Sonic Flashlight "Know How"

This webpage and assoicated links contains detailed descriptions of the latest (~2007) version of the Sonic Flashlight, produced in the Visualization and Image Analysis Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh and used in the first clinical trials.

In particular, it describes three areas of technology involved in the device:

  1. Adjusting the size and location of the image in real time.
  2. Specifications for semi-transparent mirrors
  3. Factors in choosing required display technologies
Our papers are also available online on our Publications Website

1. Adjusting the size and location of the image in real time.

The housing of the Sonic Flashlight was designed to physically put the virtual image of the display in the correct plane. We used the OpenGL graphics library and 2D texture memory to effect a real time affine transform of the ultrasound image.

2. Specifications for semi-transparent mirrors

After experimenting with several types of mirrors, we settled on 2mm plastic mirrors (1mm mirrors were warped) with a colorless partially transparent coating. Glass mirrors presented an unacceptable risk.

3. Factors in choosing required display technologies

We chose an OLED display because of its superior off-angle display capability.