Provided are methods for replication (copying) of volume Holographic Optical Elements (HOE) using a master hologram in optical contact with a prism, wherein the master hologram comprises distinct object and reference beam coupling elements, and wherein in the replication process light is coupled from one face of the prism and transmitted through another face of the prism using the distinct object and reference beam coupling elements. Methods for making the master hologram by sequentially forming the distinct object and reference beam coupling elements therein are provided. Further methods for encoding aperture functions directly to the master hologram are provided. Yet further methods provide for forming a copy HOE in an array configuration using a step-and-repeat method wherein the copy HOE is translated laterally by a specified distance before the next exposure is made.

The invention relates to an apparatus (200, 300, 400, 600) for producing volume reflection holograms with substrate-guided reconstruction beams, comprising: at least one transparent, planar carrier element (210, 310, 410, 610) comprising a first flat side (210.1) and a further flat side (210.2), at least one master element (206, 306, 406, 606) arrangeable at the first flat side (210.1) of the carrier element (210, 310, 410, 610) and at least one optical input coupling element (102, 202, 302, 402, 602) configured to optically couple a light beam (214, 216), wherein provision is made of at least one coupling portion (104, 204, 304, 404, 604) configured to mechanically establish an optical contact between the input coupling element (102, 202, 302, 402) and at least one holographic recording medium (208, 308, 408) providable on the further flat side (210.2) of the carrier element (210, 310, 410) or configured to mechanically establish an optical contact between the further flat side of the carrier element (610) and at least one holographic recording medium (608) providable on a flat side (605) of the optical input coupling element (602), wherein at least the coupling portion (104, 204, 304, 404, 604) is formed from a material with a shear modulus of between 1000 Pa and 50 MPa, preferably of between 30,000 Pa and 30 MPa.

Mastering systems and methods of fabricating waveguides and waveguide devices using such mastering systems are described. Mastering systems for fabricating holographic waveguides can include using a master to control the application of energy (e.g. a laser, light, or magnetic beam) onto a liquid crystal substrate to fabricate a holographic waveguide into the liquid crystal substrate. Mastering systems for fabricating holographic waveguides in accordance with embodiments of the invention can include a variety of features. These features include, but are not limited to: chirp for single input beam copy (near i.e. hybrid contact copy), dual chirped gratings (for input and output), zero order grating for transmittance control, alignment reference gratings, 3:1 construction, position adjustment tooling to enable rapid alignment, optimization of lens and window thickness for multiple RKVs simultaneously, and avoidance of other orders and crossover of the diffraction beam.

A polarization volume hologram (PVH) lens includes a PVH layer having a freeform design. The PVH layer includes a first region and a second region having different optical properties.

Provided is a holographic display apparatus including a light source configured to emit light, a spatial light modulator configured to form a hologram pattern to modulate the light incident thereon and reproduce a hologram image, the spatial light modulator including a plurality of display pixels that are arranged two-dimensionally, and an optical element provided opposite a light incidence surface of the spatial light modulator or a light exit surface of the spatial light modulator, the optical element including an array of a plurality of light transmission patterns that are arranged irregularly

A method for producing a volume hologram with at least one first area in a first color and at least one second area in a second color includes, providing a volume hologram layer made of a photopolymer; arranging a master with a surface structure on the volume hologram layer; exposing the master using coherent light, wherein light which is incident on at least one first partial area of the surface of the master is diffracted or reflected in the direction of the at least one first area of the volume hologram layer and light which is incident on at least one second partial area of the surface of the master is diffracted or reflected in the direction of the at least one second area of the volume hologram, and wherein the light diffracted or reflected by the first and second partial areas differs in at least one optical property.

A method for producing holograms with a multiplicity of holographic prescriptions from a single master is provided. A multiplicity of holographic substrates each containing a first hologram is stacked on a second holographic recording medium substrate. The first hologram is designed to diffract light from a first direction into a second direction. When expose to illumination from the first direction zero order and diffracted light from each first hologram interfere in the second holographic recording medium substrate forming a second hologram. The second hologram is then copied into a third holographic recording medium substrate to provide the final copy hologram.

An electromagnetic wave concentrating system, comprising a photovoltaic material and at least one holographic concentrator. The holographic concentrator includes at least two stacked holographic optical elements (HOE). Each HOE is configured to diffract incident light into a diffracted beams having different ranges of wavelengths. The diffracted beams generated by each HOE are directed at the photovoltaic material.

A method for producing holograms with a multiplicity of holographic prescriptions from a single master is provided. A multiplicity of holographic substrates each containing a first hologram is stacked on a second holographic recording medium substrate. The first hologram is designed to diffract light from a first direction into a second direction. When expose to illumination from the first direction zero order and diffracted light from each first hologram interfere in the second holographic recording medium substrate forming a second hologram. The second hologram is then copied into a third holographic recording medium substrate to provide the final copy hologram.

Systems and methods for copying a diversity of hologram prescriptions from a common master in accordance with various embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method of contact copying a hologram from a master. The method includes steps for providing a light source, a master grating encoding a first grating prescription, a substrate supporting a layer of holographic recording material, and a wavefront modifying component, forming a first wavefront from the light source, reflecting the first wavefront from the wavefront modifying component to provide a second wavefront, diffracting the second wavefront to provide diffracted light with a third wavefront and zero-order light with the second wavefront, interfering the third wavefront and the zero-order light at a contact image plane, and forming a hologram having a second grating prescription different from the first grating prescription.