Holographic Display

• US 20100157399A1
• Filed: 05/16/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SeeReal Technologies S.A.
• Original Assignee: SeeReal Technologies S.A.
• Inventors: Schwerdtner, Alexander, Missbach, Robert, Kroll, Bo
• Granted Patent: US 8,218,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/11
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/02 Details of features involved during the holographic process; Replication of holograms without interference recording
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/2205 using downstream optical component
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/2294 Addressing the hologram to an active spatial light modulator
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2223/18 Prism
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2223/19 Microoptic array, e.g. lens array
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2226/05 Means for tracking the observer

Abstract

Disclosed is a holographic display including a spatial light modulator, and including a position detection and tracking system, such that a viewer'"'"'s eye positions are tracked, with variable beam deflection to the viewer'"'"'s eye positions being performed using a microprism array which enables controllable deflection of optical beams.

Claims

1. A holographic display including a spatial light modulator (SLM), and including a position detection and tracking system, such that a viewer'"'"'s eye positions are tracked, with variable beam deflection to the viewer'"'"'s eye positions being performed using a microprism array which enables controllable deflection of optical beams.

2. Holographic display of claim 1, the position detection and tracking system tracking viewers'"'"' eye positions, with variable beam deflection to the viewers'"'"' eye positions being performed using the microprism array which enables controllable deflection of optical beams.

3. Holographic display of claim 1 or 2, in which the variable beam deflection is continuously variable.

4. Holographic display of any previous claim, in which variable beam deflection is performed using electrowetting technology.

5. Holographic display of any previous claim, in which variable beam deflection is performed using variable voltage differences applied to different electrodes located on different sides of each of an array of electrowetting cells.

6. Holographic display of any previous claim, in which the prisms are Micro Liquid Prisms.

7. Holographic display of any previous claim, in which two dimensional deflection is obtained by using two microprism arrays in series.

8. Holographic display of any previous claim, in which virtual observer windows (VOW) are placed at the viewer'"'"'s or viewers'"'"' eyes.

9. Holographic display of claim 8, in which a focussing means placed before or after the prism array assists to converge the light rays into the VOW.

10. Holographic display of any previous claim, in which an optical effect of lens aberration can be reduced by correcting dynamically through encoding of the spatial light modulator.

11. Holographic display of any previous claim, in which the prisms do not all have the same deflection angle.

12. Holographic display of claim 11, in which the prisms do not all have the same deflection angle such that light rays exiting the prism array converge somewhat at the VOW.

13. Holographic display of any previous claim, in which a prism angle calculation is performed in computational circuitry on a substrate of the SLM.

14. Holographic display of any of claims 1 to 12, in which a prism angle calculation is performed in computational circuitry situated on a substrate of the prism array.

15. Holographic display of any previous claim, in which the SLM'"'"'s substrate is also used as the prism array'"'"'s substrate.

16. Holographic display of any previous claim, in which a phase correction is applied to compensate for phase discontinuities introduced by the prism array.

17. Holographic display of claim 16, in which the phase correction is performed by operation of the SLM.

18. Holographic display of any previous claim, in which a holographic image is generated in a projection-type apparatus, where the projection involves imaging the SLM onto the prism array while a reconstruction of a desired 3D scene occurs in front of the VOW.

19. Holographic display of any of claims 16 to 18, in which phase compensation for the prism array is provided when imaging the SLM onto the prism array.

20. Holographic display of any of claims 16 to 19, in which phase compensation for the prism array is provided by an additional SLM placed near to the prism array.

21. Holographic display of any previous claim, in which the SLM is transmissive with the prism array reflective.

22. Holographic display of any of claims 1 to 20, in which the SLM is reflective with the prism array transmissive.

23. Holographic display of any of claims 1 to 20, in which the SLM is transmissive with the prism array transmissive.

24. A method of generating a holographic reconstruction of a three dimensional scene, made up of multiple discrete points, using the holographic display of any previous claim, the display including a light source and an optical system to illuminate the spatial light modulator;

comprising the step of;

encoding a hologram on the spatial light modulator.