A holographic image display system comprising a processor receiving image data at an input and producing output hologram data based on the image data. The image data comprises three-dimensional image data that is separable into a plurality of two-dimensional image layers at different image planes. The processor is configured to: a) perform a space-frequency transform on each image layer to provide a transformed image layer, b) apply a focus factor to each transformed image layer, c) apply a pseudo-random phase factor to each transformed image layer, and d) sum the transformed image layers to form a holographic sub-frame, e) repeat steps (c) and (d) for a plurality of iterations, applying a different pseudo-random phase factor to the transformed image layers in each iteration to form a plurality of holographic sub-frames; and f) drive a spatial light modulator with the holographic sub-frames in rapid temporal succession to generate a holographic image.

A holographic image display system comprising a processor receiving image data at an input and producing output hologram data based on the image data. The image data comprises three-dimensional image data that is separable into a plurality of two-dimensional image layers at different image planes. The processor is configured to: a) perform a space-frequency transform on each image layer to provide a transformed image layer, b) apply a focus factor to each transformed image layer, c) apply a pseudo-random phase factor to each transformed image layer, and d) sum the transformed image layers to form a holographic sub-frame, e) repeat steps (c) and (d) for a plurality of iterations, applying a different pseudo-random phase factor to the transformed image layers in each iteration to form a plurality of holographic sub-frames; and f) drive a spatial light modulator with the holographic sub-frames in rapid temporal succession to generate a holographic image.

There is provided a method of projection using an optical element (502,602) having spatially variant optical power. The method comprises combining Fourier domain data representative of a 2D image with Fourier domain data having a first lensing effect (604a) to produce first holographic data. Light is spatially modulated (504,603a) with the first holographic data to form a first spatially modulated light beam. The first spatially modulated light beam is redirected using the optical element (502,602) by illuminating a first region (607) of the optical element (602) with the first spatially modulated beam. The first lensing effect (604a) compensates for the optical power of the optical element in the first region (607). Advantageous embodiments relate to a head-up display for a vehicle using the vehicle windscreen (502,602) as an optical element to redirect light to the viewer (505,609).

There is provided a method of projection using an optical element (502,602) having spatially variant optical power. The method comprises combining Fourier domain data representative of a 2D image with Fourier domain data having a first lensing effect (604a) to produce first holographic data. Light is spatially modulated (504,603a) with the first holographic data to form a first spatially modulated light beam. The first spatially modulated light beam is redirected using the optical element (502,602) by illuminating a first region (607) of the optical element (602) with the first spatially modulated beam. The first lensing effect (604a) compensates for the optical power of the optical element in the first region (607). Advantageous embodiments relate to a head-up display for a vehicle using the vehicle windscreen (502,602) as an optical element to redirect light to the viewer (505,609).

A method for encoding complex-valued signals of a computer-generated hologram into a phase-modulating optical element for the reconstruction of a three-dimensional object, and to a computer program product for encoding complex-valued signals of a computer-generated hologram, and to a holographic display for the reconstruction of a three-dimensional object. The object is to reduce the effort on encoding a complex-valued spatial distribution by an iteration method on the basis of phase encoding, so that the computer-generated hologram resulting therefrom can be represented more rapidly and with the same or an improved reconstruction quality. In particular, the convergence during the iterative optimization is intended to be accelerated. This is achieved by a method in which degrees of freedom of the hologram plane as well as the reconstruction plane are used for optimizing the iteration method for rapid convergence and maximization of the diffraction efficiency in the signal range.

A method for encoding complex-valued signals of a computer-generated hologram into a phase-modulating optical element for the reconstruction of a three-dimensional object, and to a computer program product for encoding complex-valued signals of a computer-generated hologram, and to a holographic display for the reconstruction of a three-dimensional object. The object is to reduce the effort on encoding a complex-valued spatial distribution by an iteration method on the basis of phase encoding, so that the computer-generated hologram resulting therefrom can be represented more rapidly and with the same or an improved reconstruction quality. In particular, the convergence during the iterative optimization is intended to be accelerated. This is achieved by a method in which degrees of freedom of the hologram plane as well as the reconstruction plane are used for optimizing the iteration method for rapid convergence and maximization of the diffraction efficiency in the signal range.

There is provided ahead-up display in a vehicle arranged to display a picture, the head-up display comprises a first optical sub-system disposed in an upper region of the windscreen and a second optical sub-system disposed underneath the dashboard of the vehicle proximate a lower region of the windscreen. The first optical sub-system is arranged to output a light field. The first optical sub-system comprises a light source and a spatial light modulator. The light source is arranged to emit light. The spatial light modulator is arranged to receive the light from the light source and spatially-modulated the light in accordance with a computer-generated hologram displayed on the spatial light modulator. The second optical sub-system is arranged to receive the light field from the first optical sub-system and project the light field onto a windscreen of the vehicle to form a virtual image on the windscreen.

There is provided ahead-up display in a vehicle arranged to display a picture, the head-up display comprises a first optical sub-system disposed in an upper region of the windscreen and a second optical sub-system disposed underneath the dashboard of the vehicle proximate a lower region of the windscreen. The first optical sub-system is arranged to output a light field. The first optical sub-system comprises a light source and a spatial light modulator. The light source is arranged to emit light. The spatial light modulator is arranged to receive the light from the light source and spatially-modulated the light in accordance with a computer-generated hologram displayed on the spatial light modulator. The second optical sub-system is arranged to receive the light field from the first optical sub-system and project the light field onto a windscreen of the vehicle to form a virtual image on the windscreen.

A lensless holographic imaging system having a holographic optical element includes: a coherent light source for outputting a first light beam and a second light beam, wherein the first light beam irradiates a first inspection plane to form first object-diffracted light; a light modulator for modulating the second light beam into reading light having a specific wavefront; a multiplexed holographic optical element, wherein the first object-diffracted light passes through the multiplexed holographic optical element, and the reading light is input into the multiplexed holographic optical element to generate a diffracted light beam as system reference light; and an image capture device for reading at least one interference signal generated by interference between the first object-diffracted light and the system reference light. The lensless holographic imaging system has a relatively small volume and relatively high diffraction efficiency.

A lensless holographic imaging system having a holographic optical element includes: a coherent light source for outputting a first light beam and a second light beam, wherein the first light beam irradiates a first inspection plane to form first object-diffracted light; a light modulator for modulating the second light beam into reading light having a specific wavefront; a multiplexed holographic optical element, wherein the first object-diffracted light passes through the multiplexed holographic optical element, and the reading light is input into the multiplexed holographic optical element to generate a diffracted light beam as system reference light; and an image capture device for reading at least one interference signal generated by interference between the first object-diffracted light and the system reference light. The lensless holographic imaging system has a relatively small volume and relatively high diffraction efficiency.