Patent Publication Number: US-2022224878-A1

Title: Virtual 3d display apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a virtual 3D display apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Virtual 3D display apparatuses are generally known. Some of these display apparatuses display multi-dimension virtual images or models in the physical world for viewing by multiple audiences with naked eyes. In operation, the display apparatus is linked to an online or offline source of virtual models created by pertaining spatial modeling and graphical authoring software and/or deliverables from multimedia technologies, e.g. videos, games, animations etc., procurable or producible in the market. 
     In the vast majority of cases, experiences indicate that virtual 3D images generated by known virtual 3D display apparatuses are far from satisfactory in terms of quality and in particular lifelikeness when compared to what would normally be expected from a model in the physical world that mimics a real object. 
     The invention seeks to eliminate or at least to mitigate such a shortcoming by providing a new or otherwise improved virtual 3D display apparatus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention, there is provided a virtual 3D display apparatus comprising a display zone, in which a virtual 3D image is to be displayed, an optical fiber assembly, and a prime mover for driving the optical fiber assembly in motion. The optical fiber assembly includes an input, an output positioned in the display zone, and a plurality of optical fibers each having an input end arranged at the input of the optical fiber assembly for entrance of light and an output end arranged at the output of the optical fiber assembly. Included is a plurality of light sources provided at the input of the optical fiber assembly, with each light source at the input end of a respective optical fiber for generating a respective light signal that enters and travels along the optical fiber and is then emitted at the output end thereof. The emitted light signals together form a virtual 3D image in the display zone upon motion of the optical fiber assembly by the prime mover. There is also a plurality of control elements provided at the input of the optical fiber assembly and in particular the input ends of respective optical fibers, each for operation to make adjustment of a said virtual 3D image based on a control signal that travels along the respective optical fiber, with the adjustment to be made to a part of a said virtual 3D image associated with the same optical fiber. 
     Preferably, at least one of the optical fibers has at least two, first and second input ends, with a respective light source provided at the first input end and a respective control element provided at the second input end. 
     More preferably, said at least one optical fiber incorporates a multimode combiner connecting said at least two input ends. 
     In one preferred embodiment, at least one of the control elements comprises a light sensor for sensing ambient light at the output end of the respective optical fiber, which acts as a said control signal and travels from the output end along the optical fiber to the light sensor. 
     More preferably, the adjustment comprises adjusting brightness of the light source associated with the optical fiber based on said ambient light sensed by the light sensor. 
     In another preferred embodiment, at least one of the optical fibers incorporates control means at the output end for controlling an optical effect at the output end of the optical fiber, and the associated control element comprises a signal generator for generating a control signal that travels from the input end along the optical fiber to the control means for controlling the control means to adjust the optical effect at the output end of the optical fiber. 
     More preferably, the control means comprises a lens whose optical effect is adjustable in response to a control signal generated by the signal generator. 
     Further more preferably, the optical effect of the lens that is adjustable comprises opacity. 
     Yet further more preferably, the signal generator is adapted to generate a control signal that is an electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths or frequencies outside the visible electromagnetic spectrum, and preferably a UV control signal. 
     In a preferred construction, the optical fibers are divided into a plurality of groups, with the output ends of the optical fibers of each group being arranged in a sequence for lateral movement across a portion of the display zone to form a respective part of a virtual 3D image. 
     More preferably, the output ends of the optical fibers of each group are arranged in a linear sequence. 
     More preferably, the optical fibers of each group are arranged in at least one of a flat and curved plane configuration. 
     Further more preferably, the optical fibers of each group are arranged in a flat plane configuration, and the groups of optical fibers are arranged in an equiangular arrangement about an axis of the optical fiber assembly extending across the input and output thereof. 
     Yet further more preferably, the equiangular arrangement is also a radial symmetrical arrangement. 
     Yet yet further more preferably, the groups of optical fibers are arranged in a radial symmetrical arrangement over an angle in the range of substantially 180° to 360° About the axis. 
     It is preferred that the optical fibers of each group are arranged with their output ends in a curved plane configuration and at least a part of the rest in a flat plane configuration adjoining the curved plane configuration. 
     It is further preferred that the curved plane configuration of each group of optical fibers turns from the flat plane configuration through an angle in the range of substantially 0° to 90°. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the groups of optical fibers are arranged in a radial symmetrical arrangement about an axis of the optical fiber assembly extending across the input and output thereof. 
     More preferably, the groups of optical fibers are arranged in a radial symmetrical arrangement over an angle of substantially 180° about the axis. 
     It is preferred that the output ends of the optical fibers are arranged, as between adjacent groups, at different levels to progressively occupy the display zone. 
     It is preferred that the output ends of the optical fibers of each group are arranged at a different level relative to those of an adjacent group, thereby together progressively occupying the display zone. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the optical fiber assembly is arranged to be driven by the prime mover to rotate about the axis. 
     Preferably, the display zone has a substantially cylindrical shape. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of a virtual 3D display apparatus in accordance with the invention, which includes an optical fiber assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of one of a plurality of groups of optical fibers of the optical fiber assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged side view of input ends of three of the optical fibers of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of each optical fiber of  FIG. 3 , which has three input ends, showing the function of a first input end thereof; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view similar to  FIG. 4 , showing the function of a second input end of the optical fiber; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view similar to  FIG. 5 , showing the function of a third input end of the optical fiber; 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the optical fiber assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7B  is a side view of the optical fiber assembly of  FIG. 7A ; 
         FIG. 7C  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 7A , outlining a display zone of the optical fiber assembly; 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the optical fiber assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8B  is a side perspective view of the optical fiber assembly of  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 8C  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 8A , outlining a display zone of the optical fiber assembly; 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the optical fiber assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9B  is a side view of the optical fiber assembly of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 9C  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 9A , outlining a display zone of the optical fiber assembly; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the optical fiber assembly of  FIG. 1  generating a virtual 3D image of a sphere, illustrating ambiance control; 
         FIGS. 11A to 11C  are sequential diagrams illustrating the operation of the virtual 3D display apparatus of  FIG. 1  in generating a virtual 3D image of a sphere; and 
         FIGS. 12A to 12D  are sequential diagrams illustrating the same operation, but on a pixel level, of the virtual 3D display apparatus of  FIG. 1  in generating the virtual 3D image of a sphere. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 to 9C  of the drawings, there is shown a virtual 3D display apparatus  10  embodying the invention, which comprises a display zone  100 , in which a virtual 3D image is to be displayed, an optical fiber assembly  200  including an input  201  and an output  202 , with the output  202  positioned in the display zone  100 , and a prime mover  300  for driving the optical fiber assembly  200  in motion. The optical fiber assembly  200  has an axis and, in particular, a vertical central axis X that extends across or through the input  201  and output  202  thereof. The optical fiber assembly  200  is arranged to be driven by the prime mover  300  to rotate about the axis X, with the display zone  100  being of a substantially cylindrical shape. The prime mover  300  is preferably provided by an electric motor  300 . 
     The optical fiber assembly  200  includes a plurality of optical fibers  210 , each having an input end  211  arranged at the input  201  of the optical fiber assembly  200  for entrance of light and an output end  212  arranged at the output  202  of the optical fiber assembly  200 . Included is a plurality of light sources  400  provided at the input  201  of the optical fiber assembly  200 . Each light source  400  is positioned at the input end  211  of a respective optical fiber  210  for generating a respective light signal that enters and travels along the optical fiber  210  and is then emitted at the output end  212  thereof to generate an (RGB) illuminating spot, i.e. pixel, at the other end  212 . Such illuminating spots on the optical fibers  210  together form a virtual 3D image in the display zone  100  upon rotation of the optical fiber assembly  200  by the motor  300  reaching a threshold speed, whereupon optical illusion will be perceived by audiences due to persistent of vision (POV). 
     There is a plurality of control elements  500  provided at the input  201  of the optical fiber assembly  200  and in particular the input ends  211  of respective optical fibers  210 . Each control element  500  is for operation to make adjustment of a said virtual 3D image based on a control signal that travels along the respective optical fiber  210  in one of two opposite directions. The adjustment is to be made to a part of the virtual 3D image that is associated with the same optical fiber  210 . 
     In general, at least one of the optical fibers  210  has at least two input ends that are provided with respective control elements  500  and one light source  400 . In the described embodiment, for the vast majority if not all of the cases, each optical fiber  210  has three input ends  211 A,  211 B and  211 C, to which there are provided respective first, second and third control elements  510 ,  520  and  530  and the one light source  400 . 
     The multiple ends  211 A- 211 C are jointed to the optical fiber&#39;s main body by means of a multimode combiner  230 . The multimode combiner  230  provides a low loss means of converging light or light signal from more than one source, i.e. the light source  400  and two control elements  500 , into one optical fiber, i.e. the optical fiber  210 . In the reverse direction, the multimode combiner  230  diverge light/light signal from the optical fiber  210  to the input ends  211 A- 211 C. 
     The output end  212  of each optical fiber  210  is fitted with a micro lens  214  for emitting light in a desired manner in terms of direction and, in particular, angle of coverage i.e. diverging the illuminating spot to widen the angular line-of-sight for audiences. 
     The first input end  211 A is terminated with the respective control element  510  and then a micro lens  213 , to which the light source  400  is attached. The second and third input ends  211 B and  211 C are each terminated with a micro lens  213 , to which there are attached the second and third control elements  500  respectively. 
     In general, the micro lenses  213  and/or  214  may be either made of or coupled/coated with a material with optical properties e.g. in particular colour and opacity (or in other words transparency) that can be changed reversibly by external energy such as electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength or frequency falling outside the visible electromagnetic spectrum, e.g. UV radiation, thermal energy, electrical energy and physical deformation, etc. Changing the optical properties of the micro lenses  213  and/or  214  will result in a change in the corresponding optical effect or characteristic of light transmission and hence the characteristic of the resulting illuminating hot spots. 
     In the case of the micro lens  214 , it is made such that its opacity will change or is adjustable in response to UV radiation, which is outside the visible spectrum to avoid affecting the displayed image, and the degree of opacity is dependent upon the frequency of such UV radiation. 
     The three input ends  211 A- 211 C and related control elements  510 - 530  are of different natures and provided to perform different functions for the operation of the subject virtual 3D display apparatus  10 , which are “brightness control”, “ambiance control” and “opacity control” respectively. 
     The first input ends  211 A of all the optical fibers  210  together admit a complete image signal of each frame from a source of virtual images/models to enter the optical fiber assembly  200 , via the input  201  thereof. Each first input end  211 A admits a respective part, or pixel, of the overall image to be displayed in the display zone  100 . 
     The image signal pertaining to that pixel is outputted by the associated light source  400  under the operation by an output device associated with the source of virtual images/models. 
     The light source  400 , which outputs electromagnetic radiation of frequencies (or wavelengths) in the visible spectrum of the electromagnetic spectrum (e.g. LED light or laser), is preferably provided by a colour RGB LED  400 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the pixel image signal generated by the colour RGB LED  400  is fed into the optical fiber  210  through the first control element  510 , which is a brightness control element  510  that controls the brightness of the image signal to implement “brightness control” upon the resulting pixel of the displayed image. The brightness control element  510  may be provided by any suitable device generally known in the art, such as an electronic variable ND (neutral density) filter. 
     As to the second input end  211 B, the associated second control element  520  is provided by a light sensor  520  which serves to sense or measure ambient light picked up at the output end  212  of the respective optical fiber  210 , which travels back along the optical fiber  210 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . Such ambient light acts as a control signal that travels from the output end  212  along the optical fiber  210  to the input end  211 B, reaching the light sensor  520 . 
     The ambient light is light in the display zone  100 , i.e. information about the lighting condition (e.g. direction of lighting and distribution of light) inside the display zone  100 , in which the virtual 3D image is displayed. Collection of such information by the assembly of optical fibers  210  at every moment in time provides a real-time indication of the display&#39;s lighting condition precisely at where all pixels of the displayed image are, i.e. outputted at the optical fibers&#39; output ends  212 . On a pixel-by-pixel basis, the collected information is detected by the array of light sensors  520  and used as respective control signals based on which the virtual 3D image is adjusted to reflect how the displayed image, as a virtual 3D object, should appear under the said display lighting condition. 
     The adjustment involved is to adjust the brightness of the light sources i.e. colour RGB LED  400 , each through the use of the brightness control element  510  associated with the same optical fiber  210 , based on the said ambient light sensed by the light sensors  520 . This is to implement “ambiance control” upon the resulting pixels of the displayed image. 
     An example of “ambiance control” is shown in  FIG. 10 , in which the ambient light upon the display zone  100  is mainly provided by a lamp  9  that shines from directly above the display zone  100 . The virtual 3D display apparatus  10  is in operation displaying, in its display zone  100 , a virtual 3D image in the form of a sphere  8 . The colour RGB LEDs  400  that display the upper surface of the sphere  8  are adjusted brighter to brighten the upper surface, thereby making the upper surface look as if it were a genuine surface facing a light source. Those colour RGB LEDs  400  that display the sphere&#39;s lower surface are dimmed to make the lower surface appear cast in a shadow. With such ambiance control, the lifelikeness of the virtual 3D image of a sphere as a real object is much enhanced. 
     Turning to the third input end  211 C, the associated third control element  530  is provided by a signal generator and in particular a UV light generator in the form a UV LED  530 . The UV LED  530  is designed to emit UV radiation, of a variable frequency, as a control signal that travels from the input end  211 C along the optical fiber  210  to reach the micro lens  214  at the output end  212 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Through varying of the frequency of its output light, the UV LED  530  is useful in adjusting the opacity of the micro lens  214 . 
     In general, each optical fiber  210  incorporates control means at its output end  212 , that is the micro lens  214 , for controlling or adjusting an optical effect at the output end  212  of the optical fiber  210  and in particular opacity at the output end  212  thereof. Such output end opacity is adjustable upon application of a UV control signal to the micro lens  214  from the UV light generator  530  at the input end  211 C. 
     The optical fiber  210  will output light of a relatively more solid colour, or denser or richer colour, when its output end  212  turns partially translucent or opaque from transparent (i.e. less transparent). This is because the output light will be diffused at the partially-opaque output end  212 , where the output light and in turn its colour will become relatively more concentrated and/or discernible. This effect is particularly effective for a dark colour, such as black that results in true black. “Opacity control” is thus implemented upon the resulting pixel of the displayed image. 
     Three embodiments of the optical fiber assembly  200  with different constructions are now described with reference to  FIGS. 7A-7C, 8A-8C and 9A-9C . 
     In general, the optical fibers  210  are divided into a plurality of groups (or flat bundles) G, with the output ends  212  of the optical fibers  210  of each group G being arranged in a sequence for lateral movement across a portion of the display zone  100  to form a respective part of a virtual 3D image. Specifically, the output ends  212  of the optical fibers  210  of each group G are arranged in a linear sequence. More specifically, the optical fibers  210  of each group G are arranged in at least one of a flat plane configuration ( FIGS. 7A-7C ) and a curved plane configuration, or in a combined flat and curved plane configuration ( FIGS. 8A-8C and 9A-9C ). All such configurations are individually layers and collectively layered. 
     In each group G of the optical fibers  210 , their first, second and third input ends  211 A,  211 B and  211 C are mounted on respective control boards  231 ,  232  and  233  for “brightness control”, “ambiance control” and “opacity control” respectively. 
     In a first embodiment of the optical fiber assembly  200  ( FIGS. 7A-7C ), the optical fibers  210  of each group G are arranged in a flat plane configuration and may be mounted on and over a thin flat plate former. The optical fibers  210  are arranged in a closely packed co-parallel manner on the flat plate former, extending straight across upper and lower ends thereof. 
     In this example, there are twenty five (25) such flat-plane groups G of optical fibers  210 , and they are arranged in an equiangular arrangement about the central axis X of the optical fiber assembly  200  preferably over an angle in the range of substantially 180° to 360° about the axis X. The equiangular arrangement is also a radial (or angular) symmetrical arrangement, with the flat plane of each group G containing the central axis X or, when viewed in the direction of the central axis X, extending through the axial centre. As is shown, the groups G are arranged over an angle of 360° about, i.e. completely around, the axis X. 
     The groups G of optical fibers  210  have progressively changing lengths, or heights as oriented, from one group G to the next group G. They are arranged from the tallest to the shortest, or vice versa, on a horizontal surface, with their output ends  212  pointing vertically upwards and together forming a spiral staircase arrangement in the display zone  100 . The spiral staircase arrangement occupies generally the entire width and height of the display zone  100 . Each step of the spiral staircase arrangement is taken up by a linear row of the output ends  212  in the relevant group G at a respective different level of the display zone  100 , for rotation to swipe across a horizontal cross-section of the display zone  100  at that level for displaying the same cross-section of the virtual 3D image in the display zone  100 . In general, the output ends  212  are arranged, as between adjacent groups G, at different levels to progressively, and sequentially, occupy the display zone  100 . 
     In a second embodiment of the optical fiber assembly  200  ( FIGS. 8A-8C ), the optical fibers  210  of each group G are arranged with their output ends  212  in an upper curved plane configuration C U  and at least a part of the rest in a lower flat plane configuration C L  adjoining the curved plane configuration C U . The flat plane configuration C L  extends vertically. The curved plane configuration C U  turns, or is bent, curvedly from the flat plane configuration C L  through a bend angle of substantially 90° into a horizontal position or direction in which the output ends  212  point. 
     The optical fibers  210  of each group may be mounted on a thin plate former which has a curved upper part to locate the output ends  212  and a flat lower part to locate at least a part of the remainder of the optical fibers  210 . The optical fibers  210  are arranged in a closely packed co-parallel manner on the curved-and-flat plate former, extending across upper and lower ends thereof. 
     In this example, there are twenty six (26) such curved/flat-plane groups G of optical fibers  210 , and they are arranged in an equiangular arrangement about the central axis X of the optical fiber assembly  200  preferably over an angle in the range of substantially 180° to 360° about the axis X. As is shown, the groups G are arranged over an angle of 180° about, i.e. half around, the axis X. The equiangular arrangement is not exactly a radial/angular symmetrical arrangement, as the flat part of the plane of each group G does not contain the central axis X but is offset therefrom in a co-parallel manner. However, the optical fibers&#39; output ends  212  amongst the groups G are arranged in a radial symmetrical arrangement about the central axis X, likewise over an angle of 180° thereabout. 
     The groups G of optical fibers  210  are arranged in an arcuate stacked arrangement, in which their curved upper parts are stacked with one group G on the next group G sequentially. The said offsetting of the flat parts of the groups G of optical fibers  210  from the central axis X gives the optical fibers&#39; output ends  212  room to get sufficiently close to the central axis X so that they can be arranged radially symmetrically about the central axis X, without leaving much if any centre space about the central axis X. 
     With this arrangement, the optical fibers&#39; output ends  212  together form a spiral staircase arrangement in the display zone  100 , with the output ends  212  of each group G pointing horizontally clockwise in a progressively changing direction. The spiral staircase arrangement occupies generally the entire width and height of the display zone  100 , absent any space at the centre. Each step of the spiral staircase arrangement is taken up by a linear row of the output ends  212  in the relevant group G at a respective different level of the display zone  100 , for rotation to swipe across a horizontal cross-section of the display zone  100  at that level for displaying the same cross-section of the virtual 3D image in the display zone  100 . In general, the output ends  212  of each group G are arranged at a different level relative to those of an adjacent group G, thereby together progressively, and sequentially, occupying the display zone  100 . 
     In the first embodiment, unlike the second embodiment, there is a centre space Y in the spiral staircase arrangement of the optical fibers&#39; output ends  212 , where the output ends  212  cannot reach. This results in a centre hole in the display zone  100  incapable of displaying any image or part thereof. Conversely, in the second embodiment, the display zone  100  or virtual 3D image displayed therein is solid or complete at the centre. 
     Referring to a third embodiment of the optical fiber assembly  200  ( FIGS. 9A-9C ), its construction is rather similar to the second embodiment, with equivalent parts designated by the same reference numerals. The only major difference lies in the angle at which, for each group G, the curved plane configuration C U  turns, or is bent, curvedly from the vertical flat plane configuration C L  through a bend angle less than 90°, e.g. about 60° as shown, into an upwardly inclined position or direction in which the optical fibers&#39; output ends  212  point. The bend angle falls within the range of substantially 0° to 90°. 
     The image light from the output ends  212  is emitted in an upwardly inclined direction or angle. The resulting image in the display zone  100  is readily viewable over a relatively wider range of angles both above and below the inclined angle, compared to the image displayed by the optical fiber assembly  200  in the second or third embodiment. The image light from the output ends  212  in the first embodiment is emitted in a generally vertical direction (i.e. 0° bend angle), and the image light in the second embodiment is emitted in a generally horizontal direction (i.e. 90° angle or turn). In either case, the image light emitting angle is at one end of the normal viewing range as between vertical and horizontal directions, such that the displayed image is readily viewable over a relatively narrower range of angles on only one side of the image light emitting angle. 
     In general, the output ends  212  of the optical fibers  210  may be arranged in different shapes in order to create different display zones  100 . Thus, the vertical output ends  212  in the first embodiment create a ring-shaped display zone  100 . The horizontal output ends  212  or inclined output ends  212  in the second/third embodiment create a cylindrical display zone  100 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 11A to 11C and 12A to 12D . For operation of the virtual 3D display apparatus  10 , the first input end  211 A of each optical fiber  210  of the optical fiber assembly  200  is linked to a corresponding source of electromagnetic radiation (i.e. colour RGB LED  400 ) in accordance with the mapping of video and audio effects of each pixel in the display zone  100  with those of the corresponding pixel of the “virtual model” created by the pertaining spatial modeling and graphical authoring software and/or deliverables from multimedia technologies with respect to time and geospatial coordinates (through development of proprietary programming interface and computing algorithm and deployment of interface, encoding and decoding devices). 
     The “virtual model”, which is e.g. a sphere, is generated in 3D CAD software, without any lighting and shading information. Data pertaining to the virtual model is defined by reference to the model&#39;s internal and outer surfaces, empty space (externally of the model) and the model&#39;s colour ( FIG. 11A ). In the real world, the virtual 3D display apparatus is switched on to operate and rotate to, inter alia, sense/measure and collect data pertaining to the ambient light intensity and direction ( FIG. 11B ). 
     A processor  7  ( FIG. 11C ) of the virtual 3D display apparatus  10  then processes the aforesaid data pertaining to the virtual model and to the ambient light intensity and direction. This involves steps of, inter alia, generating pixel information based on the virtual model data, generating brightness data for each pixel based on the ambient light data, and then combining the generated pixel information and brightness data. Subsequently, the processor  7  performs steps of generating a virtual 3D image, and then operating the optical fiber assembly  200  and related components to display a ViR model (see below) in the display zone  100 , which is the virtual 3D image sphere  8  depicted in  FIG. 10 . 
     The virtual 3D image generated by the virtual 3D display apparatus  10  may be referred to by reference to the proprietary term “Virtual-in-Real”, and hence Virtual-in-Real or ViR image or model which is viewable virtually from any angles measured from the centre-of-origin of the display zone  100  by multiple audiences with naked eyes. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12A , the step of combining the generated pixel information and brightness data involves combining the following data: 
     the model&#39;s internal pixels in solid colour predefined in a CAD model; 
     the model&#39;s outer surface pixels of different colours and brightness, as interacted with the ambient light data to create the appropriate shading effect; and 
     the empty space (transparent) pixels. 
       FIG. 12B  illustrates the image resulting from this step of combining data, which includes the model&#39;s internal pixels, model&#39;s surface pixels and the empty pixels. 
       FIG. 12C  illustrates the subsequent step of displaying the ViR model, i.e. the sphere  8 , in the display zone  100 , which involves operation of the optical fiber assembly  200  and related components. In the depicted optical fiber assembly  200 , the layers  1 ,  2 ,  3  . . . N represent the optical fibers  210  at different levels. The ViR model is outputted in the display zone  100  ( FIG. 12D ). 
     The invention has been given by way of example only, and various other modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiments may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.