A method and system for recycling signals in a leaky mode device for a holographic display or other application. A leaky mode device comprises at least a first transducer, a substrate, and a second transducer. The first transducer may be configured to receive an input signal from a signal arbiter, which forwards to the first transducer as an input signal either a new input signal or a recycled input signal (or some combination of the two). The first transducer converts the received input signal to a SAW (surface acoustic wave) and transmits the SAW through the substrate to the second transducer, which converts the received SAW to an output signal, and forwards the output signal to an amplifier, which amplifies the output signal (now a recycled signal) and forwards to the signal arbiter. This system facilitates persistence for points in a holographic display without the need for continually rewriting to leaky mode devices.

An optical data-recording system comprises a laser, a dynamic digital hologram, an electronic controller, and a scanning mechanism. The dynamic digital hologram includes a plurality of holographic zones, and is configured to direct the irradiance received thereon to an optical recording medium. The electronic controller is operatively coupled to the dynamic digital hologram and configured to control the irradiance directed from each of the holographic zones. The scanning mechanism is configured to change a relative positioning of the laser versus the dynamic digital hologram so that each of the holographic zones is irradiated in sequence by the laser.

A system and method for improving spatial light modulator (SLM) devices such as Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) modulators are disclosed. The SAW modulators can improved angular bandwidth and suppress unwanted diffractive orders. In one example, a coating layer(s) is applied to a proximal face of the SAW modulator to improve coupling of guided modes into leaky modes. Additionally, applying coating layers(s) such as a hybrid anti-reflective/highly reflective coating to an exit face of the SAW modulator can suppress transmission of undesired diffractive order(s).

An anisotropic spatial acousto-optic modulator for a holographic display system includes a substrate, an anisotropic waveguide that guides light into a single polarization, and a transducer that generates surface acoustic waves that propagate linearly with the guided, polarized light, converting at least some of the polarized light into a leaky mode of orthogonally polarized light. The acoustic waves may be encoded with holographic information. The modulator may include coupling devices for coupling light into the waveguide, which may have multiple channels. A holographic video display system includes at least one anisotropic spatial acousto-optic modulator. The pattern of the surface acoustic waves, encoded with holographic information, acts as a diffraction pattern that causes the modulator output to form a wavefront that becomes at least part of a holographic image. The system may have multiple channels in multiple waveguides, wherein each waveguide writes one or more lines of the holographic image.

An electro-holographic light field generator device comprises surface acoustic wave (SAW) optical modulators arranged in different directions. Specifically, some embodiments have SAW modulators arranged in pairs, nose-to-nose with each other, and have output couplers that provide face-fire light emission. These SAW modulators also possibly include SAW sense transducers and/or viscoelastic surface material to reduce crosstalk.

An electro-holographic light field generator device comprises surface acoustic wave (SAW) optical modulators arranged in different directions. Specifically, some embodiments have SAW modulators arranged in pairs, nose-to-nose with each other, and have output couplers that provide face-fire light emission. These SAW modulators also possibly include SAW sense transducers and/or viscoelastic surface material to reduce crosstalk.

Electro-holographic light field generator devices comprising surface acoustic wave (SAW) optical modulators are disclosed that employ multiple output couplers. These output couplers might be distributed along waveguides of the SAW modulators, within output coupling regions. Each of these output couplers can be configured for directing an incident leaky mode light at different output angles. In some cases, it may be desirable to employ the output couplers to function as different sub-pixels, to provide light to different viewing directions. The output couplers may be mirrors, volume gratings, chirped gratings, reflection gratings, two dimensional gratings, and/or transmission gratings. The output couplers may be angled so that the coupling output fans for each optical modulator are offset from the waveguide for that optical modulator.

An electro-holographic light field generator device is disclosed. The light field generator device has an optical substrate with a waveguide face and an exit face. One or more surface acoustic wave (SAW) optical modulator devices are included within each light field generator device. The SAW devices each include a light input, a waveguide, and a SAW transducer, all configured for guided mode confinement of input light within the waveguide. A leaky mode deflection of a portion of the waveguided light, or diffractive light, impinges upon the exit face. Multiple output optics at the exit face are configured for developing from each of the output optics a radiated exit light from the diffracted light for at least one of the waveguides. An RF controller is configured to control the SAW devices to develop the radiated exit light as a three-dimensional output light field with horizontal parallax and compatible with observer vertical motion.

An electro-holographic light field generator device is disclosed. The light field generator device has an optical substrate with a waveguide face and an exit face. One or more surface acoustic wave (SAW) optical modulator devices are included within each light field generator device. The SAW devices each include a light input, a waveguide, and a SAW transducer, all configured for guided mode confinement of input light within the waveguide. A leaky mode deflection of a portion of the waveguided light, or diffractive light, impinges upon the exit face. Multiple output optics at the exit face are configured for developing from each of the output optics a radiated exit light from the diffracted light for at least one of the waveguides. An RF controller is configured to control the SAW devices to develop the radiated exit light as a three-dimensional output light field with horizontal parallax and compatible with observer vertical motion.

A holographic video display employs at least one light source adapted to produce at least one wavelength of monochromatic light, a video signal generator, at least one guided-wave acousto-optic modulator for diffracting light received from the light source according to signals received from the video signal generator, a vertical scanning subsystem, and an optical path between the acousto-optic modulator and the vertical scanning subsystem. The optical path may preferably include a Bravais lens system, at least one Fourier transform lens system, and at least one moving horizontal mirror.