In some implementations, an optical master is created by using a nanoimprint alignment layer to pattern a liquid crystal layer. The nanoimprint alignment layer and the liquid crystal layer constitute the optical master. The optical master is positioned above a photo-alignment layer. The optical master is illuminated and light propagating through the nanoimprinted alignment layer and the liquid crystal layer is diffracted and subsequently strikes the photo-alignment layer. The incident diffracted light causes the pattern in the liquid crystal layer to be transferred to the photo-alignment layer. A second liquid crystal layer is deposited onto the patterned photo-alignment layer, which subsequently is used to align the molecules of the second liquid crystal layer. In some implementations, the second liquid crystal layer in the patterned photo-alignment layer may be utilized as a replica optical master or as a diffractive optical element, such as for directing light in optical devices such as display devices, including augmented reality display devices.

A laser beam (L50) generated by a laser light source (50) is reflected by a light beam scanning device (60), and irradiated onto a hologram recording medium (45). On the hologram recording medium (45), an image (35) of a scatter plate is recorded as a hologram by using reference light that converges on a scanning origin (B). The light beam scanning device (60) bends the laser beam (L50) at the scanning origin (B) and irradiates it onto the hologram recording medium (45). At this time, scanning is carried out by changing the bending mode of the laser beam with time so that the irradiation position of the bent laser beam (L60) on the hologram recording medium (45) changes with time. Regardless of the beam irradiation position, diffracted light (L45) from the hologram recording medium (45) reproduces the same reproduction image (35) of the scatter plate at the same position. An illumination spot in which speckles are reduced is formed on the light receiving surface (R) of an illuminating object (70) by the reproduction image (35) of the hologram.

An optical device including a hologram recording medium that can reproduce an image of a reference member and an irradiation unit that emits a coherent light beam to the optical device. The irradiation unit includes a light source for emitting a coherent light beam and a scanning device capable of adjusting a reflection angle of the coherent light beam emitted from the light source and that makes a reflected coherent light beam scan the hologram recording medium. The light source has light sources for emitting coherent light beams having different wavelength ranges. The hologram recording medium has a plurality of recording areas to be scanned with a plurality of coherent light beams reflected by the scanning device, respectively. Each of the plurality of recording areas has an interference fringe that diffracts a coherent light beam of the corresponding wavelength range.

A light projection system comprising a light modulator that comprises a plurality of pixels each capable of selectively directing a corresponding modulatable amount of light, and a processor coupled to the light modulator to control the amount of light output from each of the plurality of pixels. The processor is configured to control the light modulator to form a computer generated hologram (CGH) wavefront from the light modulator corresponding to an image to be produced in the far field. The processor is also configured to control the light modulator to selectively direct the CGH wavefront. The light modulator may comprise an angular light modulator (ALM) comprising the plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels having an OFF state and an ON state, the ALM arranged to direct the amounts of light in the direction as the pixels transition between the ON state and the OFF state.

A backlight device having a light guide, a first holographic optical element and a second holographic element are provided. The light guide plate guides light emitted by a light source towards the first holographic optical element. The first holographic optical element, which has a multi-layered structure, is provided on a first side of the light guide plate and reflects the light according to the wavelength ranges based on the characteristics of the multi-layered structure. The second holographic optical element, which concentrates light reflected by the first holographic optical element onto at least two points is provided on a second side of the light guide plate perpendicular to the first side.

A light projection system, including a light source to provide an output beam of light, an angular light modulator (ALM) comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having an ON state and an OFF state, the ALM positioned to receive output beam on the plurality of pixels, and a processor coupled to the ALM. The processor is programmed to control a first set of the pixels to transition between the OFF state and the ON state while the beam is incident on the pixels. An amount of light is selectively directed in a direction by the first set. The processor is also programmed to control a second set of the plurality of pixels to remain in the OFF state while the beam is incident on the plurality of pixels. As a result, the ALM operates as a spatial light modulator and an angular light modulator of the beam of light.

A laser fabrication method and a laser fabrication system. The laser fabrication system includes an ultrafast laser source configured to output a laser beam; and a digital micromirror device (DMD), configured to receive, shape, and scan the laser beam, wherein more than one binary holograms are synthesized to form a scanning hologram applied to the DMD. The shaped laser beam, containing one or multiple focal points, leaving the DMD, are focused to the sample for fast laser fabrication.

An illumination device includes an optical element including a hologram recording medium capable of diffusing a coherent light beam, the hologram recording medium comprising a plurality of regions, each region diffusing a coherent light beam to an illuminated region corresponding to that region, and an irradiation device configured to irradiate the optical element with the coherent light beam so as to allow the coherent light beam to scan the hologram recording medium. The coherent light beam incident to a position existing in each region of the hologram recording medium is diffused to an entire region of the illuminated region corresponding to the region in order to illuminate the entire region of the illuminated region.

A backlight device having a light guide, a first holographic optical element and a second holographic element are provided. The light guide plate guides light emitted by a light source towards the first holographic optical element. The first holographic optical element, which has a multi-layered structure, is provided on a first side of the light guide plate and reflects the light according to the wavelength ranges based on the characteristics of the multi-layered structure. The second holographic optical element, which concentrates light reflected by the first holographic optical element onto at least two points is provided on a second side of the light guide plate perpendicular to the first side.

An illumination apparatus using a coherent light source, including a light beam scanning device that irradiates a light beam onto a hologram recording medium, and scans the light beam so that an irradiation position of the light beam on the hologram recording medium changes with time. The light beam scanning device scans the light beam so that an irradiation direction of the light beam with respect to the hologram recording medium is along the particular optical path, the light beam scanning device having a function of bending the light beam at a fixed scanning origin so that the light beam swings around the fixed scanning origin on a plane including the fixed scanning origin, and scans the light beam in a one-dimensional direction on the hologram recording medium. Illumination light obtained from the hologram recording medium is irradiated onto a light receiving surface.