A generation method of a digital hologram includes steps of emitting coherent light from a coherent light source, imaging a hologram that is an interference pattern of an object beam and a reference beam due to the emission light from the light source, and setting a plurality of wavelengths of the illumination light that generates the hologram detected by the detector, and wherein the plurality of wavelength are specified by the wavelength setting step based on a magnification percentage X of a conjugate image set up by a user not to disturb visibility of an image when a real image and the conjugate image reconstructed by a predetermined calculation means relative to structures of observation targets are superimposed to a corresponding real image so that a shortest wavelength λ.sub.min and a longest wavelength λ.sub.max satisfy the expression λ.sub.max/λ.sub.min≧(1/X+1).

A method of computing a hologram by determining the wavefronts at the approximate observer eye position that would be generated by a real version of an object to be reconstructed. In normal computer generated holograms, one determines the wavefronts needed to reconstruct an object; this is not done directly in the present invention. Instead, one determines the wavefronts at an observer window that would be generated by a real object located at the same position of the reconstructed object. One can then back-transforms these wavefronts to the hologram to determine how the hologram needs to be encoded to generate these wavefronts. A suitably encoded hologram can then generate a reconstruction of the three-dimensional scene that can be observed by placing one's eyes at the plane of the observer window and looking through the observer window.

A backlight unit for a binocular-holographic display device and a holographic display device including the same are provided. The backlight unit includes a light source unit which outputs light, a first beam expansion unit which expands, in a first direction, the light output from the light source unit, a second beam expansion unit which expands, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the light output from the first beam expansion unit, and a beam deflection unit which diffracts light incident on the first beam expansion unit. The holographic display device includes the backlight unit, a field lens, and a spatial light modulator.

A vehicle cup holder includes a console substrate defining a cup well. A light source is positioned to emit light into the cup well. An insert is positioned within the cup well and defines a base wall and a side wall. At least one of the base wall and the side wall defines a diffraction grating. A holographic film is positioned between the insert and the console substrate.

An apparatus and method for displaying holograms. A compact and self-contained lighting system for a display hologram, which can produce high quality images and which is substantially insensitive to stray light.

An apparatus generates a coherent illumination beam. An embedded light-scattering apparatus in a transparent substrate illuminates a reflective optical element which is also embedded inside the same substrate. The reflective optical element is designed to provide a desired beam profile.

A lighting device for vehicles, in particular a signal light, with a light source for emitting a light beam and an optical unit associated with the light source for producing a predetermined light function, the optical unit having a holographic element and a lens arranged in the main emission direction in front of the holographic element, the holographic element comprising such a diffraction structure that the light beam emitted from the light source onto the holographic element is varied according to a predetermined illumination pattern such that the holographic light beam lights an illumination surface of the lens to generate the light function.

For comfortable viewing of a 3-D scene at various viewing angles, a display having a large tracking range for a variable viewer distance is required. A controllable light-influencing element deflects light in coarse steps in a viewer range. Within said steps, the light is deflected by a further controllable light-influencing element continuously or with fine gradation. The light modulation device is suitable in holographic or autostereoscopic displays for guiding the visibility ranges of the image information to be displayed so as to follow the eyes of the viewers.

A method of computing a hologram by determining the wavefronts at the approximate observer eye position that would be generated by a real version of an object to be reconstructed. In normal computer generated holograms, one determines the wavefronts needed to reconstruct an object; this is not done directly in the present invention. Instead, one determines the wavefronts at an observer window that would be generated by a real object located at the same position of the reconstructed object. One can then back-transforms these wavefronts to the hologram to determine how the hologram needs to be encoded to generate these wavefronts. A suitably encoded hologram can then generate a reconstruction of the three-dimensional scene that can be observed by placing one's eyes at the plane of the observer window and looking through the observer window.

Light-emitting devices for motor vehicles are provided, which comprise a reflection hologram. A light-guiding body is provided to direct light from a light source arrangement (4) onto the hologram.