Method for electro-optically rendering a holographic image

• US 5,757,522 A
• Filed: 12/02/1996
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Alabama (University of Alabama System)
• Original Assignee: University of Alabama (University of Alabama System)
• Inventors: Kowel, Stephen T., Kulick, Jeffrey H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Paul M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Juba, Jr., John
• Application Number:
  US08/758,901
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 359/9, 359/22, 359/23, 359/25, 359/32, 359/900, 348/40, 364/525
• US Class Current: 359/9
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136277 formed on a semiconductor substrate, e.g. of silicon
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/292 by controlled diffraction or phased-array beam steering controlled diffraction for optical switching G02F1/31
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/08 Synthesising holograms, i.e. holograms synthesized from objects or objects from hologramsusing electric digital computers G06F; G06T
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/26 Processes or apparatus specially adapted to produce multiple sub- holograms or to obtain images from them, e.g. multicolour technique
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2225/23 Grating based SLM
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3611 Control of matrices with row and column drivers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/903 Modular display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/90 Methods

Abstract

A display method for producing a plurality of different views of an object scene simultaneously is provided. A series of two-dimensional projections of an object is produced for the plane of a display device. Wavefront interference information, independent of the two-dimensional projections is produced for an intermediate plane. The two-dimensional projections and the wavefront interference information are combined to create a diffraction grating in the display device to provide a holographic image of the object scene from a number of positions relative to the display device.

Claims

1. A method of rendering a holographic image of a three dimensional object, the method comprising the steps of:

producing a series of two dimensional projections of the object for a plane which is coincident with a plane of a display device;

producing wavefront interference information, independent of the object data in the series of two dimensional projections of the object, relative to an intermediate plane located at a predetermined position relative to the display device;

combining the two dimensional projections and the wavefront interference information following said steps of producing the series of two dimensional projections of the object and producing wavefront interference information; and

creating a diffraction grating in the display device following said combining step based upon a combination of the two dimensional projections and the wavefront interference information to thereby provide a holographic image of the object from a number of positions relative to the display device.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of producing the series of two dimensional projections comprises performing a ray tracing operation.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the display device includes an electro-optic material and a pair of electrodes disposed in operable contact with the electro-optic material, and wherein said step of creating a diffraction grating in the display device comprises the steps of:

transmitting an electrical signal to the pair of electrodes in response to the combination of the two dimensional projections and the wavefront interference information; and

creating a diffraction grating within the electro-optic material of the display device in response to the transmitted electrical signal.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the display device includes a multilayer display module and wherein said step of a creating diffraction grating in the display device comprises the steps of:

generating an electrical signal;

applying the generated electrical signal to a drive transistor located in a first layer of the multilayer display module which produces a drive signal in response thereto;

transmitting the drive signal through at least a second layer of the multilayer display module to an electrical contact layer of the multilayer display module;

transmitting the drive signal from the electrical contact layer to an electro-optic layer comprised of an electro-optic material; and

altering the electro-optic material of the electro-optic layer in response to the drive signal transmitted to the electrical contact layer.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

illuminating the display device; and

diffracting light with the diffraction grating created within the display device to render a holographic image of the three dimensional object.

6. A method of rendering a holographic image comprising the steps of:

acquiring a three dimensional representation of an object;

producing a series of two dimensional projections of the object for a plane which is coincident with a plane of a display device, wherein the series of two dimensional projections of the object are based upon the three dimensional representation of the object;

producing wavefront interference information, independent of the object data in the series of two dimensional projections of the object, relative to an intermediate plane located at a predetermined position relative to the display device;

combining the two dimensional projections and the wavefront interference information following said steps of producing the series of two dimensional projections of the object and producing wavefront interference information; and

creating a diffraction grating in the display device following said combining step based upon a combination of the two dimensional projections and the wavefront interference information to thereby provide a holographic image of the object from a number of positions relative to the display device.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said step of producing the series of two dimensional projections comprises performing a ray tracing operation.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein the display device includes an electro-optic material and a pair of electrodes disposed in operable contact with the electro-optic material, and wherein said step of creating a diffraction grating in the display device comprises the steps of:

transmitting an electrical signal to the pair of electrodes in response to the combination of the two dimensional projections and the wavefront interference information; and

creating a diffraction grating within the electro-optic material of the display device in response to the transmitted electrical signal.

9. A method according to claim 6 wherein the display device includes a multilayer display module and wherein said step of a creating diffraction grating in the display device comprises the steps of:

generating an electrical signal;

applying the generated electrical signal to a drive transistor located in a first layer of the multilayer display module which produces a drive signal in response thereto;

transmitting the drive signal through at least a second layer of the multilayer display module to an electrical contact layer of the multilayer display module;

transmitting the drive signal from the electrical contact layer to an electro-optic layer comprised of an electro-optic material; and

altering the electro-optic material of the electro-optic layer in response to the drive signal transmitted to the electrical contact layer.

10. A method according to claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

illuminating the display device; and

diffracting light with the diffraction grating created within the display device to render a holographic image of the three dimensional object.