A light shuttering device comprises a plurality of liquid crystal cells, wherein each liquid crystal cell is operable in a first optical state or a second optical state in response to a respective first or second drive signal. A drive circuit comprises a plurality of switches and a drive controller. Each switch is arranged to output the respective first or second drive signal to a respective liquid crystal cell. The drive controller is arranged to sequentially update the output of each switch during an update cycle. The drive circuit is arranged to determine the order in which the switches are sequentially updated during an update cycle based on any changes to the respective drive signals that will be made during the update.

A light engine arranged to form an image visible from a viewing window. The light engine comprises: a display device arranged to display a hologram of the image and spatially modulate light in accordance with the hologram; a hologram replicator arranged to receive the spatially modulated light and provide a plurality of different light propagation paths for the spatially modulated light from the display device to the viewing window; and a control device disposed in an optical path between the first replicator and the second replicator. The control device is angled such that light from the first replicator is incident at an acute angle on the control device, and each cell of the array is switchable between a first state and a second state.

There is disclosed herein a waveguide comprising an optical slab and an optical wedge. The optical slab has a first refractive index, n.sub.1>1. The optical slab comprises: a pair of opposing surfaces and an input port. The pair of opposing surfaces are arranged in a parallel configuration. The input port is arranged to receive light into the optical slab at an angle such that the light is guided between the first and second opposing surfaces by a series of internal reflections. The optical wedge has a second refractive index, n.sub.2, wherein 1<n.sub.2<n.sub.1. The optical wedge comprises a pair of opposing surfaces arranged in a wedge configuration. A first surface of the optical wedge abuts the second surface of the optical slab to form an interface that allows partial transmission of light guided by the optical slab into the optical wedge at a plurality of points along the interface such that the light is divided a plurality of times. The angle of the wedge allows light received at the interface to escape through the second surface of the optical wedge such that the exit pupil of the waveguide is expanded by the plurality of divisions of the light.

Provided is a holographic display apparatus capable of providing an expanded viewing window when reproducing a holographic image via an off-axis technique. The holographic display apparatus includes a spatial light modulator comprising a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally; and an aperture enlargement film configured to enlarge a beam diameter of a light beam coming from each of the plurality of pixels of the spatial light modulator. The beam diameter of each light beam enlarged by the aperture enlargement film may be greater than the width of an aperture of each pixel of the spatial light modulator.

A holographic display system for a motor vehicle includes a light source for generating a beam of coherent light and a spatial light modulator (SLM) having a two-dimensional pixel array. The two-dimensional pixel array modulates the beam of coherent light for generating a plurality of subframes, with each subframe being associated with one of a plurality of partial fields of view. The system further includes a scanner for directing the subframes onto associated sections of a display surface. The system further includes a computer having a memory including instructions, such that a processor is programmed to control the two-dimensional pixel array of the SLM for generating the subframes. The processor is further programmed to control the scanner for directing the subframes onto associated sections of the display surface and displaying a reconstructed image within a full field of view, which includes each of the partial fields of view.

An apparatus for displaying an image, including: an input image node configured to provide at least a first and a second image modulated lights; and a holographic waveguide device configured to propagate the at least one of the first and second image modulated lights in at least a first direction. The holographic waveguide device includes: at least a first and second interspersed multiplicities of grating elements disposed in at least one layer, the first and second grating elements having respectively a first and a second prescriptions. The first and second multiplicity of grating elements are configured to deflect respectively the first and second image modulated lights out of the at least one layer into respectively a first and a second multiplicities of output rays forming respectively a first and second FOV tiles.

An apparatus for displaying an image, including: an input image node configured to provide at least a first and a second image modulated lights; and a holographic waveguide device configured to propagate the at least one of the first and second image modulated lights in at least a first direction. The holographic waveguide device includes: at least a first and second interspersed multiplicities of grating elements disposed in at least one layer, the first and second grating elements having respectively a first and a second prescriptions. The first and second multiplicity of grating elements are configured to deflect respectively the first and second image modulated lights out of the at least one layer into respectively a first and a second multiplicities of output rays forming respectively a first and second FOV tiles.

The present disclosure provides a holographic reproduction device, a holographic reproduction system, and a holographic display system. The holographic reproduction device includes a first light source configured to provide first coherent light; at least one electrically addressed liquid crystal display panel configured to display a holographic interferogram, so that the first coherent light is diffracted when the first coherent light transmits through the holographic interferogram to present a holographic reproduction image. A liquid crystal material of the electrically addressed liquid crystal display panel includes smectic liquid crystal.

A holographic display with an illumination device, an enlarging unit and a light modulator. The illumination device includes at least one light source and a light collimation unit, the light collimation unit collimates the light of the at least one light source and generates a light wave field of the light that is emitted by the light source with a specifiable angular spectrum of plane waves, the enlarging unit is disposed downstream of the light collimation unit, seen in the direction of light propagation, where the enlarging unit includes a transmissive volume hologram realising an anamorphic broadening of the light wave field due to a transmissive interaction of the light wave field with the volume hologram, and the light modulator is disposed upstream or downstream of the anamorphic enlarging unit, seen in the direction of light propagation.

Display system and methods including a display device arranged to display a hologram and spatially modulate light and a hologram engine arranged to receive contribution information identifying contributory and non-contributory areas of the display device based on the location of an entrance pupil. The contributory areas of the display device propagate light passing through the entrance pupil at the determined location. The non-contributory areas of the display device propagate light stopped by the entrance pupil at the determined location. The contribution information identifies (i) at least one primary contributory area of the display device that contributes to a primary image and (ii) at least one secondary contributory area of the display device that contributes to a secondary image. The hologram engine is arranged to determine a hologram based on the at least one primary contributory area of the display device identified by the processing engine.