoelectric Peltier knot.

5. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that heat pump comprises the device of fuel cell or use refrigerating gas or liquid.

6. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that also comprising storage pool, is used for the collection of condensate.

7. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that also comprising the condensate atomizing is the device of minuteness particle cloud that wherein single particulate has 1 to 10 micron average diameter.

8. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that also comprising the condensate atomizing is the device of minuteness particle cloud that wherein single particulate has the average diameter greater than 10 microns.

9. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that atomising device comprises electric mechanical or Vltrasonic device.

10. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that also comprising fluorescence tacking agent or dyestuff in the particle cloud.

11. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that also comprising particulate is ejected into airborne conllinear injection nozzle, to create conllinear jet particle cloud.

12. system according to claim 11 is characterized in that comprising the degree of depth and the corresponding injection nozzle of width of geometry and particle cloud screen, wherein the third dimension is the particle cloud jet length that is extruded.

13. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that the particle that ejects produces sheet, half sheet or turbulent flow particle cloud.

14. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that particle cloud comprises invisible, approximate invisible or visible particle cloud.

15. system according to claim 1 and 2, it is characterized in that particle cloud comprise be used to reflect, refraction and transmission are from projection source and point to the light of described particle cloud or the medium of image.

16. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that particle cloud comprises reflection of transillumination coefficient ratio and the higher medium of refraction illumination factor.

17. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that the device of creating laminar airflow comprises parallel linear baffle plate, ventilating opening, mesh or its combination, wherein fan or hair-dryer are positioned at the relative port of export of sheet air-flow.

18. system according to claim 17, it is characterized in that the device of creating laminar airflow comprises a series of parallel linear baffle plates that pile up, ventilating opening, mesh or its combination, wherein fan or hair-dryer are positioned at a port of export of sheet air-flow, and the sheet air-flow is positioned at another port of export.

19. system according to claim 18 is characterized in that also comprising the single or multiple air chambers between baffle plate, ventilating opening or the mesh, to create the speed compensating chamber.

20. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that also comprising the device of the observability that monitors particle cloud screen.

21. system according to claim 20 is characterized in that also comprising sensing light-emitting device and optical detection device each other, is particle cloud between described light-emitting device and the optical detection device, to measure the light transmission and the reflectivity of particle cloud screen.

22. system according to claim 21 is characterized in that light-emitting device comprises light emitting diode or laser instrument, optical detection device comprises photoelectric detector.

23. system according to claim 20 is characterized in that also comprising the surrounding environment batch particle-counting system, is used to monitor the counting micro particles of particle cloud screen.

24. system according to claim 20 is characterized in that also comprising the device that monitors ambient humidity, ambient temperature and surrounding environment brightness.

25. system according to claim 20 is characterized in that responding the data that monitored, the environmental management control device is regulated jet velocity, the particle cloud of particle cloud material and is made intensity or its combination, so that the not visible property maximum of particle cloud.

26. system according to claim 25 is characterized in that the environmental management control device regulates jet velocity by using the fan speed control device.

27. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that image forming appts establishment static state or video image.

28. system according to claim 27, it is characterized in that also comprising use the polarization that combines with image forming appts, at random, the light of relevant and visible or sightless wavelength, the establishment image projector.

29. system according to claim 27 is characterized in that described image forming appts comprises LCD, digital light disposable plates, Organic Light Emitting Diode, light modulation or laser scanner.

30. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that the single projector device that comprises that sensing is used for the particle cloud screen of imaging and aims at it.

31. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that comprising a plurality of projecting apparatus that point to the particle cloud screen that is used for imaging.

32., it is characterized in that described one or more projecting apparatus comprises optics or the electronics trapezoidal distortion imaging distortion correction at one or more according to claim 30 or 31 described systems.

33. according to claim 30 or 31 described systems, it is characterized in that comprising the device that projected light beam and phantom source are calibrated mutually, described Optical devices comprise light beam guiding or the reflection unit around the particle cloud, again projected light beam are directed on the described particle cloud.

34. according to claim 30 or 31 described systems, it is characterized in that described one or more projecting apparatus comprises at one or more optics or electronics trapezoidal distortion focusing distance school ends.

35. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that comprising: single projection arrangement; And projected bundle is directed to the device of single or multiple phantom source, the described device that is used for orientation projection's bundle comprises light beam guiding or the reflection unit around the particle cloud, again projected light beam is directed on the described particle cloud.

36. system according to claim 35 is characterized in that many projected light beams are cut apart, light beam guiding, light beam-light beam copped wave or it is in conjunction with projected image is divided into a plurality of projected light beams.

37. system according to claim 36, it is characterized in that also comprising beam splitter, round dot dispenser (polka dot splitter), bandpass filter, prism wedge, prism, static reflex mirror, rotary mirror, digital light processing, electronics or physics shutter, optical chopper or its combination, so that projected light beam is divided into a plurality of light beams that sensing particle cloud a plurality of phantom on every side redirect the source.

38., it is characterized in that comprising identical image or discrete images are projected to particle cloud so that the device of or discrete images synthetic similar at particle cloud from discrete or identical sources according to claim 30 or 31 described systems.

39. system according to claim 2 is characterized in that also comprising pointing to being used for the visual or not visible light source that the user imports the particle cloud zone of tracking.

40., it is characterized in that light source comprises Halogen lamp LED, incandescent lamp, light emitting diode or laser instrument according to the described system of claim 39.

41., it is characterized in that light source produces the light of infrared or near infrared spectrum according to the described system of claim 40.

42. system according to claim 2, it is characterized in that detecting that the device of physical perturbation comprises machine vision and optical acquisition device in the particle cloud, described optical acquisition device comprises fluorescence detector and sensor, video camera, complementary metal oxide silicon sensor or charge-coupled image sensor.

43., it is characterized in that also comprising bandpass filter according to the described system of claim 42.

44., it is characterized in that comprising single illumination detection faces according to the described system of claim 39.

45., it is characterized in that also comprising a plurality of illumination detection faces according to the described system of claim 39.

46. according to claim 44 or 45 described systems, it is characterized in that also comprising cylindrical lens, collimation lens, rotary facet mirror or its combination, with synthetic single or multiple detection faces.

47. system according to claim 2 is characterized in that comprising a plurality of detectors, is used for the user's input disturbance in two dimension or three dimensions tracking particle cloud.

48., it is characterized in that also comprising the device that detected lighting position data and controller, processor or computer are communicated according to the described system of claim 42.

49. according to the described system of claim 52, it is characterized in that also comprising motion tracking software,, thereby in software application environment or graphical user's environment, navigate with the detected lighting position data of decipher.

50., it is characterized in that following the tracks of software and comprise an identification, semilune identification or gesture recognition software according to the described system of claim 49.

51., it is characterized in that also comprising noise filtering software according to the described system of claim 49.

52., it is characterized in that also comprising the navigation of using mouse emulation software according to the described system of claim 49.

53. according to the described system of claim 49, it is characterized in that comprising the illumination detection position data of response by the detector registration, revise the device of projection generation device, described device links to each other with the tracking software of operation mouse emulation software or navigation software, to instruct the operating system or the software application of control projection software.

54. system according to claim 2 is characterized in that comprising and moves the computer of following the tracks of software projecting apparatus content, is used to control image projector.

55. system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that also comprising: be positioned at the aspirator of the end of particle cloud track, be used to collect condensate; And condensate is transferred to expanding chamber is used for the device that particle cloud is made.

56., it is characterized in that also comprising heat pump with aspirator according to the described system of claim 55.

57. one kind is used to create the method that free space shows, comprises: ambient air is dehumidified; Catch moisture; The atomizing moisture is 1 to 10 micron particle cloud material with the establishment diameter; Jet particle cloud material is to create particle cloud; Utilize the parallel laminar airflow microenvironment of or similar speed and track equal to surround particle cloud with particle cloud; Produce one or more images; And with one or more image projection to particle cloud.

58. one kind is used to create the method that the Interactive Free space shows, comprises: ambient air is dehumidified; Catch moisture; The atomizing moisture is 1 to 10 micron particle cloud material with the establishment diameter; Jet particle cloud material is to create particle cloud; Utilize the parallel laminar airflow microenvironment of or similar speed and track equal to surround particle cloud with particle cloud; Produce one or more images; With one or more image projection to particle cloud; In showing by the irradiation free space or near disturbance detect described disturbance; But detect described irradiation disturbance to create tracking data; But and the utilization tracking data projection of update image calculably.

59. according to claim 57 or 58 described methods, it is characterized in that also comprising that the one or more images with institute's projection are divided into a plurality of projected light beams, redirect a plurality of projected light beams, and described projected light beam is focused on the particle cloud, to create the free space image.

60. one kind is used to create the method that the Interactive Free space shows, comprise: ambient air is dehumidified, catches moisture and it is sprayed with the method for humidifying air again, be included in to create and comprise that single diameter is in the method for 1 to 10 micron the face of particulate or body particle cloud; The method that utilization microenvironment equal or similar speed is surrounded particle cloud; Projection arrangement, utilize light source to shine described cloud, make and shine image forming appts, image is divided into the device of a plurality of projected bundles, redirect on the device of projected bundle, by said apparatus reflection or pass through said apparatus, and described projected image focused on the particle cloud from projection arrangement, described particle cloud serves as reflection, refraction and transmitted light are to produce the device of free space image, comprise and detect in the free space image or near the device of the disturbance of physical target by video capture device, but described video capture device comprises the device that shines described disturbance and detects described disturbance so that create the device of tracking data, but and the use tracking data as input to upgrade the device of projection arrangement calculably.

61., it is characterized in that comprising producing 10 degrees centigrade or higher temperature difference between heat pump and the ambient air, from ambient air, to extract condensate according to claim 57 or 58 described methods.

62. according to claim 57 or 58 described methods, it is characterized in that also comprising the sheet airflow microenvironment of spraying, to improve the boundary layer performance between particle cloud screen and the ambient air around one or more parallel sides of described particle cloud screen.

63., it is characterized in that the speed and the track of the speed of described sheet airflow microenvironment and track and particle cloud is same or similar according to the described method of claim 62.

64. according to claim 59 or 60 described methods, it is spatially also parallel with the particle cloud screen coexistence to it is characterized in that detecting irradiation.

Images