A method to form a three-dimensional photonic crystal template with a gradient structure involves irradiating a photoresist composition of a thickness of at least 15 μm from at least four laser beams to yield a periodic patterned with a percolating matrix of mass in constructive volumes of a cured photoresist composition and destructive volumes of voids free of condensed matter where the proportion of constructive volume displays a gradient from the irradiated surface to the substrate after development. For a given light intensity, photoinitiator concentration in the photoresist composition, and a given thickness, by irradiating for a relatively short period, a three-dimensional photonic crystal template displaying a gradient having greater constructive volume proximal the air interface forms and a relatively long irradiation period results in a gradient having greater constructive volume proximal the substrate.

Provided is a technology for implementing an AR optical waveguide display capable of showing a hologram image by means of a small and simple system configuration by using an HOE. A holographic display according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a light source module for emitting a beam; an optical waveguide through which the emitted beam is incident and propagated; a plurality of holographic optical elements (HOES) for propagating the beam incident to the optical waveguide inside the optical waveguide while totally reflecting the beam; and a modulator for reproducing a holographic image through the progressing beam and propagating the beam to the inside of the optical waveguide while totally reflecting the beam. Accordingly, it is possible to implement, as a small and simple system, an optical waveguide display showing an AR hologram by using an optical waveguide and an HOE.

A display module includes an image light generation device configured to generate image light, a first reflection section configured to reflect the image light from the image light generation device, a first diffraction element configured to diffract the image light entering a first incident surface, a second reflection section configured to reflect the image light from the first diffraction element, and a second diffraction element configured to diffract the image light entering a second incident surface, thereby forming an exit pupil. When viewed from a normal line direction of a virtual plane including a normal line of the first incident surface and a normal line of the second incident surface, an optical axis of the image light from the image light generation device toward the first reflection section and an optical axis of the image light from the first diffraction element toward the second reflection section intersect each other.

Methods, devices and systems for improved fabrication and measurement of holographic elements are described. One example method includes directing a reference and an object beam toward a holographic material for formation of a diffraction grating in the holographic material, and blocking one of the reference or the object beams to prevent the beam from reaching the holographic material for at least a portion of time during which the diffraction grating is being formed. During the blockage of the beam, a power level of a diffracted beam associated with the reference or the object beam that is not being blocked is measured. Based on the measured power level, it is then determined whether a particular diffraction grating efficiency is reached. The described techniques enable real-time measurement of diffraction grating efficiency as the grating is being formed and enable improved fabrication of holographic elements hat must meet precise diffraction grating efficiency requirements.

An apparatus and method for providing pixelated occlusion is disclosed. The apparatus includes a display, a unitary and transmissive optical component, and a contact lens. The display provides a display image. The unitary reflective and transmissive optical component receives the display image and forms a reflected display image having a first polarization and receives a scene image and forms a transmitted scene image. The contact lens forms a combined image including the reflected display image and the transmitted scene image. The pixelated display includes one or more occluding pixels having a second polarization with the first polarization substantially orthogonal to the second polarization. The pixelated display is included anterior to the unitary and reflective optical component.

Holographic volume gratings in waveguide cells can be recorded using many different methods and systems in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. One embodiment includes a holographic recording system including at least one laser source configured to emit recording beams and a movable platform configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein when the movable platform is in the first position, the at least one laser source is configured to emit a first set of one or more recording beams toward a first set of one or more stations and when the movable platform is in the second position, the at least one laser source is configured to emit a second set of one or more recording beams toward a second set of one or more stations.

A method of manufacturing a thin film optical apparatus includes providing a substrate and applying an alignment layer over the substrate. The alignment layer ranges from about 50 to 100 nm in thickness. The method includes imprinting a hologram with a desired optic pattern onto the alignment layer and applying at least one layer of mesogen material over the alignment layer.

A device and a method for manufacturing holographic optical elements. The device includes at least two partial light beams and one interference light beam, one deformable mirror in each case per partial light beam, a control unit, which is configured to actuate the deformable mirrors to adapt a wavefront of the partial light beam, and a holographic film. The deformable mirrors are situated so as to each reflect precisely one partial light beam and to direct the reflected partial light beam on the holographic film, and the interference light beam being directed on the holographic film to interfere with the reflected partial light beams so as to simultaneously generate at least two holographic optical elements.

A method for producing a hologram on a curved substrate plate includes providing a curved substrate plate having a substrate surface, the actual geometry of which is subject to a tolerance deviation with respect to a predetermined desired geometry; providing an inflatable cushion with a cushion surface that can be deformed under the effect of pressure and is preformed into the predetermined desired geometry or with a predetermined deviation therefrom; applying a holographic master in the form of a flexible thin layer to the deformable cushion surface and applying a hologram-recording layer to the substrate surface; pressing or placing the holographic master onto the hologram-recording layer by way of the cushion surface deformed to the actual geometry, thereby achieving full surface-area contact between them with a substantially constant predetermined layer thickness of the hologram-recording layer, and exposing the hologram-recording layer to form a hologram.

An interference structure having a nanovoided hologram material is described. The nanovoided hologram material may have an index of refraction difference of approximately 0.4. The interference structure may include about 10% to 90% nanovoids by volume. The interference structure may be formed using a mixture of a monomer, an initiator, and solvent. The mixture may be disposed on a substrate and irradiated with two sources of light spaced apart from each other and shining on the same region of the mixture to generate an interference pattern in the mixture, leading to the selective polymerization of regions of the mixture where there is constructive interference of light. Various other devices, methods, and systems are also disclosed.