Method to Translate a Non-Collimated Optical Beam

University of Arizona researchers have constructed a high-speed refreshable Holographic Stereogram (HS) display that avoids the use of a conventional translation stage, allowing for a faster recording speed that supports a fast and continuous update of the HS 3D images. The system produces an image with both spatial and angular structure, preserving the impression of parallax for the viewer.

 

Background:
Holographic stereograms (HS's) are a class of integral imaging in which the angular information is stored as holographic pixels (or hogels), diffracting the light in a structured cone where the intensity and/or color can change depending on the viewing angle.  This angular disparity provides different images to each of the viewer's eyes such that the brain can reconstruct the 3D scene. Photorefractive polymer screens (PPS) are holographic recording materials in which a full-color hologram can be erased and refreshed at will, making the HS updatable instead of permanent. However, the speed of the recording of current HS displays is limited by the mechanical translation stage needed to scan the surface of the PPS. Existing solutions either scale down size or resolution, or rely on sub-aperture holograms and eye tracking.

 

Applications:

  • Holographic stereograms
  • Telepresence display
  • 3D videos

Advantages:

  • Faster than current systems
  • Requires very little computation
  • Capable of displaying both 3D and computer generated objects

Status: issued U.S. patent #11,487,244

Patent Information: