A method of calculating a hologram having an amplitude and a phase component. The method comprises (i) receiving an input image comprising a plurality of data values representing amplitude. The method then comprises (ii) assigning a random phase value to each data value of the plurality of data values to form a complex data set. The method then comprises (iii) performing an inverse Fourier transform of the complex data set. The method then comprises (iv) constraining each complex data value (X1, X2) of the transformed complex data set to one of a plurality of allowable complex data values (GL1-GL8), each comprising an amplitude modulation value and a phase modulation value, to form a hologram, wherein, the phase modulation values (GL1-GL7) of the plurality of allowable complex data values substantially span at least 3π/2 and at least one of the allowable complex data values has an amplitude modulation value of substantially zero (GL8) and a phase modulation value of substantially zero.

Techniques for displaying an input image in improved perceived resolution are described. In one aspect, a circuit is designed to include a set of memory cells, a horizontal decoder and a vertical decoder. An input image is received at an interface to the memory, the input is expanded into two separate frames in the memory, where the size of each of the two frames is identical to that of the input image. Image data in at least one of the two frames are modulated in amplitude and/or in phase. The first and second frames are then read out or displayed alternatively at twice the refresh rate originally set for the input image to achieve the perceived resolution.

Architecture and designs of modulating both amplitude and phase at the same time in spatial light modulation are described. According to one aspect of the present invention, nano-imprinting lithograph (NIL) and E-beam are used to create micro structures (transparent) as alignment cells. A first group of the alignment cells are oriented in a first direction and a second group of the alignment cells are oriented in a second direction, light going through the first group of the alignment cells is modulated in amplitude thereof and the light going through the second group of the alignment cells is modulated in phase thereof, all via the liquid crystals and at the same time.

An optical device comprises a pixel array including one or more pixels. Two or more independently controllable electrodes are electrically coupled to each pixel. A common ground reference electrode is electrically coupled to all pixels of the pixel array. Each pixel includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal molecules may be oriented in a first direction based on a first function of voltages applied by the two or more independently controllable electrodes for the pixel, and oriented in a second direction based on a second function of the voltages applied by the two or more independently controllable electrodes for the pixel. In this way, both phase modulation and polarization modulation may be introduced to light illuminating the pixel array.

The present disclosure provides an optical modulation device, an optical modulation method and a holographic display apparatus. The optical modulation device is configured to perform optical modulation of a light beam and comprising: an amplitude modulator, configured to perform amplitude modulation of the light beam based on amplitude information in complex amplitude information of each pixel of a digital hologram; an optical scanning assembly, configured to scan the light beam within a predetermined range; a phase modulator, configured to perform phase modulation of the light beam based on phase information in the complex amplitude information.

Disclosed are an active complex spatial light modulation method and apparatus for an ultra-low noise holographic display. The active complex spatial light modulation apparatus includes a substrate and a petal antenna including three petal patterns arranged on the substrate, dividing a complex plane into three phase sections, and modulating the input light into three-phase amplitude values corresponding to the phase sections. The petal antenna may have a point symmetry shape based on the center point of the petal antenna.

Techniques for displaying an input image in improved perceived resolution are described. In one aspect, a circuit is designed to include a set of memory cells, a horizontal decoder and a vertical decoder. An input image is received at an interface to the memory, the input is expanded into two separate frames in the memory, where the size of each of the two frames is identical to that of the input image. Image data in at least one of the two frames are modulated in amplitude and/or in phase. The first and second frames are then read out or displayed alternatively at twice the refresh rate originally set for the input image to achieve the perceived resolution.

A heads up display system with a variable focal plane includes a projection device to generate light representative of at least one virtual graphic, an imaging matrix to project the light representative of the at least one virtual graphic on at least one image plane, a display device to display the at least one virtual graphic on the at least one image plane, and a translation device to dynamically change a position of the imaging matrix relative to the display device based, at least in part, on a predetermined operational parameter to dynamically vary a focal distance between the display device and the at least one image plane.

A reflective holographic display apparatus and a display method thereof are provided. The reflective holographic display apparatus includes a front light source module, a display panel and a phase plate. The front light source module is configured to provide reference lights; the display panel is configured to adjust amplitude information of the reference lights, wherein the display panel includes a reflective layer and the front light source module is located at a light exit side of the display panel; and the phase plate is configured to adjust phase information of the reference lights and located at a light exit side of the reflective layer.

Architecture and designs of modulating both amplitude and phase at the same time in spatial light modulation are described. According to one aspect of the present invention, light propagation is controlled in two different directions (e.g., 0 and 45 degrees) to perform both amplitude modulation and phase modulation at the same time in liquid crystals. In one embodiment, a mask is used to form a pattern, where the pattern includes an array of alignment cells or embossed microstructures, a first group of the cells are aligned in the first direction and a second group of the cells are aligned in the second direction. Depending on applications, two cells from the first group and the second group may correspond to a single pixel or two neighboring pixels, resulting in amplitude modulation and phase modulation within the pixel or within an array of pixels.