Light from an array of laser light sources are spread to cover the modulating face of a DMD or other modulator. The spread may be performed, for example, by a varying curvature array of lenslets, each laser light directed at one of the lenslets. Light from neighboring and/or nearby light sources overlap at a modulator. The lasers are energized at different energy/brightness levels causing the light illuminating the modulator to itself be modulated (locally dimmed). The modulator then further modulates the locally dimmed lights to produce a desired image. A projector according to the invention may utilize, for example, a single modulator sequentially illuminated or separate primary color modulators simultaneously illuminated.

Light from an array of laser light sources are spread to cover the modulating face of a DMD or other modulator. The spread may be performed, for example, by a varying curvature array of lenslets, each laser light directed at one of the lenslets. Light from neighboring and/or nearby light sources overlap at a modulator. The lasers are energized at different energy/brightness levels causing the light illuminating the modulator to itself be modulated (locally dimmed). The modulator then further modulates the locally dimmed lights to produce a desired image. A projector according to the invention may utilize, for example, a single modulator sequentially illuminated or separate primary color modulators simultaneously illuminated.

An information display device includes a spatial light modulator, configured to emit a holographic three-dimensional light field to a first grating, where the holographic three-dimensional light field corresponds to at least two focal planes, the first grating, configured to deflect the holographic three-dimensional light field emitted by the spatial light modulator, so that the holographic three-dimensional light field is propagated along a first direction and transmitted into an optical waveguide, the optical waveguide, configured to receive the holographic three-dimensional light field transmitted from the first grating, and propagate the holographic three-dimensional light field in the optical waveguide, and a second grating, configured to deflect the holographic three-dimensional light field that is propagated in the optical waveguide.

An optical filter to increase contrast of an image generated with a spatial light modulator includes a lens for spatially Fourier transforming modulated light from the spatial light modulator, and an optical filter mask positioned at a Fourier plane of the lens to filter the modulated light. The modulated light has a plurality of diffraction orders, and the optical filter mask transmits at least one of the diffraction orders of the modulated light and block a remaining portion of the modulated light. A method that improves contrast of an image generated with a spatial light modulator includes spatially Fourier transforming modulated light from the spatial light modulator onto a Fourier plane, and filtering the modulated light by transmitting at least one diffraction order of the modulated light at the Fourier plane and blocking a remaining portion of the modulated light at the Fourier plane.

An apparatus for capturing a Fourier hologram splits a coherent light source into an object beam and a reference beam, sets a distance of a virtual focal plane of a subject, generates spherical wave field data propagated from a point source of the virtual focal plane to a central coordinate plane of a spatial light modulator, generates a spherical wave field on a space from the spherical wave field data and the reference beam by the spatial light modulator, synthesizes an object wave field generated by reflecting the object beam by the subject and the spherical wave field with each other so that an interference pattern is formed on the image sensor face, captures the interference pattern formed on the image sensor face, and then performs Fourier transformation to calculate an object wave field formed on the focal plane of the subject.

Disclosed are a holographic display method and a holographic display device. The holographic display method includes: acquiring an area of Nth diffraction order corresponding to an eye position; according to the area of Nth diffraction order, calculating a holographic complex amplitude distribution corresponding to a window of Nth diffraction order to obtain window hologram information, a function of the holographic complex amplitude distribution being expressed by C(m, n)=A(m, n)*exp[i(m, n)/N]; encoding the window hologram information; and according to the encoded window hologram information, loading the encoded window hologram information in the area of Nth diffraction order to display a hologram.

A system includes a mask configured to forwardly diffract an input beam as a first set of two polarized beams. The system also includes a polarization conversion element configured to convert the first set of two polarized beams into a second set of two polarized beams having opposite handednesses. The two polarized beams having opposite handednesses interfere with one another to generate a polarization interference pattern.

Provided is a multi-image display apparatus including a light source configured to emit light, a spatial light modulator configured to provide a first image by modulating the light emitted from the light source, and an optical system configured to transmit the first image provided by the spatial light modulator to a viewer, wherein the optical system is configured such that a travelling path of the first image provided by the spatial light modulator includes a first optical path in a first direction, a second optical path in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a third optical path in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, respectively, and wherein the optical system is configured such that the first image and a second image provided from an optical path different from the travelling path of the first image are provided to the viewer.

Provided is a multi-image display apparatus including a light source configured to emit light, a spatial light modulator configured to provide a first image by modulating the light emitted from the light source, and an optical system configured to transmit the first image provided by the spatial light modulator to a viewer, wherein the optical system is configured such that a travelling path of the first image provided by the spatial light modulator includes a first optical path in a first direction, a second optical path in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a third optical path in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, respectively, and wherein the optical system is configured such that the first image and a second image provided from an optical path different from the travelling path of the first image are provided to the viewer.

A holographic display apparatus for providing an expanded viewing window includes a spatial filter configured to separate a plurality of holographic images generated by the hologram pattern displayed on the spatial light modulator from a plurality of lattice spots generated by a physical structure of the spatial light modulator. The spatial filter includes a plurality of color filters or a plurality of dichroic mirrors separating a first color image, a second color image, and a third color image from a first color lattice spot, a second color lattice spot, and a third color lattice spot.