EA046676B1 - SELECTIVE DISTRIBUTION OF ENERGY IN A LIGHT FIELD AND HOLOGRAPHIC WAVEGUIDE ARRAYS - Google Patents

Description

Technical field

This disclosure relates to devices for directing energy and, in particular, to energy waveguides configured to direct energy in accordance with the concept of a four-dimensional plenoptic system.

State of the art

The dream of an interactive virtual world in a holodeck, popularized in Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek and originally envisioned by author Alexander Moszkowski in the early 1900s, has been a source of inspiration for science fiction writers and technological innovations throughout the world. for almost a century. However, there is no convincing implementation of this idea outside of literature, the media and the collective imagination of children and adults.

Disclosure of the invention

An embodiment of an energy waveguide system for creating multiple energy paths includes an energy waveguide array having a first side and a second side and configured to direct energy therethrough along a plurality of energy paths passing through a plurality of energy locations on the first side. A subset of the plurality of energy propagation paths may pass through the first energy location.

In one embodiment, the first energy waveguide is configured to direct energy along a first energy path of a first subset of a plurality of energy paths, wherein the first energy path is defined by a first guide beam formed between the first energy location and the first energy waveguide, and further, a first energy propagation path extends from the first energy waveguide to a second side of the array in a unique direction that is determined by at least the first energy location. Energy directed along the first energy propagation path by the first energy waveguide may substantially fill a first aperture of the first energy waveguide. In one embodiment, the energy waveguide system includes an energy limiting component positioned such that it limits energy propagation along a portion of a first subset of a plurality of energy propagation paths that do not pass through the first aperture.

In one embodiment, the energy limiting component may be located on a first side between the energy waveguide array and the plurality of energy locations. In one embodiment, the first energy waveguide has a two-dimensional spatial coordinate, and a unique direction defined by at least the first energy location corresponds to a two-dimensional angular coordinate, wherein the two-dimensional spatial coordinate and the two-dimensional angular coordinate form a set of four-dimensional (4D) coordinates.

In one embodiment, the energy directed along the first energy path may include one or more energy beams directed through the first energy waveguide in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first drive beam.

In one embodiment, energy directed along the first energy path may converge with energy directed along the second energy path via a second energy waveguide. In addition, the first and second energy propagation paths may converge at a second side of the array, a first side of the array, or between the first and second sides of the array.

In addition, the structure of the energy propagation limiting component may be configured to limit the angular extent of energy in the vicinity of the first energy location and may include a power transmission device adjacent to the first energy location. In addition, the energy limiting structure may include at least one numerical aperture and may include a baffle structure. The energy limiting structure may be located adjacent the first energy waveguide and generally extending in the direction of the first energy location, or may be located adjacent to the first energy location and generally extending in the direction of the first energy waveguide.

In one embodiment, the energy waveguide array may be configured to form a flat surface or may be configured to form a curved surface.

An embodiment of an energy waveguide system for creating multiple energy paths may comprise a lens element array having a first side and a second side and configured to direct energy therethrough along a plurality of energy paths passing through a plurality of energy locations. A first subset of the plurality of energy propagation paths passes through a first energy location.

In one embodiment, the first elemental lens is configured to guide

- 1 046676 energy transmission along a first energy propagation path from a first subset of the plurality of energy propagation paths, wherein the first energy propagation path is defined by a first leading beam formed between the first energy location and the first elemental lens, and further, the first energy propagation path extends from the first an energy waveguide to a second side of the array in a unique direction that is determined by at least the first energy location. Energy directed along the first energy propagation path by the first lens element may substantially fill the first aperture of the first lens element.

In one embodiment, the energy waveguide system includes an energy limiting component positioned such that it limits energy propagation along a portion of a first subset of a plurality of energy propagation paths that do not pass through the first aperture. In one embodiment, the waveguide array may be configured to form a flat surface or may be configured to form a curved surface.

In one embodiment, the waveguide array element may be a Fresnel lens.

In one embodiment, the shape of the first waveguide may allow for further variation of a unique direction that is determined by at least the first energy location.

One embodiment of an energy waveguide system for creating multiple energy propagation paths may include a reflective element comprising a first reflector located on a first side of the reflective element, the first reflector including one or more aperture diaphragms formed therein, and a second reflector located on a second side of the reflective element. element, the second reflector comprising one or more aperture diaphragms formed therein. The first and second reflectors are configured to direct energy along a plurality of energy paths passing through the aperture diaphragms of the first and second reflectors, and a plurality of energy locations on a first side of the reflective element. A first subset of a plurality of energy propagation paths may pass through a first energy location.

In one embodiment, the reflective element is configured to direct energy along a first energy path of a first subset of a plurality of energy paths, wherein the first energy path is defined by a first guide beam formed between the first energy location and the first aperture diaphragm of the first reflector, and further , the first energy propagation path extends from the first aperture diaphragm of the second reflector toward the second side of the reflective element in a unique direction that is determined by at least the first energy location. Energy directed along the first energy propagation path may substantially fill the first aperture diaphragm of the first reflector and the first aperture diaphragm of the second reflector.

In one embodiment, the energy waveguide system includes an energy limiting component positioned such that it limits energy propagation along a portion of a first subset of a plurality of energy propagation paths that do not pass through the first aperture diaphragm of the first reflector.

In one embodiment, the size of one or more aperture diaphragms of the first and second reflectors may be constant or may vary.

In one embodiment, the first and second reflectors include one or more parabolic surfaces such that the first parabolic surface of the first reflector and the first parabolic surface of the second reflector are configured to reflect energy along the first energy path. The focal length of the first parabolic surface of the first reflector may be the same as the focal length of the first parabolic surface of the second reflector, or may be different from the focal length of the first parabolic surface of the second reflector.

In one embodiment, an additional energy limiting component may be placed between the first and second sides of the reflective element.

In one embodiment, energy waveguide systems distribute energy in two directions.

In one embodiment, the energy waveguides are configured to propagate mechanical energy.

In one embodiment, the energy waveguides are configured to propagate electromagnetic energy.

In one embodiment, the energy waveguides are configured to simultaneously propagate mechanical, electromagnetic, and/or other types of energy.

In one embodiment, the energy waveguides propagate energy with different ratios of u and v, respectively, in a four-dimensional coordinate system.

In one embodiment, energy waveguides distribute energy using

- 2 046676 anamorphic features.

In one embodiment, the energy waveguides comprise a plurality of elements along the energy path.

In one embodiment, energy waveguides are directly formed from the polished surfaces of a fiber optic transmission device.

In one embodiment, the energy waveguide system comprises materials having transverse Anderson localization properties.

In one embodiment, the energy limiting components are configured to limit the spread of electromagnetic energy.

In one embodiment, the energy limiting components are configured to limit the propagation of mechanical energy.

In one embodiment, the energy limiting components are configured to limit the propagation of mechanical, electromagnetic, and/or other types of energy.

These and other advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and appended claims.

Brief description of drawings

In fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the design parameters of the system for directing energy;

In fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a power system having a device core with a mechanical backbone;

In fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for power transmission;

In fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of power transmission elements glued together and attached to a main structure;

In fig. 5A is a schematic view illustrating an example of an image transmitted by multi-core optical fibers;

In fig. 5B is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an image transmitted by a light transmission device that has properties according to the transverse Anderson localization principle;

In fig. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the rays propagated from the energy surface to the viewer;

In fig. 7 is a top-down perspective view of an embodiment of an energy waveguide system configured to provide multiple energy propagation paths;

In fig. 8 is a front perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7;

In fig. 9A-H illustrate various embodiments of the energy propagation limiting component;

In fig. 10 is an illustration of an additional embodiment of a power waveguide system;

In fig. 11 is an illustration of an additional embodiment of a power waveguide system;

In fig. 12 shows the differences between square packing, hexagonal packing and irregular packing as design options for the energy waveguide;

In fig. 13 is an illustration of an embodiment with an array of energy waveguides arranged in a curved configuration;

In fig. 14 is an embodiment illustrating how a waveguide element can influence the spatial distribution of energy passing through it;

In fig. 15 is an additional embodiment that also illustrates how a waveguide element can influence the spatial distribution of energy passing through it;

In fig. 16 illustrates an embodiment in which a plurality of power waveguides include diffractive waveguide elements;

In fig. 17 shows the configuration of the elemental lens used to provide maximum ray density for illumination to achieve the required viewing angle.

Carrying out the invention

An embodiment of the Holodeck (collectively referred to as the Holodeck Design Parameters) provides sufficient energy output to deceive a person's sensory organs into believing that received energy pulses in a virtual, social and interactive environment are real, providing: 1) binocular misalignment without the use of external devices mounted on the head, glasses or other peripheral devices; 2) accurate motion parallax, obstacles and opacity in the entire visibility area simultaneously for any number of viewers; 3) optical focus through synchronous convergence, accommodation and miosis of the eye for all perceived light rays; and 4) concentric propagation of the energy wave

- 3 046676 of sufficient density and resolution exceeding the resolution of human sensory perception, namely vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell and/or balance.

Based on traditional technologies known today, we will be decades, if not centuries, away from a technology that can adequately provide all receptive fields according to the Holodeck design parameters, including visual, auditory, somatosensory, gustatory, olfactory and vestibular systems.

In this description, the terms light field and holographic may be used interchangeably to define the propagation of energy to stimulate any sensory organ response. Although the initial disclosures may relate to examples of the propagation of electromagnetic and mechanical energy through energy surfaces for holographic imaging and volumetric tactile sensations, this disclosure covers all forms of sensory organs. In addition, the principles of energy propagation along propagation paths disclosed herein can be applied to both energy emission and energy capture.

There are many technologies available today that are unfortunately often confused with holograms, including lenticular printing, Pepper's Ghost, glassless stereoscopic displays, horizontal parallax displays, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) displays. head-mounted realities (helmet-mounted displays, HMDs) and other similar illusions, collectively referred to as pseudo-holography. These technologies may exhibit some of the desired properties of a true holographic display, but do not have the ability to in any way stimulate the human visual-sensory response sufficiently to meet at least two of the four identified Holodeck design parameters.

These problems have not been overcome by conventional technology to create a continuous energy surface sufficient to propagate holographic energy. There are various approaches to implement volumetric and directional multiplexed light field displays, including parallax barriers, hogels, voxels, diffraction optics, multi-view projection, holographic diffusers, rotating mirrors, multilayer displays, sequential displays, head-mounted display, etc. etc., however, the use of traditional approaches may involve compromises in image quality, resolution, angular sampling density, size, cost, security, frame rate, etc., which ultimately leads to an untenable technology.

To ensure Holodeck design parameters for visual, auditory, and somatosensory systems, the sensitivity of each of the respective human systems to the propagation of energy waves is studied and analyzed in order to sufficiently mislead the human sensory organs. The visual system has a resolution of approximately 1 arcminute, the auditory system is capable of distinguishing differences in placement of only three degrees, and the somatosensory system in the hands is capable of distinguishing points separated by 2-12 mm. Although there are various and conflicting ways to measure such sensitivity, these values are sufficient to understand the systems and methods for stimulating the perception of energy propagation.

Of the noted sensory organs, the human visual system is the most sensitive, considering that even a single photon can cause a sensation. For this reason, much of this introduction will focus on visible energy wave propagation, and significantly lower resolution energy systems coupled within the surface of an exposed energy waveguide can provide the convergence of appropriate signals to cause holographic sensory perception. Unless otherwise noted, all disclosures apply to all energetic and sensational areas.

By calculating the effective design parameters of energy propagation for the visual system, taking into account the field of view and visual range, the required energy surface can be designed to include many gigapixels of effective spatial energy density. For large field of view or near field of view design parameters for the required energy surface may include hundreds or more gigapixels of effective spatial energy density. At the same time, the required energy source can be configured to have a spatial energy density of 1 to 250 effective megapixels for ultrasonic propagation of volumetric tactile sensations, or an array of 36 to 3600 points of actual energy locations for acoustic propagation of holographic sound, depending on the input environment variables. It is important to note that in the disclosed bidirectional energy surface architecture, all components can be configured to form corresponding designs for any energy domain to enable holographic propagation.

However, the main challenge in providing Holodeck today is the available imaging technologies and the limitations of electromagnetic devices. Acoustic and ultrasonic devices are less complex, taking into account the orders of magnitude difference in the required density depending on

- 4 046676 perceptual acuity in the corresponding receptive field, although their complexity should not be underestimated. Although holographic emulsion with resolution exceeding the required density is available for encoding interference patterns in static imaging systems, current display devices are limited by resolution, data rate, and manufacturing capabilities. To date, no single imaging device can reliably produce a light field with holographic resolution close to visual acuity.

Manufacturing a single silicon device capable of providing the required resolution to produce a high-quality light field pattern may not be practical and may involve extremely complex manufacturing processes beyond current manufacturing capabilities. The limitation of placing multiple available display devices side by side includes seams and gaps due to the physical dimensions of packaging, electronics, housings, optical devices, and a number of other issues that inevitably result in an unsound technology in terms of imaging, cost, and/or or size.

The embodiments disclosed herein may provide a feasible path to creating a Holodeck.

Exemplary embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form part of the description and illustrate exemplary embodiments that may be practiced. As used in the present disclosure and claims, the terms embodiment, example embodiment, and exemplary embodiment do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may, and various exemplary embodiments can be easily combined and interchanged without departing on the scope or spirit of the exemplary embodiments. In addition, the terminology used herein is intended solely to describe exemplary embodiments and is not intended to be limiting. In this regard, as used herein, the term in may include in and on, and grammatical forms of the singular may include indications of the singular and plural forms. Additionally, as used herein, the term through may also mean from, depending on the context. Additionally, as used herein, the term if can also mean when or after, depending on the context. Furthermore, as used herein, the words and/or may imply and cover any and all possible combinations of one or more related enumerated elements.

Aspects of the holographic system:

Review of light field energy propagation resolution.

The light field and holographic display result from the creation of multiple projections where energy surface locations provide angle, color and intensity information propagated into the field of view. The revealed energy surface provides opportunities for additional information to be obtained regarding the simultaneous existence and propagation through the same surface to stimulate other responses of the perceptual system. Unlike a stereoscopic display, the apparent position of converging energy paths in space does not change as the viewer moves around the viewing area, and any number of viewers can simultaneously see the transmitted objects in real space as if they were actually there. In some embodiments, energy propagation may occur along the same energy propagation path, but in opposite directions. For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, both energy emission and energy perception along the energy path are possible.

In fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the variables that influence the stimulation of a sensory response. These variables may include surface diagonal 01, surface width 02, surface height 03, a specific target sitting distance 18, target field of view 04 when sitting from the center of the display, the number of intermediate samples, shown here as inter-eye samples 05, average interocular distance 06 for adults, average resolution of the human eye in arcminutes 07, horizontal field of view 08 formed between the viewer's target location and the width of the surface, vertical field of view 09 formed between the viewer's target location and the height of the surface, resulting horizontal resolution of the waveguide element or the total number of elements 10 over the entire surface, the resulting vertical resolution of the waveguide element or the total number of elements 11 over the entire surface, the distance between samples based on the interocular distance and the number of intermediate samples for the axonometric projection between the eyes 12. The angular sampling can be based on the distance between the sampled values and the target seat distance 13, the overall horizontal resolution per waveguide element obtained from the required angular sampling 14, the overall vertical resolution per waveguide element obtained from the required angular sampling 15. The horizontal device is implemented

- 5 046676 calculates a certain number of required discrete energy sources 16, and the vertical device calculates a certain number of required discrete energy sources 17.

The way to understand the required minimum resolution can be based on the following criteria to provide sufficient stimulation of the visual (or other) sensory response: surface size (e.g. 84 inches (2.13 m) diagonal), surface aspect ratio (e.g. 16:9) , seating distance (for example, 128 inches (3.25 m) from the display), field of view from the seat (for example, 120 degrees or ±60 degrees from the center of the display), required intermediate discrete values at a distance (for example, one additional propagation path between the eyes), the average interocular distance of an adult (approximately 65 mm) and the average resolution of the human eye (approximately 1 arc minute). These example values should be considered as placeholders to be replaced by actual values depending on the design parameters of the specific application.

In addition, each of the values associated with the organ of vision can be replaced by values for other systems to determine the required propagation path parameters. For other embodiments of energy propagation, one can consider the angular sensitivity of the auditory system to be only three degrees, and the spatial resolution of the somatosensory hand system: 2-12 mm.

Although there are various and conflicting ways to measure this perceptual sensitivity, these values are sufficient to understand the systems and methods for stimulating the perception of the actual propagation of energy. There are many ways to find design resolution, and the method proposed below combines the practical aspects of the product with the biological resolution limits of perceptual systems. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, the following overview is a simplification of any such system design and should be considered as an example only.

To understand the resolution limit of a sensing system, the total density of an energy waveguide element can be calculated such that the receiving sensing system cannot distinguish an individual energy waveguide element from an adjacent element, taking into account that:

Width (IL)

Surface Aspect Ratio = ------Height (H)

Horizontal surface size = Surface diagonal *

Vertical surface size = Surface diagonal *

Horizontal field of view = (Horizontal surface size ------L-----L------------L--------2 * Seat distance / ( Vertical surface size ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------1 * Seating distance /

Element horizontal resolution = Horizontal field of view *

Eye resolution

Element Vertical Resolution = Vertical Field of View *

Eye resolution

The above calculations result in a field of view of approximately 32x18°, which necessitates the need for approximately 1920x1080 (rounded to the nearest format) energy waveguide elements. In addition, it is possible to constrain the variables so that the field of view is consistent for both parameters (u, v) to provide a more uniform spatial sampling of energy locations (e.g., pixel aspect ratio). The angular sampling of the system assumes a specific target location of the visibility zone and additional energy propagation paths between two points on the optimized segment, taking into account the fact that:

Distance between discrete values =

Interocular distance (Number of required intermediate discrete values + 1) ,, -Distance between discrete values^

Angular sampling = arctangent/----------------------------)

Seat distance

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In this case, the interocular distance is used to calculate the distance between samples, although any measure can be used to account for the appropriate number of samples at a given distance. When considering the above variables, approximately one beam per 0.57° may be required, and the total system resolution in an independent sensing system can be determined by considering that: Locations per element (A)

Field of view when sitting Angular sampling

Overall resolution Η = N * Horizontal element resolution

Overall resolution V = N * Vertical element resolution

Given the above scenario, taking into account the size of the energy surface and the angular resolution corresponding to the visual acuity system, the resulting energy surface should preferably include approximately 400,000x225,000 pixels (energy position resolution) or have a holographic spread density of 90 gigapixels. These variables are provided for illustrative purposes only, and many other aspects of energy and sensing data must be considered to optimize holographic energy propagation. In yet another embodiment, based on the input variables, a resolution of 1 gigapixel energy positions may be preferred. In yet another embodiment, based on the input variables, a resolution of 1000 gigapixel energy positions may be preferred.

Existing technological limitations: Core, device electronics, packaging and mechanical support.

In fig. 2 shows a device 20 having a core 22 with certain mechanical design parameters. The device 20 may include control devices 23 and electronic equipment 24 for activating and interacting with the core 22, the core having dimensions indicated by arrows x and y. This device 20 does not include cabling and mechanical structures for control, power and cooling of the components, and the mechanical dimensions can be further minimized by using flexible cable in the device 20. The minimum footprint of such a device 20 may also be referred to as the mechanical support 21, having dimensions shown by the arrows M:x and M:y. This device 20 is for illustration purposes only, and custom electronic device designs may allow the overlay mechanical support to be further reduced, but in almost all cases it may not match the exact size of the device core. In one embodiment, this device 20 illustrates how electronic devices relate to image active zone 22, namely an organic LED (OLED), a DLP chip, an LCD panel, or any other technology device designed to illuminate an image.

In some embodiments, other projection technologies may also be used to combine multiple images onto a large common display. However, this may be due to greater complexity related to projection distance, minimum focus, optical quality, uniform field resolution, chromatic aberration, thermal properties, calibration, alignment, added size, or design parameters. For most practical applications, the placement of tens or hundreds of these projection sources 20 can result in a significant increase in size and decrease in reliability.

For illustrative purposes only, assuming that the energy devices have a spatial energy density of 3840x2160 points, the number of individual energy devices (e.g., 10 devices) required for the energy surface can be determined, taking into account that:

Devices H

V devices

Overall resolution N Device resolution N

Overall resolution V

Device resolution V

In view of the above considerations regarding resolution, it may be desirable to use approximately 105 x 105 devices similar to those shown in FIG. 2. It should be noted that many devices are composed of various pixel designs that may or may not be mapped to a regular grid. In case there are additional subpixels or locations within each full pixel, these can be used to provide additional resolution or angular density. Additional signal processing can be used to determine how to transform the light field into the correct (u, v) coordinates depending on the given location of the pixel structure(s) and can be an explicitly defined characteristic of each device that is known and calibrated. Additionally, other energy domains may involve different processing of these relationships and device designs, and the direct intrinsic relationship of each of the required frequency domains to other frequency domains will be apparent to those skilled in the art. This will be shown and discussed in more detail in the following disclosure.

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The resulting calculation can be used to understand how many of these individual devices might be needed to create a full-resolution energy surface. In this case, approximately 105x105 or approximately 11080 devices may be required to achieve the visual acuity threshold. Creating a continuous energy surface from these available energy locations to provide sufficient perceived holographic spread is challenging and novel.

Summary of Continuous Energy Surfaces: Configurations and Array Designs of Energy Transmission Devices.

In some embodiments, approaches to solving the problem of generating high spatial density power from an array of individual devices without joints due to mechanical design limitations of said devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a transmission system for distributing energy to increase the effective core size of a device to meet or exceed mechanical dimensions may allow an array of transmission devices to be configured to form a single continuous energy surface.

In fig. 3 shows an embodiment of such a power transmission system 30. As shown in the figure, the power transmission system 30 may include a device 31 mounted on a mechanical support 32 and a power transmission element 33 distributing energy from the device 31. The power transmission element 33 may be configured to reduce any gaps 34 that may arise when multiple device mechanical substrates 32 are combined into an array of multiple devices 31.

For example, if the device core 310 measures 20 mm x 10 mm and the mechanical base 32 measures 40 mm x 20 mm, the energy transfer element 33 may exhibit an expansion ratio of 2:1 to create a tapered shape measuring approximately 20 mm x 10 mm at the narrow end (arrow). A) and 40 mm x 20 mm at the flared end (arrow B), allowing the array of these elements 33 to be continuously aligned with each other without overlapping or altering the mechanical base 32 of each device 31. Mechanically, the transmission elements 33 may be joined or glued together, aligned and polished to provide a minimum seam gap 34 between the devices 31. In one such embodiment, it is possible to provide a seam gap 34 that is less than the visual acuity limit of the eye.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a primary structure 400 comprising power transfer elements 410 formed together and securely attached to an additional mechanical structure 430. The mechanical design of the continuous energy surface 420 allows multiple power transfer elements 410, 450 to be connected in series into a single main structure by bonding or using other mechanical methods of attaching the transmission elements 410, 450. In some embodiments, each transmission element 410 may be melted, bonded, adhered, pressure-fitted, aligned, or otherwise connected to other elements to produce a resulting continuous energy surface 420. In some embodiments, the device 480 may be mounted on the rear side of the element 410 for transmission and passively or actively aligned to ensure proper alignment of the energy location within a certain tolerance.

In one embodiment, the continuous energy surface includes one or more energy locations, and one or more energy transfer element stacks have a first and a second side, and each energy transfer element stack is configured to form a single continuous display surface directing energy along propagation paths extending between one or more energy locations and a continuous display surface, wherein the distance between the edges of any two adjacent second sides of the energy transfer terminal elements is less than the smallest discernible gap determined by the visual acuity of the human eye, namely better than 20 to 40 for vision, on a distance greater than the width of a single continuous display surface.

In one embodiment, each of the continuous energy surfaces includes one or more energy transfer elements, each of which contains one or more structures defining first and second surfaces with transverse and longitudinal orientation. The first transmission surface has a different area than the second surface, resulting in positive or negative magnification, wherein distinct surface contours are configured for the first and second surfaces, wherein the energy passing through the second transmission surface substantially fills an angle of ±10 degrees relative to the perpendicular to the surface contour along the entire second transmission surface.

In one embodiment, multiple energy domains may be configured within one or between multiple energy transfer devices to determine the direction of one or more perceptual holographic energy propagation paths, including visual, acoustic, tactile, or other energy domains.

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In one embodiment, the continuous energy surface is configured to operate with energy transfer devices that include two or more first sides for every second side to simultaneously receive and emit one or more energy domains to provide two-way propagation of energy throughout the system.

In one embodiment, devices are used to transmit energy in the form of free coherent elements.

Introduction to Component Engineering: Uncovering the Benefits of Transverse Anderson Localized Power Transfer Devices.

The properties of power transfer devices can be significantly optimized in accordance with the principles disclosed herein with respect to power transfer elements that provide transverse Anderson localization. Transverse Anderson localization is the propagation of a beam transmitted through a transversely disordered but longitudinally consistent material.

This means that the effect of materials characterized by Anderson localization may be less dependent on total internal reflection than in a random distribution between multiple scattering paths, where wave interference can severely limit propagation in the transverse orientation while continuing to propagate in the longitudinal orientation.

A significant additional benefit is the absence of the cladding of traditional multi-core fiber optic materials. The sheath is designed to functionally eliminate energy dissipation between fibers, but simultaneously acts as a barrier to energy beams, thus reducing transmission by at least the core to sheath ratio (e.g., with a core to sheath ratio of 70:30, transmission will be 70% at best from the received energy) and additionally leads to strong pixel structuring of the propagated energy.

Fig. 5A illustrates an end view of an example of one such non-Anderson localized power transmission device 500 in which multi-core optical fibers transmit an image that may exhibit pixelation and fiber-generated noise due to the intrinsic properties of the optical fibers. In traditional multimode and multicore optical fibers, transmitted images can be significantly pixelated due to the total internal reflection properties of the discrete core array, where any mutual interference between the cores degrades the modulation transfer function and increases image blur. The resulting images obtained using a conventional multi-core optical fiber with a fiber structure similar to that shown in FIG. 3 usually have constant residual noise.

Fig. 5B illustrates an example of the same pattern 550 transmitted by an energy transfer device containing materials with transverse Anderson localization properties, wherein the transmitted pattern has a higher grain density structure compared to the permanent fiber structure of FIG. 5A. In one embodiment, transmission devices containing structures created using disordered microscopic components provide transverse Anderson localization and transport light more efficiently with better image resolution spread than commercially available multimode glass fiber light guides.

A material with transverse Anderson localization properties has significant advantages in terms of cost and weight, since a similar optical quality glass material can cost and weigh 10-100 times more compared to the material obtained in one embodiment of the present invention, and the disclosed systems and The methods involve the use of structures created using random microscopic components that demonstrate significant potential for improvements in both cost and quality compared to other technologies known in the art.

In one embodiment, a transmission element having transverse Anderson localization property may comprise a plurality of structures constructed from at least two different components in each of three orthogonal planes arranged in a three-dimensional structure, and the plurality of structures provide a random distribution of wave propagation properties in material in a transverse plane within a three-dimensional structure and channels with similar values of wave propagation properties in a material in a longitudinal plane within a three-dimensional structure, wherein localized energy waves propagating through the energy transfer device have a higher transfer efficiency in the longitudinal orientation compared to the transverse orientation.

In one embodiment, multiple energy domains may be configured within one or between multiple transverse Anderson localized energy transfer devices to determine the direction of one or more perceptual holographic energy propagation paths, including visual, acoustic, tactile, or other energy domains.

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In one embodiment, the continuous energy surface is configured to operate with transverse Anderson localized energy transfer devices that include two or more first sides for every second side to simultaneously receive and emit one or more energy domains to provide two-way propagation of energy throughout the system.

In one embodiment, transverse Anderson localized energy transfer devices are configured as free coherent or flexible energy transfer elements.

Aspects of plenoptic four-dimensional functions:

Selective energy propagation using holographic waveguide arrays.

As discussed above and as discussed elsewhere herein, a light field display system typically includes an energy source (eg, a light source) and a continuous energy surface configured with sufficient spatial energy density as indicated in the above discussion. To transfer energy from energy devices to a continuous energy surface, a variety of energy transfer elements can be used. Once energy at the required spatial energy density is delivered to a continuous energy surface, said energy can be propagated according to a plenoptic four-dimensional function along the exposed energy waveguide system. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the plenoptic 4D function is well known in the art, so it will not be disclosed further.

An energy waveguide system selectively propagates energy to multiple energy locations along a continuous energy surface representing the spatial coordinate of a plenoptic four-dimensional function, using a structure configured to change the angular direction of passing energy waves by mapping the angular component of the plenoptic four-dimensional function, wherein the propagated energy waves can converge in space along multiple propagation paths directed using a plenoptic four-dimensional function.

In fig. Figure 6 shows an example of the energy surface of a light field in four-dimensional image space in accordance with the plenoptic four-dimensional function. The figure shows the ray paths visible to the viewer 620 from the energy surface 600 to describe how the energy rays converge in space 630 from different positions in the field of view. As shown in the figure, each waveguide element 610 defines four dimensions for information describing the propagation 640 of energy across the energy surface 600. The two spatial dimensions (denoted herein as x and y) represent the physical set of energy locations that can be seen in image space , and the angular components theta and phi (denoted herein as and and v) observed in virtual space when projected through an array of energy waveguides. In general, and in accordance with the plenoptic four-dimensional function, a plurality of waveguides (for example, elementary lenses) are configured to direct the location of energy from a point with values x, y to a unique location in virtual space along the direction determined by the angular component u, v, when forming described in herein holographic field or light field systems.

However, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that a significant problem with light field and holographic imaging technologies arises from uncontrolled propagation of energy due to a design that does not strictly consider diffraction, scattering, diffusion, angular direction, calibration, focusing, collimation , curvature, homogeneity, mutual influence of elements, as well as many other parameters that cause a decrease in effective resolution, and also lead to the impossibility of accurate energy convergence with sufficient accuracy.

In one embodiment, an approach for selective energy propagation to solve problems associated with holographic imaging may include elements that limit energy propagation and essentially fill the waveguide apertures with nearly collimated energy, determined by a plenoptic four-dimensional function, into the surrounding space.

In one embodiment, the energy waveguide array may define, for each waveguide element, a plurality of energy propagation paths that can pass through the effective aperture of the waveguide element in unique directions defined by a given four-dimensional function, and essentially fill said aperture for a plurality of energy locations along a continuous energy surface. limited by one or more elements arranged to limit the propagation of each location of energy to pass exclusively through one waveguide element.

In one embodiment, multiple energy domains may be configured within one or between multiple energy waveguides to define one or more propagation directions of perceived holographic energy, including visual, acoustic, tactile, or other energy domains.

- 10 046676

In one embodiment, the energy waveguides and continuous energy surface are configured to receive and emit one or more energy domains to provide two-way propagation of energy throughout the system.

In one embodiment, energy waveguides are configured to propagate energy with a non-linear or irregular distribution, including energy-free void regions, using digitally encoded, diffractive, refractive, reflective, graded index, holographic, Fresnel or similar waveguide configurations for any orientation of a continuous energetic surface, including a wall, table, floor, ceiling, room, or other environment with a specific geometric configuration. In yet another embodiment, the energy waveguide element may be configured to create various geometric elements that provide viewing on any surface profile and/or viewing on a level surface, allowing users to view the generated holographic images from all sides of the energy surface in a viewing angle configuration 360 degrees.

In one embodiment, the elements of the energy waveguide array may be reflective surfaces, and the arrangement of said elements may be hexagonal, square, irregular, semi-regular, curved, non-planar, spherical, cylindrical, inclined constant, inclined non-constant, spatially variable and/or multi-layered.

For any component within a continuous energy surface, waveguide or transmission device components may include, but are not limited to, optical fiber, silicon, glass, polymer, light transmission devices, diffractive, holographic, refractive or reflective elements, optical wafers, energy combiners, beam splitters , prisms, polarizing elements, spatial light modulators, active pixels, liquid crystal cells, transparent displays or any similar materials that provide Anderson localization or total internal reflection.

Holodeck implementation:

Integration of a continuous energy surface in two-way systems to stimulate human sensory organs in holographic environments.

It is possible to create large-scale environments of continuous energy surface systems by placing them next to each other, fusing, gluing, attaching and/or stitching multiple continuous energy surfaces together to form systems of arbitrary sizes, shapes, profiles or design parameters, including entire rooms . Each energy surface system may comprise an assembly having a main structure, energy surface, transmission devices, waveguide, devices, and electronic equipment that are collectively configured to bidirectionally propagate, emit, reflect, or sense holographic energy.

In one embodiment, an environment of side-by-side continuous energy systems is combined to form large continuous flat or curved walls, including installations containing nearly all or all of the surfaces in the environment, and configured as any combination of continuous, intermittent flat, multi-faceted , curved, cylindrical, spherical, geometric shapes or irregular geometric shapes.

In one embodiment, the combined portions of flat surfaces form wall-sized systems for theatrical or on-site holographic performances. In one embodiment, combined portions of flat surfaces span a room with four to six walls, including the ceiling and floor, to provide holographic installations in an enclosed space. In one embodiment, the combined portions of the curved surfaces create a cylindrical continuous environment to provide immersive holographic installations. In one embodiment, the combined portions of continuous spherical surfaces form a holographic dome to provide a fully immersive experience based on Holodeck technology.

In one embodiment, the integration of portions of continuous curved energy waveguides is provided by mechanical edges that precisely follow a pattern along the boundary of energy limiting elements in an energy waveguide design that employs bonding, registering, or fusing adjacent adjacent mechanical edges of adjacent waveguide surfaces , resulting in a modular and continuous system of energy waveguides.

In another embodiment of a federated environment with elements placed adjacent to each other, energy is distributed in both directions simultaneously for multiple energy domains. In yet another embodiment, the energy surface allows for simultaneous display and acquisition via the same energy surface using waveguides configured such that light field data can be projected by an illumination source through the waveguide and simultaneously received via the same energy surface. IN

- 11 046676 In yet another embodiment, additional depth sensing and active scanning technologies may be used to ensure the relationship between the energy propagation and the viewer at the correct physical coordinates. In yet another embodiment, the energy surface and waveguide may radiate, reflect, or converge frequencies in a manner that produces haptic sensations or volumetric haptic feedback. In some embodiments, any combination of two-way energy propagation and joint surfaces may be used.

In one embodiment, the system includes an energy waveguide capable of bidirectionally emitting and sensing energy through an energy surface by one or more energy devices independently coupled to two or more path energy combiners for pairing at least two energy devices with the same same portion of a continuous energy surface, or one or more energy devices are attached behind the energy surface adjacent to an additional component attached to the main structure, or at a location in front of the field of view and behind the field of view of the waveguide for off-axis direct or reflected projection or perception, and the resulting energy surface provides bidirectional energy transfer allowing the waveguide to converge energy, the first device to emit energy, and the second device to sense energy, the information being processed to perform tasks associated with machine pattern recognition, including, but not limited to, plenoptic 4D eye and retinal tracking or interference detection in the pattern of propagated energy, estimating depth, approaching, tracking motion, creating an image, color or sound, or other energy frequency analysis. In yet another embodiment, the tracked positions actively calculate and change energy positions based on the interference between the bilateral captured data and the projection information.

In some embodiments, a plurality of combinations of three energy devices comprising an ultrasonic sensor, a visual electromagnetic display, and an ultrasonic emitting device are configured together for each of the three first energy transmission surfaces combined into a single second energy transmission surface with each of the three first surfaces, having engineered properties specific to each device's energy domain, and two dedicated waveguide elements configured for ultrasonic and electromagnetic energy, respectively, to enable independent energy direction and convergence for each device and are substantially unaffected by other waveguide elements that are configured for separate energy domain.

In some embodiments, a calibration procedure is disclosed to enable efficient production, eliminating system artifacts, and geometric mapping of the resulting energy surface using encoding/decoding technologies, as well as dedicated integrated systems for converting data into calibrated information suitable for energy propagation based on calibrated configuration files.

In some embodiments, additional series-connected energy waveguides and one or more energy devices may be combined into a system to create opaque holographic pixels.

In some embodiments, additional waveguide elements may be integrated containing energy limiting elements, beam splitters, prisms, active parallax barriers, or polarization technologies to provide spatial and/or angular resolution greater than the diameter of the waveguide, or to provide ultra-high resolution for other purposes.

In some embodiments, the disclosed energy system may also be configured as a wearable bi-directional device, such as a virtual reality (VR) device or an augmented reality (AR) device. In other embodiments, the energy system may include adjustable optical element(s) that focus the displayed or received energy near a specific plane in space for the viewer. In some embodiments, the waveguide array may be included in a head-mounted holographic display. In other embodiments, the system may include multiple optical paths so that the viewer can see both the energy system and the actual environment (eg, a transparent holographic display is used). In these cases, the system can be implemented as a near field in addition to other methods.

In some embodiments, data transmission includes selectable or variable compression ratio encoding processes for which the input data is a random data set of information and metadata; analyzing said data set and receiving or assigning material properties, vectors, surface identifiers, new pixel data forming a sparser data set, wherein the received data may contain: two-dimensional

- 12 046676 ny, stereoscopic, multi-view, metadata, light field, holographic, geometric data, vectors or vectorized metadata, and the encoder/decoder may provide the ability to transform the data in real time or offline, including image processing: two-dimensional; two-dimensional data plus depth, metadata, or other vectorized information; stereoscopic, stereoscopic plus depth, metadata or other vectorized information; multi-view data; multi-view data plus depth, metadata or other vectorized information; holographic data; or the contents of the light field; using depth estimation algorithms, with or without depth metadata; and the inverse ray tracing method appropriately maps the resulting inverse ray tracing transformed data from various two-dimensional, stereoscopic, multi-view, volumetric, light field, or holographic data into physical coordinates using a plenoptic four-dimensional characterization function. In these embodiments, the total required data transmission may be many orders of magnitude less transmitted information than the raw light field data set.

Selective energy propagation in light field and holographic waveguide arrays.

In fig. 7 is a top-down perspective view of an embodiment of an energy waveguide system 100 configured to create multiple energy propagation paths 108 . The energy waveguide system 100 includes an array of energy waveguides 112 configured to direct energy therethrough along a plurality of energy propagation paths 108 . In one embodiment, a plurality of energy propagation paths 108 pass through a plurality of energy locations 118 from the first array side 116 to the second array side 114.

As shown in FIG. 7 and fig. 9H, in one embodiment, a first subset 290 of a plurality of energy propagation paths 108 pass through a first energy location 122. The first energy waveguide 104 is configured to direct energy along a first energy propagation path 120 from a first subset 290 of a plurality of energy propagation paths 108 . The first energy propagation path 120 may be defined by a first driving beam 138 formed between the first energy location 122 and the first energy waveguide 104. The first energy propagation path 120 may include beams 138A and 138B formed between the first energy location 122 and the first energy waveguide 104, which are first Energy waveguide 104 guides energy propagation paths 120A and 120B, respectively. The first energy propagation path 120 may extend from the first energy waveguide 104 to the second side of the array 114. In one embodiment, the energy is directed along the first energy propagation path 120, which includes one or more energy propagation paths between or including energy propagation paths 120A and 120B and energy propagation 120B that are directed through the first energy waveguide 104 in a direction that is substantially parallel to the propagation angle through the second side 114 of the first drive beam 138.

Embodiments may be configured such that energy directed along the first energy propagation path 120 can exit the first energy waveguide 104 in a direction that is substantially parallel to the energy propagation paths 120A and 120B and the first guide beam 138. It may be assumed that the path energy propagation passing through energy waveguide element 112 to second side 114 includes a plurality of energy propagation paths with substantially similar propagation direction.

In fig. 8 is a front view of an embodiment of the energy waveguide system 100. The first energy propagation path 120 may extend to the second side 114 of the array 112 shown in FIG. 7, in a unique direction 208 extending from the first energy waveguide 104, which is defined by at least the first energy location 122. The first energy waveguide 104 may be defined by a spatial coordinate 204, and the unique direction 208 that is defined by at least the first energy location 122 may be defined by an angular coordinate 206 defining the directions of the first energy propagation path 120. The spatial coordinate 204 and the angular coordinate 206 may form a set 210 of four-dimensional plenoptic coordinates that defines a unique direction 208 of the first energy propagation path 120.

In one embodiment, the energy directed along the first energy path 120 through the first energy waveguide 104 substantially fills the first aperture 134 of the first energy waveguide 104 and propagates along one or more energy paths that lie between and are parallel to the energy paths 120A and 120B. the direction of the first energy propagation path 120. In one embodiment, the one or more energy paths that substantially fill the first aperture 134 may be more than 50% of the diameter of the first aperture 134.

In a preferred embodiment, energy directed along the first energy propagation path 120 through the first energy waveguide 104, which substantially fills the first

- 13 046676 aperture 134, can cover from 50% to 80% of the diameter of the first aperture 134.

Returning to FIG. 7 and 9A-H, note that in one embodiment, the energy waveguide system 100 may also include an energy propagation limiting component 124 that is positioned to limit the propagation of energy between the first side 116 and the second side 114, as well as limit the propagation of energy between adjacent waveguides 112. In one embodiment, the energy propagation limiting component is configured to limit energy propagation along a portion of the first subset 290 of the plurality of energy propagation paths 108 that do not pass through the first aperture 134. In one embodiment, the energy propagation limiting component 124 may be located on the first side 116 between the energy waveguide array 112 and the plurality of energy locations 118. In one embodiment, the energy propagation limiting component 124 may be located on the second side 114 between the plurality of energy locations 118 and energy propagation paths 108 . In one embodiment, the energy limiting component 124 may be located on the first side 116 or the second side 114 perpendicular to the energy waveguide array 112 and the plurality of energy locations 118.

In one embodiment, energy directed along the first energy propagation path 120 may converge with energy directed along the second energy propagation path 126 through the second energy waveguide 128. The first and second energy propagation paths may converge at a location 130 on the second side 114 of the array 112. In one embodiment, the third and fourth energy propagation paths 140, 141 may also converge at a location 132 on the first side 116 of the array 112. In one embodiment, the fifth and sixth energy propagation paths 142, 143 may also converge at a location 136 between the first and second sides 116, 114 array 112.

In one embodiment, the energy waveguide system 100 may include structures for directing energy, such as: a structure configured to change the angular direction of energy passing through it, such as a refractive, diffractive, reflective, gradient index, holographic or other optical element; a structure comprising at least one numerical aperture; a structure configured to redirect energy from at least one internal surface; light transmission device; etc. It should be appreciated that the waveguides 112 may comprise any one or combination of design or material for bidirectional direction of energy, for example:

a) components for refraction, diffraction or reflection;

b) solid or combined multi-level elements;

c) holographic optical elements and digitally encoded optical devices;

d) 3D printed elements or lithographic molds or copies;

e) Fresnel lenses, gratings, zone plates, two-component optical elements;

f) reflective elements;

g) fiber optic devices with total internal reflection or Anderson localization;

h) gradient index optical device or various index matching materials;

i) glass, polymer, gas, solids, liquids;

j) acoustic waveguides;

k) micro- and nano-sized elements; or 1) polarizers, prisms or beam splitters.

In one embodiment, energy waveguide systems distribute energy in two directions.

In one embodiment, the energy waveguides are configured to propagate mechanical energy.

In one embodiment, the energy waveguides are configured to propagate electromagnetic energy.

In one embodiment, by interleaving, superimposing, reflecting, combining, or otherwise providing appropriate material properties in one or more structures in an energy waveguide element and at one or more levels constituting an energy waveguide system, the energy waveguides are configured to simultaneously propagate mechanical, electromagnetic energy and/or other forms of energy.

In one embodiment, the energy waveguides propagate energy with different ratios of u and v, respectively, in a four-dimensional coordinate system.

In one embodiment, energy waveguides distribute energy using an anamorphic feature. In one embodiment, the energy waveguides comprise a plurality of elements along the energy path.

- 14 046676

In one embodiment, energy waveguides are directly formed from the polished surfaces of a fiber optic transmission device.

In one embodiment, the energy waveguide system comprises materials having transverse Anderson localization properties.

In one embodiment, the energy waveguide system propagates hypersonic frequencies to provide haptic convergence in volumetric space.

In fig. 9A-H illustrate various embodiments of energy propagation limiting component 124. To avoid misinterpretation, these embodiments are for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit in any way the scope of combinations or implementations included within the scope of this disclosure.

In fig. 9A illustrates an embodiment for a plurality of energy locations 118 in which the energy limiting component 251 is positioned proximal to the surface of the energy locations 118 and has certain refractive, diffractive, reflective, or other energy properties. The energy propagation limiting component 251 may be configured to limit the first subset of energy propagation paths 290 to a smaller range of propagation paths 253 by limiting the energy propagation along the energy propagation paths 252 . In one embodiment, the energy propagation limiting component is a power transmission device with a numerical aperture of less than 1.

In fig. 9B illustrates an embodiment for a plurality of energy locations 118, in which the energy limitation structure 254 is positioned perpendicularly between regions of the energy locations 118, the energy limitation structure 254 has an absorptive capacity, and the energy limitation structure 254 has a certain height along the propagation path 256 energy, which makes it possible to block some paths 255 of energy propagation. In one embodiment, the energy limiting structure 254 is hexagonal in shape. In one embodiment, the energy limiting structure 254 is circular in shape. In one embodiment, the energy propagation limiting structure 254 is non-uniform in shape or size along any propagation path orientation. In one embodiment, the energy limiting structure 254 is integrated into another structure with additional properties.

In fig. 9C illustrates a plurality of energy locations 118, with the first energy propagation limiting structure 257 configured to substantially orient energy 259 propagating therethrough to the first position. The second energy propagation limiting structure 258 is configured to allow energy 259 that is substantially oriented in the first position to propagate through it and to limit the propagation of energy 260 that is oriented substantially different from the first position. In one embodiment, the energy propagation limiting component 257, 258 is a dual energy polarization element. In one embodiment, the energy limiting component 257, 258 is a dual element for providing energy wave bandwidth. In one embodiment, the energy limiting component 257, 258 is a dual diffraction waveguide.

In fig. 9D illustrates an embodiment for a plurality of energy locations 118, in which the energy propagation limiting component 261 is configured to vary the energy propagation paths 263 to a certain extent depending on which of the plurality of energy locations 118 the energy propagation paths 263 pass through. The energy propagation limiting element 261 may uniformly or non-uniformly alter the energy propagation paths 263 along the energy propagation paths 263, allowing certain energy propagation paths 262 to be blocked. The energy limiting structure 254 is positioned perpendicularly between the energy location regions 118, the energy limiting structure 254 has an absorptive capacity, and the energy limiting structure 254 has a certain height along the energy path 263 to block some of the energy paths 262. In one embodiment, the limiting component 261 is a field lens. In one embodiment, limiting component 261 is a diffractive waveguide. In one embodiment, the limiting component 261 is a curved waveguide surface.

In fig. 9E illustrates an embodiment for multiple energy locations 118 in which the energy limiting component 264 has absorbing capacity to limit the energy 266 while allowing the energy to travel through other energy paths 267.

In fig. 9F illustrates an embodiment of a plurality of energy locations 118 and a plurality of energy waveguides 112, with a first propagation limiting structure 268

- 15 046676 energy is configured to substantially orient the energy 270 propagating through it in a first position. The second energy propagation limiting structure 271 is configured to allow energy 270 that is substantially oriented in the first position to propagate through it and to limit the propagation of energy 269 that is oriented substantially different from the first position. To further control the propagation of energy through the system, as exemplified by dissipative propagation 272, the energy propagation limiting designs 268, 271 may require a combined energy propagation limiting component to ensure that energy propagates strictly along propagation paths.

In fig. 9G illustrates an embodiment for multiple energy locations 118 in which energy limiting component 276 has absorptive capacity to limit energy propagation along energy propagation path 278 while allowing other energy along energy propagation path 277 to pass through a pair of energy waveguides 112 to providing an effective aperture 284 in the waveguide array 112. In one embodiment, the energy propagation limiting component 276 comprises black chromium. In one embodiment, the energy propagation limiting component 276 comprises an absorbent material. In one embodiment, energy limiting component 276 comprises an array of transparent pixels. In one embodiment, the energy propagation limiting component 276 comprises an anodized material.

In fig. 9H illustrates an embodiment comprising a plurality of energy locations 118 and a plurality of energy waveguides 112, wherein the first energy limiting structure 251 is positioned proximate the surface of the energy locations 118 and has certain refractive, diffractive, reflective, or other energy properties. The energy propagation limiting structure 251 may be configured to limit the first subset of energy propagation paths 290 to a smaller range of propagation paths 275 by limiting the energy propagation along the energy propagation paths 274 . The second energy propagation limitation structure 261 is configured to vary the energy propagation paths 275 to a certain extent depending on which of the plurality of energy locations 118 the energy propagation paths 275 pass through. The energy propagation restriction structure 261 may uniformly or non-uniformly alter the energy propagation paths 275, allowing certain energy propagation paths 274 to be blocked. A third energy limiting structure 254 is positioned perpendicularly between the energy location regions 118. The energy limiting structure 254 is absorptive and has a certain height along the energy path 275 to block certain energy paths 274. The energy propagation limiting component 276 has an absorptive capacity to limit the propagation of energy 280 while allowing energy 281 to pass through it. A combined system of similar or different waveguide elements 112 is configured to substantially fill the effective aperture 285 of the waveguide element with energy from a plurality of energy locations 118 and alter the energy propagation path 273 determined by the particular system.

In one embodiment, energy limiting component 124 may include a structure for reducing power or changing energy paths. In one embodiment, the energy limiting component 124 may include one or more energy absorbing elements or walls located within the system to limit the passage of energy into or out of the waveguides 112. In one embodiment, the energy propagation limiting component 124 may include a predetermined numerical aperture located within the system 100 to limit the angular distribution of energy passing into and out of the waveguide 112.

In one embodiment, energy limiting component 124 may comprise one or more energy blocking walls, structures, metal, plastic, glass, epoxy, pigment, liquid, display technology, or other absorbent or structural material of a certain thickness between the plane of energy locations 122 and the plane of an array of waveguides with voids or structures up to the pitch of the waveguide aperture diameter.

In one embodiment, the energy limiting structure 124 is located adjacent to the first energy location 122 and includes a light transmission device plate adjacent to the first energy location 122. In one embodiment, energy propagation limiting component 124 may include a light transmission device plate comprising one or more spatially constant or variable numerical apertures, wherein the magnitude of the numerical aperture substantially limits the angular distribution of energy passing into and out of waveguide 112. For example, a numerical aperture embodiment may be made with

- 16 046676 the ability to provide an angular distribution that is two or approximately twice the field of view formed between the energy location and perpendicular to the center of the actual size of the waveguide element, entrance pupil, aperture or other physical parameter for energy distribution, to provide off-axis fill factor for of a given aperture 134 waveguides.

In one embodiment, the energy propagation limiting component 124 may comprise a bicomponent element, a gradient index element, a Fresnel optical element, a holographic optical element, a zone plate, or other diffractive optical element that modifies the path of energy waves through the system to reduce scattering, diffusion, stray light or chromatic aberration. In one embodiment, energy propagation limiting component 124 may include a positive or negative optical element at or near a location in which the energy propagation path is changed to further increase the duty cycle of waveguide aperture 134 or reduce the proportion of stray light. In one embodiment, the energy propagation limiting component 124 may comprise an active or passive polarized element in combination with a second active or passive polarized element configured to provide spatial or temporal multiplex attenuation of certain regions of the energy location 122, waveguide aperture 134, or other regions. In one embodiment, energy propagation limiting component 124 may comprise an active or passive aperture barrier diaphragm configured to provide spatial or temporal multiplex attenuation to specific regions of energy location 122, waveguide aperture 134, or other regions. In one embodiment, energy limiting component 124 comprises any or any combination of the following:

a) physical structures in the form of energy barriers;

b) three-dimensional, tapering or multifaceted mechanical structures;

c) aperture diaphragms or masks;

d) light transmission devices and controlled numerical apertures;

e) components for providing refraction, diffraction or reflection;

f) reflective elements;

g) solid or combined multi-level elements;

h) holographic optical elements and digitally encoded optical devices;

i) 3D printed elements or lithographic molds or copies;

j) Fresnel lenses, gratings, zone plates, two-component optical elements;

k) fiber optic devices with total internal reflection or Anderson localization;

L) gradient index optical devices or various materials for refractive index matching;

m) glass, polymer, gas, solids, liquids;

n) milli-, micro- and nanoscale elements; and

o) polarizers, prisms or beam splitters.

In one embodiment, the energy blocking structure 124 may be configured to include hexagonally packed energy blocking baffles configured to form voids that taper along the Z axis with decreasing void size upon reaching the location of the waveguide system aperture diaphragm. In another embodiment, energy blocking structure 124 may be configured to include hexagonally packed energy blocking baffles coupled to the light transmission device plate. In another embodiment, energy limiting structure 124 may be configured to include hexagonally packed energy blocking baffles filled with energy of a given refractive index to further modify the path of energy wave projection to and from the energy waveguide array. In another embodiment, a diffractive or refractive element may be placed on, attached to, or coupled to the energy blocking baffle with a specific waveguide setpoint to further modify the path of energy projection to and from the waveguide elements 112. In another example, the energy limiting structure 124 may be formed as a single mechanical assembly, and the energy waveguide array 112 may be placed on, attached to, or coupled to the energy limiting component 124 assembly. It should be appreciated that other implementations may be used to provide other power waveguide configurations or ultra-high resolution aspects.

In one embodiment, the energy limiting structure 124 may be located adjacent to the first energy location 122 and generally extends in the direction

- 17 046676 of the first energy waveguide 104. In one embodiment, the energy limiting structure 124 may be located adjacent to the first energy waveguide 104 and generally extends in the direction of the first energy location 122.

In one embodiment, the energy limiting components are configured to limit the spread of electromagnetic energy.

In one embodiment, the energy limiting components are configured to limit the propagation of mechanical energy.

In one embodiment, by interleaving, superimposing, reflecting, combining, or otherwise providing appropriate material properties in one or more structures in the energy limiting component and at one or more levels constituting the energy waveguide system, the energy limiting components are configured to simultaneous attenuation of mechanical, electromagnetic energy and/or other forms of energy.

In one embodiment, the energy waveguide array may be configured to form a flat surface or a curved surface of a desired shape. in fig. 13 is an illustration of an embodiment 1100 with an array of energy waveguides 1102 arranged in a curved configuration.

Embodiments of the present invention may be configured to direct energy from any wavelength within the electromagnetic spectrum, including visible light, ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, x-rays, etc. The present disclosure may also be configured to direct other forms of energy , such as acoustic sound vibrations and tactile pressure waves.

In fig. 10 is an illustration of an additional embodiment of a power waveguide system 300. The energy waveguide system 300 may comprise a plurality of energy propagation paths 304 and may include a reflective element 314 comprising a first reflector 306 disposed on a first side 310 of the reflective element 314, the first reflector 306 including one or more aperture diaphragms 316 formed therein, and a second reflector 308 located on a second side 312 of the reflective element 314, wherein the second reflector 308 includes one or more aperture diaphragms 318 formed therein. The first and second reflectors 306, 308 are configured to direct energy along a plurality of energy propagation paths 304 passing through the aperture diaphragms of the first and second reflectors 316, 318 and a plurality of energy locations 320 on the first side 310 of the reflective element 314. A first subset 322 of a plurality of energy propagation paths 304 passes through the first energy location 324. The reflective element 314 is configured to direct energy along a first energy propagation path 326 from a first subset 322 of a plurality of energy propagation paths 304 .

In one embodiment, the first energy propagation path 326 may be defined by a first leading beam 338 formed between the first energy location 324 and the first aperture diaphragm 328 of the first reflector 306. The first energy propagation path 326 may extend from the first aperture diaphragm 330 of the second reflector 308 to the second side 312 reflective element 314 in a unique direction extending from the first aperture diaphragm 330 of the second reflector 308, which is determined by at least the first energy location 324.

In one embodiment, energy directed along the first energy propagation path 326 substantially fills the first aperture diaphragm 328 of the first reflector 306 and the first aperture diaphragm 330 of the second reflector 308.

In one embodiment, energy propagation limiting component 332 may be configured to limit energy propagation along a portion 350 of a first subset 322 of a plurality of energy propagation paths 304 that do not pass through the first aperture diaphragm 328 of the first reflector 306.

In one embodiment, in which the energy is light and the energy waveguide is configured to direct said light, given an ideal parabolic design, any ray that passes through or away from the focus of the first reflector will be reflected parallel to the optical axis, reflected from the second reflector, and then transferred at the same angle in reverse orientation.

In one embodiment, the first reflector and the second reflector have different focal lengths to provide different magnification of energetic information and/or change in angular overlap of the field of view when a viewer positioned above the surface of the second reflector sees the reflected information. Aperture stops can be of different sizes for different design purposes in combination with different focal lengths.

An additional embodiment is provided in which both reflective surfaces are conical, polyhedral, curved into a non-linear shape, or otherwise. The type of this curvature is critical to ensure that the information displayed and the information viewed can have a non-linear relationship to change or, more simply,

- 18 046676 research of signal processing.

In one embodiment, energy waveguides include flexible reflective surfaces capable of dynamically changing the profile of the reflective surface to change the path of energy through the energy waveguide system.

In one embodiment, additional waveguides, including, without limitation, reflective or optical elements, birefringent materials, liquid lenses, refractive, diffractive, holographic elements, or the like, may be located anywhere along the energy propagation path. According to this approach, in one such embodiment, a design is proposed such that when viewing, viewing angles have a significantly different position compared to the aperture diaphragm, and the focal length will be provided differently. in fig. Figure 11 shows one such application of this approach.

Fig. 11 is an illustration of an embodiment of a power waveguide system 700. The energy waveguide system 700 includes first and second reflectors 702 and 704, respectively. At the focal point of the second reflector 702 are additional optical elements 706 and an energy limiter 707 located perpendicular to the energy location 708. Additional optical elements are configured to influence energy propagation paths for energy propagating along the energy waveguide system 700. Additional waveguide elements may be included in the energy waveguide system 700, or additional energy waveguide systems may be placed in the energy propagation path.

In one embodiment, the energy waveguide element array may include:

a) Hexagonal packaging of an array of energy waveguides;

b) Square packing of an array of energy waveguides;

c) Packaging an array of energy waveguides of irregular or semi-regular shape;

d) Curved or non-planar array of energy waveguides;

e) Spherical array of energy waveguides;

f) Cylindrical array of energy waveguides;

g) Inclined array of energy waveguides of regular shape;

h) Inclined array of energy waveguides of irregular shape;

i) Spatially varying array of energy waveguides;

j) Multi-level array of energy waveguides.

In fig. 12 shows the differences between the square pack 901, the hex pack 902, and the irregular pack 903 of the energy waveguide element array.

Energy waveguides can be manufactured on a glass or plastic substrate including, in particular, elements for transmitting light, if necessary, and can be made using glass or plastic optical elements, in particular including devices for transmitting light, also if necessary. . Additionally, the energy waveguide may be multi-faceted for designs that contain multiple propagation paths, or other column/row or checkerboard orientations, particularly considering, without limitation, multiple propagation paths separated by beam splitters or prisms, or configurations waveguides with side-by-side elements that can be placed end-to-end, or a single monolithic plate, or side-by-side elements with a curved arrangement (for example, a polyhedral cylinder or spherical shape with variations in the geometric shape of the side-by-side elements to accommodate them) mates, respectively), with curved surfaces including, but not limited to, spherical and cylindrical surfaces or any other arbitrary geometric shape required for a particular application.

In one embodiment, in which the energy waveguide array has a curved configuration, the curved waveguide can be manufactured by heat treatment or by direct fabrication on curved surfaces incorporating elements for transmitting light.

In one embodiment, an array of energy waveguides may be adjacent to other waveguides and may cover entire walls and/or ceilings and/or rooms depending on the particular application. The waveguides can be configured to be mounted directly on top or bottom of the substrate. The waveguide may be configured to be coupled directly to the energy surface or biased to an air gap or other bias medium. The waveguide may include an alignment device to enable active or passive plane focusing as a permanent fixture or tooling element. The described geometric shapes allow optimization of the viewing angle determined by the perpendicular to the waveguide element and the displayed images. For a very large flat energy surface, most of the angular samples on the left and rightmost sides of the surface are largely outside the visible range of the surrounding space. For the same energy surface with a curved contour and a curved waveguide, the possibility of using most of these propagating rays to form a converging

- 19 046676 volume increases significantly. However, this is provided at the expense of usable information in the off-axis position. As a rule, the specific application of the design determines which of the proposed designs will be implemented. In addition, the waveguide can be made with an element having a structure of a regular, unequal in different conditions or zoned shape, and can be made with an additional waveguide element for tilting the said element to a given axis of the waveguide.

In embodiments in which the energy waveguides are lenses, these embodiments may include both convex and concave lenses and may involve fabricating the lenses directly on the surface of the light transmission device. This may include destructive or additive methods for producing lens elements, which involve removing material by molding or stamping and profiling the element lens or directly creating a replica manufactured directly on that surface.

One embodiment may include a multi-layer waveguide design that provides additional options for optimizing and controlling the energy propagation angle. All of the above embodiments can be combined together independently or in combination with this approach. In one embodiment, a multi-level design may be provided with inclined waveguide structures on the first waveguide element and a zonally varying design for the second waveguide element.

One embodiment involves designing and manufacturing a waveguide with liquid lenses on the element or region connected to each other as a single waveguide. An additional design according to this approach contains a single electrical waveguide cell with a birefringent or liquid lens that can simultaneously modify the entire waveguide array. This design provides the ability to dynamically control the effective waveguide parameters of the system without changing the waveguide design.

In one direct illumination embodiment, a wall-mounted two-dimensional light field or holographic display can be provided using any combination of the information provided herein. The wall-mounted configuration is designed in such a way that the viewer looks at an image that can be displayed in front of, behind, or on the designed display surface. With this approach, the angular distribution of the beams can be uniform or can be characterized by increased density at any particular placement in space, depending on the specific display requirements. In this way, waveguides can be configured to change the angular distribution depending on the surface profile. For example, for a given distance perpendicular to the display surface and a planar array of waveguides, an optically perfect waveguide will provide increased density perpendicular to the center of the display with a progressive increase in beam separation distance along a given perpendicular segment to the display. Conversely, if rays are observed radially relative to the display, when the viewer maintains a constant distance between the eyes and the center point of the display, the observed rays will have a constant density throughout the entire field of view. Depending on the expected viewing conditions, the properties of each element can be optimized by changing the waveguide functions to create any possible beam distribution to improve the viewing experience for any such environment.

In fig. 14 is an illustration of embodiment 1200, which shows how one waveguide element function 1202 can provide identical energy distribution 1204 throughout the viewing environment 1206 in the radial direction, while the same waveguide element function 1202 when propagated to a plane at distance 1208, which is constant and parallel to the waveguide surface 1210 will likely provide increased density at the center 1212 of the waveguide element's waveguide surface and reduced density further from the center 1212 of the waveguide surface.

In fig. 15 illustrates an embodiment 1300 that illustrates the configuration of waveguide element functions 1302 to provide uniform density on a plane a constant distance away 1304 and parallel to the waveguide surface 1306, which simultaneously provides an apparent lower density at the center 1310 of the waveguide surface 1306 when measured around a radius 1308 near the center. waveguide surface 1306.

The ability to generate a waveguide function that changes the sampling frequency with changing field distance is an aspect of various waveguide distortions and is known in the art. Generally, the presence of distortion is undesirable for the function of a waveguide, however, for the purpose of designing a waveguide element, all of these characteristics are stated as advantages for the ability to further control the propagating energy and distribute it depending on the specific field of view required. This may require adding multiple functions, or layers, or a gradient of functions throughout the waveguide array depending on the field of view requirements.

In one embodiment, these functions are also optimized by using curved energy surfaces and/or a waveguide array. Changing the normal of the guide beam angle with respect to the energy surface itself may also improve efficiency and a function other than a flat surface may be required, although gradient, modification and/or optimization of the waveguide function is still applied.

In addition, using the resulting optimized waveguide array using waveguide assembly techniques, the effective size of the waveguide can be further increased by placing each of the waveguides and systems adjacent to each other to provide the required dimensions or design parameters. It is important to note that a waveguide array may have a seam artifact as opposed to an energy surface due to reflections occurring between any two separate substrates, apparent differences in contrast across a mechanical seam, or due to a packaging pattern in a non-square grid of any shape. To counteract this effect, a larger single waveguide can be created, refractive matching materials can be used between the edges of any two surfaces, or regular mesh waveguide designs can be used to ensure that elements are not separated between the two waveguide surfaces, and/or Precision cutting between components can be used to limit energy propagation and bonding along a non-square mesh waveguide structure.

With this approach, it is possible to create 2D room-scale images, light field and/or holographic displays. These displays can be continuous across all large flat or curved walls, can be configured to cover all walls in a cubic fashion, or can be designed in a curved configuration that involves forming either a cylindrical type shape or a spherical shape to increase the effective viewing angle of the entire system.

Alternatively, a waveguide function can be created to deflect the propagated energy, essentially eliminating an area that is undesirable at the desired viewing angle and causes a non-uniform distribution of the propagated energy. This can be achieved by implementing a Taurus-shaped optical profile, an annular lens, a concentric prism array, a Fresnel or diffraction function, a two-component, diffractive, holographic and/or any other waveguide design that is capable of providing a larger aperture and a shorter focal length (which in this case will be referred to as an elementary Fresnel lens) to enable the practical formation of a single- or multi-element (or multi-level) Fresnel waveguide array. It may or may not be combined with additional optical device, including additional waveguide array, depending on the waveguide configuration.

To ensure large energy propagation angles (e.g. 180 degrees) a very low effective f-number is required (e.g. <f/0.5) and to ensure that four-dimensional disk inversion does not occur (observation capability for a beam from one waveguide element of unwanted energy locations under any second waveguide element), it is additionally required that the focal length be suitably matched to the required viewing angle. This means that to provide a field of view of approximately 160 degrees, a lens of approximately f/0.17 and an approximately matched focal length of approximately 0.17mm are required.

In fig. 16 illustrates an embodiment 1400 in which a plurality of energy waveguides comprise diffractive waveguide elements 1402 and shows one proposed design, namely a modified Fresnel waveguide element design 1404, which effectively provides an extremely short focal length and low f-number while directing energy beams into precisely defined locations 1406.

In fig. 17 illustrates an embodiment 1500 in which a plurality of energy waveguides comprise elements 1502 and illustrates how such a waveguide configuration 1506 can be used in an array to provide maximum beam density for a desired field of view 1504.

Another embodiment of the proposed modified waveguide configuration provides a method of providing radially symmetrical or helical rings or tilting two or more materials along one or both of a transverse or longitudinal orientation with a refractive index divided by a given number, the pitch of each ring being associated with a diameter X. where X can be constant or variable.

In yet another embodiment, uniform or non-linear distribution of all beams is achieved through modified wall-mount waveguide configurations and/or desk-mount waveguide designs, as well as all indoor or outdoor waveguide designs in which multiple waveguides are placed adjacent to each other , or without their use.

Using a waveguide array, it is possible to create planes of projected light that converge in space at a location that is not located on the surface of the display itself. When determining the path of these rays, the geometric aspects and how the converging rays can be clearly seen

- 21 046676 can be displayed both on the screen (at some distance from the viewer), and off the screen (in the direction of the viewer), or simultaneously in both locations. Because planes are further away from the viewer in flat panel displays with traditional waveguide array designs, said planes tend to have a larger viewpoint frustum and may be occluded by the physical frame of the display itself depending on the number of lighting sources involved. In contrast, when planes are moved toward the viewer on flat panel displays with traditional waveguide array designs, said planes tend to have a viewpoint frustum that is compressed, but are visible from all angles at the specified location as long as the viewer is at the angle at which the energy falls by eye, and the virtual plane does not move beyond the angle formed between the viewer and the far edge of the active display area.

In one embodiment, the observed two-dimensional image or images are displayed off-screen.

In another embodiment, the observed two-dimensional image or images are displayed on a screen.

In another embodiment, the observed two-dimensional image or images are simultaneously displayed both on-screen and off-screen.

In another embodiment, the observed two-dimensional image or images are displayed in combination with other 3D elements or displayed as text for another graphical design or to provide interactivity.

In another embodiment, the observed two-dimensional image or images are displayed at a higher effective two-dimensional resolution compared to the physical number of X and Y waveguide elements that would otherwise be inferred due to the ability of the rays to converge at a higher density in space compared to physical elements.

The novelty of this approach is that it is entirely possible to fabricate a holographic display that provides volume rendering capabilities and very high-resolution two-dimensional image display without the need for any additional mechanical or electronic device or changes to the waveguides in the display without being visible to the viewer. switch between flat and three-dimensional images or create other interesting effects.

Using this property, you can programmatically isolate certain light sources presented to the viewer that are only visible at specified angles to the display.

In one embodiment, one pixel or group of pixels is illuminated under each waveguide element at an angle that is triangulated with respect to the viewer's eye and presents an image that can only be seen from that viewer's position in space.

In another embodiment, a second light source or group of light sources is simultaneously applied to triangulate to a position from which only a second viewer can see them, and contains an image that may be the same as or different from the first image presented to the first viewer. To avoid misinterpretation, note that there may be X addressable viewpoints, where X represents the number of individually addressable viewpoints, which may be one or more.

In another embodiment, these images are displayed using eye, retinal, object, or similar sensors and tracking algorithms known in the art to dynamically change the location of the pixel backlight to dynamically display the images at a triangulated location between the viewer and the pixels under each waveguide element. This method can be applied to one or more viewers. The tracking may be performed in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional/stereoscopic manner, or in a manner using other depth sensing technologies known in the art.

In one embodiment, the first and second regions have a parabolic profile, with the focus of the first region located on the top of the second region, the focus of the second region located on the top of the first region, the display surface located on an aperture located on the top of the second region, and an aperture equivalent in diameter to the surface the display presented at the top of the second region is located at the top of the first region. With this approach, the image on the display surface will be above the surface in the absence of any physical surfaces, since the observed rays that pass through the focus of the second region from the off-axis point of view will be reflected from the surface of the second region and will be parallel to the first surface, and then below that the same angle from the observed position in the reverse orientation from the first region to the display surface.

In one embodiment, a dual parabolic transmission system comprises two reflective regions, the focus of each being located on the top of an alternate reflector, an imaging surface located on the top of the second region, and an aperture equivalent to

- 22 046676 tape along the diameter of the presented display surface located on the first area creating a virtual image on the display surface. When using a waveguide array, holographic display or light field display, the observed images retain the character of the holographic data and are also displayed as being in space in the absence of a physical display surface.

In another embodiment, the focus location of the two regions is different to provide enlargement or reduction. In a second embodiment, these areas have matched focal lengths and are offset by a distance greater than the focal length to create a high magnification virtual image.

In another embodiment, the parabolic profiles are manufactured to provide a specific shape, resulting in different viewing positions relative to the display to provide different display surface geometries, or other desired viewing angle or condition.

In another embodiment, said regions comprise multiple edges to independently propagate light rays across the edged region rather than being designed as a singular surface.

In another embodiment, the reflective surface is formed of energy transfer devices such that the driving beam angle (CRA) of the energy surface exceeds the viewing angle possible for a curve applied to one or more surfaces, the first surface which would otherwise be reflective surface, has a certain geometric profile and a second surface at the other end of the waveguide element has a certain geometric profile, and together they have a CRA that provides energy reflection from the viewer's position, and the addition of panels of energy surfaces can be realized on the second surface, thus provide energy information that cannot be observed from the viewer's direct position, but indirectly the energy information through one or more reflective surfaces and the associated calibration method required to calculate the reflected image data, the ultimately observable data, may be provided.

Although various embodiments have been described above in accordance with the principles disclosed herein, it should be understood that they are presented by way of example only and are not limiting. Accordingly, the scope and scope of the present invention(s) should not be limited by any of the above described embodiments, but should be determined solely by the claims and their equivalents implied by this disclosure. Moreover, the above-mentioned advantages and features provided in the described embodiments do not limit the application of such published claims to processes and structures that partially or fully realize the above-mentioned advantages.

It should be understood that the basic features of this disclosure may be used in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will be able to identify or establish, using no more than standard experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure and are covered by the claims.

In addition, section headings in this document are provided for coherence with sentences consistent with 37 CFR 1.77 or others to provide organization of information. These headings are not intended to limit or characterize the present invention(s) set forth in any claim resulting from this disclosure. In particular, and by way of example, although headings refer to the Technical Field, such claims shall not be limited to the language under that heading to describe the so-called technical field. In addition, the description of technology in the Background section should not be construed as an assumption that the technology is prior art to any invention(s) in this disclosure. The Disclosure of the Invention section should also not be construed as a description of the invention(s) set forth in the published claims. In addition, any reference in this disclosure to the invention in the singular form should not be used to imply that there is only one point of novelty in this disclosure. A variety of inventions may be set forth in accordance with the limitations of the plurality of claims resulting from this disclosure, and such claims accordingly define the present invention(s) and the equivalents thereof so protected. In all cases, the scope of such claims should be considered on their merits in light of this disclosure, but should not be limited by the headings set forth herein.

The use of singular grammatical forms in combination with the term containing in the claims and/or description can mean one, but they also mean one or more, at least one and one or more than one. The term or is used in the claims to mean and/or, unless explicitly stated to refer only to alternatives or the alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports the definition,

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Claims (18)

which only applies to the alternatives and to and/or. Throughout this application, the term is roughly used to indicate that the value includes the inherent change in uncertainty for the device, the method used to determine the value, or the existing change for the study subjects. In general, but subject to the foregoing discussion, a numerical value herein that is modified by an approximation word such as approximately may differ from the stated value by at least ±1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10. 12 or 15%. As used in this specification and claim(s), the words containing (and any form of inclusion, such as contain and contains), having (and any form of presence, such as have and has), including (and any form of inclusion, such as include and include) or containing (and any form of containing, such as contain and contain) are inclusive or non-limiting and do not exclude the presence of additional, not listed elements or method steps. Words of comparison, measurement and time, such as at a point in time, equivalent, during, completed, etc., should be understood to mean essentially at a point in time, essentially equivalent, essentially in time, essentially completed, etc. the term essentially means that such comparisons, measurements and time intervals are practicable to implicitly or explicitly achieve the stated desired result. Words referring to the relative position of elements, such as near, in close proximity to, and next to, should indicate a location close enough for them to have a significant influence on the interaction of the corresponding elements of the system. Other words of approximation similarly refer to a state which, when so changed, is not necessarily understood as absolute or ideal, but would mean sufficient proximity to those skilled in the art to ensure that the state is present. The extent to which the description may vary will depend on how large the changes may be, yet one skilled in the art will be able to determine that the modified feature still has the required characteristics and capabilities of the unmodified feature. As used herein, a term or combination thereof refers to all permutations and combinations of the listed elements preceding the term. For example, A, B, C or combinations thereof are intended to include at least one of: A, B, C, AB, AC, BC or ABC and, if order is important in a particular context, also BA, CA, CB, CBA, BCA, DIA, BAC or CAB. Also expressly included in the same example are combinations that contain repetitions of one or more elements or terms, such as BB, AAA, AB, BBC, AAABCCSS, CBBAAAA, CABABB, etc. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that there is generally no limitation on the number of elements or terms in any combination unless otherwise obvious from the context. All compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and performed without undue experimentation in accordance with the present disclosure. Although the compositions and methods of this disclosure have been described in relation to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that changes may be made to the compositions and/or methods, and changes may be made to the steps or sequence of steps described herein. method document without departing from the spirit, spirit and scope of the present disclosure. All such like substitutions and variations apparent to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. CLAIM 1. An energy waveguide system for creating multiple energy propagation paths, comprising: an energy waveguide array comprising a first side and a second side and configured to direct energy therethrough along a plurality of energy propagation paths passing through a plurality of energy locations on the first side; wherein a first subset of the plurality of energy propagation paths passes through the first energy location; wherein the first energy waveguide is configured to direct energy along a first energy propagation path from a first subset of the plurality of energy propagation paths, wherein the first energy propagation path is defined by a first guide beam formed between the first energy location and the first energy waveguide, and further, the first energy waveguide energy travels from the first energy waveguide to the second side of the array in a unique direction that is determined by at least the first energy location; and wherein the energy directed along the first energy propagation path by the first energy waveguide substantially fills the first aperture of the first energy waveguide; And - 24 046676 an energy limiting component located such that it limits the spread of energy along a portion of a first subset of a plurality of energy propagation paths that do not pass through the first aperture, wherein the energy limiting component has a numerical aperture for changing the angular distribution of the energy passing into and out of the first energy waveguide. 2. The energy waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the energy limiting component is located on a first side between the energy waveguide array and the plurality of energy locations. 3. The energy waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the first energy waveguide has a two-dimensional spatial coordinate, and the unique direction defined by at least the first energy location corresponds to a two-dimensional angular coordinate, wherein the two-dimensional spatial coordinate and the two-dimensional angular coordinate form a set of four-dimensional (4D) coordinates. 4. The energy waveguide system of claim 3, wherein the energy directed along the first energy propagation path includes one or more energy beams directed through the first energy waveguide in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first drive beam. 5. The energy waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the energy directed along the first energy path converges with the energy directed along the second energy path through the second energy waveguide. 6. The energy waveguide system of claim 5, wherein the first and second energy propagation paths converge at a location on the second side of the array. 7. The energy waveguide system of claim 5, wherein the first and second energy propagation paths converge at a location on the first side of the array. 8. The energy waveguide system of claim 5, wherein the first and second energy propagation paths converge at a location between the first and second sides of the array. 9. The energy waveguide system of claim 1, wherein each energy waveguide includes an energy directing structure selected from the group consisting of: a) a structure designed to change the angular direction of the energy passing through it; b) a structure containing at least one numerical aperture; c) a structure configured to redirect energy along at least one internal surface; d) devices for transmitting energy. 10. The energy waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the energy limiting component comprises a structure for reducing power or altering energy paths selected from the group consisting of: a) structures to block the spread of energy; b) an element configured to change the first energy propagation path to change the fill factor of the first aperture; c) a structure configured to limit the angular extent of the energy in the vicinity of the first energy location. 11. The energy waveguide system of claim 10, wherein said structure configured to limit the angular extent of energy near the first energy location comprises a light transmission device plate located adjacent the first energy location. 12. The energy waveguide system of claim 10, wherein the energy propagation blocking structure comprises at least one numerical aperture. 13. The energy waveguide system of claim 10, wherein the energy propagation blocking structure comprises a baffle structure. 14. The energy waveguide system of claim 10, wherein the energy blocking structure is located adjacent the first energy waveguide and generally extends in the direction of the first energy location. 15. The energy waveguide system of claim 10, wherein the energy blocking structure is located adjacent the first energy location and generally extends in the direction of the first energy waveguide. 16. The energy waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the energy waveguide array is configured to form a flat surface. 17. The energy waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the energy waveguide array is configured to form a curved surface. 18. The energy waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the energy directed along the first energy propagation path is electromagnetic energy determined by wavelength, wherein the wavelength refers to a mode selected from the group consisting of: -