A system includes a plurality of optical identifiers and a reader for the optical identifiers. Each optical identifier has an optical substrate and a volume hologram (e.g., with unique data, such as a code page) in the optical substrate. The reader for the optical identifiers includes a laser, and a camera. The laser is configured to direct laser light into a selected one of the optical identifiers that has been placed into the reader to produce an image of the associated volume holograms at the camera. The camera is configured to capture the image. The captured image may be stored in a digital format by the system.

An image display device of the present disclosure includes an image light generating device, a first, a second, a third, and a fourth optical unit. A first intermediate image is formed between the first and the third optical unit. A pupil is formed between the second and the fourth optical unit. A second intermediate image is formed between the third and the fourth optical unit. An exit pupil is formed at an opposite side of the fourth optical unit from the third optical unit. The image light generating device includes a first, a second, a third light emitting panel, and a color synthesis element. The color synthesis element is constituted of a cross dichroic prism including a first and a second dichroic film that intersect with each other. Each of the first and the second dichroic film does not have a polarization separation characteristic.

Provided are an image display apparatus and an image display element that are capable of achieving excellent visual effects. The image display apparatus of the present invention includes a first transparent member, a second transparent member, and an emission section. The first transparent member includes a diffusion surface for diffusing light incident on respective points. The second transparent includes a control surface and is integrated with the first transparent member, the control surface being disposed in a manner that the control surface faces the diffusion surface, controlling propagation directions of light diffused at the respective points on the diffusion surface, and forming a virtual image of the diffusion surface. The emission section emits image light to the diffusion surface.

An image guide comprising glass or plastic planar substrate, a first hologram area, a second hologram area, and a third hologram area which are formed on the substrate as surface relief grating, period and direction of diffraction structure of the first, second, and third hologram areas have a relationship which is a sum of grating vectors of the first, second, and third hologram areas becomes zero, depth of diffraction structure on the first hologram area is a uniform in the own hologram area, and depth of diffraction structure on the second or third hologram area is chirped in the own hologram area increases luminance and uniformity of virtual image.

An image display device of the present disclosure includes an image light generating device, a first, a second, a third, and a fourth optical unit. A first intermediate image is formed between the first and the third optical unit. A pupil is formed between the second and the fourth optical unit. A second intermediate image is formed between the third and the fourth optical unit. An exit pupil is formed at an opposite side of the fourth optical unit from the third optical unit. The image light generating device includes a first, a second, a third light emitting panel, and a color synthesis element. The color synthesis element is constituted of a cross dichroic prism including a first and a second dichroic film that intersect with each other. Each of the first and the second dichroic film does not have a polarization separation characteristic.

A system includes a plurality of optical identifiers and a reader for the optical identifiers. Each optical identifier has an optical substrate and a volume hologram (e.g., with unique data, such as a code page) in the optical substrate. The reader for the optical identifiers includes a laser, and a camera. The laser is configured to direct laser light into a selected one of the optical identifiers that has been placed into the reader to produce an image of the associated volume holograms at the camera. The camera is configured to capture the image. The captured image may be stored in a digital format by the system.

A holographic display and a method, performed by the holographic display, of forming a holographic image are disclosed. The holographic display includes an electrically addressable spatial light modulator (EASLM); a diffractive optical element (DOE) mask array arranged on the EASLM; and a controller configured to operate the holographic display to form a hologram image, wherein the controller is further configured to address the EASLM to backlight the DOE mask array required to form a set of hologram image voxels by turning on a corresponding EASLM pixel.

A method for forming a volume hologram film having security elements which are formed as a transfer section of the volume hologram film is described, wherein the volume hologram film has n volume hologram layers arranged one over another. The production of the volume hologram film is carried out in a roll-to-roll method with the following method steps: a) providing a carrier film from a supply roll; b) applying an i-th photopolymer layer to the carrier film; c) forming an i-th volume hologram in the photopolymer layer; d) forming an i-th volume hologram layer by curing the i-th photopolymer layer; e) repeating process steps b) to e) n1 times; f) applying an adhesive layer to the background layer; g) winding the volume hologram film onto a take-up roll.

A method for design and fabrication of holographic optical elements for a compact holographic sight is proposed. The method includes use of ray-trace software to design holographic elements having optical power using an intermediate hologram with parameters obtained through minimization of the merit function defining image quality.

There is herein defined optics (e.g. an array of optics) forming an optical beam to either produce a collimated or diverging/converging beam emerging from a virtual source point to illuminate a hologram. There is also described an optical beam illuminating a reflection hologram from the front and a further configuration where an optical beam combined with a holographic optical element (HOE) minor enables rear illumination of a reflection hologram.