A near-to-eye display device includes a spatial light modulator and a microdisplay. The spatial light modulator provides a high-resolution focused image for central vision. The microdisplay provides a low-resolution defocused image for peripheral vision. The display has a large field of view.

A near-to-eye display device includes a spatial light modulator, a rotatable reflective optical element and a pupil-tracking device. The pupil-tracking device tracks the eye pupil position of the user. Based on the data provided by the pupil-tracking device, the reflective optical element is rotated such that the light modulated by the spatial light modulator is directed towards the user's eye pupil.

A holographic display is comprised of space-multiplexed elemental modulators, each of which consists of a surface acoustic wave transducer atop an anisotropic waveguide. Each “line” of the overall display consists of a single anisotropic waveguide across the display's length with multiple surface acoustic wave transducers spaced along the waveguide length, although for larger displays, the waveguide may be divided into segments, each provided with separate illumination. Light that is undiffracted by a specific transducer is available for diffraction by subsequent transducers. Per transducer, guided-mode light is mode-converted to leaky-mode light, which propagates into the substrate away from the viewer before encountering a volume reflection grating and being reflected and steered towards the viewer. The display is transparent and all reflection volume gratings operate in the Bragg regime, thereby creating no dispersion of ambient light.

A display for displaying a wide Field of View (FoV) scene including a holographic image within the scene, including a first Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) and an optical system for producing a first holographic image at a center of a displayed scene, and a second image display for producing at least a first additional image adjacent to the first holographic image. In some embodiments an augmented reality display is used for the displaying of the first holographic image at the center of a field of view and the second image adjacent to the first holographic image. In some embodiments a virtual reality display is used for the displaying of the first holographic image near the center of a field of view and the second image adjacent to the first holographic image. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Examples are disclosed that relate to computing devices, head-mounted display devices, and methods for displaying holographic objects using slicing planes or volumes. In one example a computing device causes a display system to display a holographic object associated with a holographic volume, the holographic object occluding an occluded holographic object that is not displayed. Location data of at least a portion of a hand is received from a sensor. The location data of the hand is used to locate a slicing plane or a slicing volume within the holographic volume. Based on the location of the slicing plane or the slicing volume, at least a portion of the occluded holographic object is displayed via the display system.

A holographic projector having an optical path is described. The holographic projector comprises a first spatial light modulator arranged to display a first hologram, and a first light source. The first light source is arranged to illuminate the first spatial light modulator with light of a first wavelength such that a first holographic reconstruction corresponding to the first hologram is formed on a replay plane. The holographic projector further comprises a continuous block of transparent material. At least part of the optical path is formed through the continuous block of transparent material. The transparent material has a refractive index greater than air.

A case having the appearance of 3D design elements embedded therein. The case generally comprises a back panel which incorporates a plurality of layers with impressions or recesses formed thereon. When aligned, the impressions create an optical illusion as if actual objects are embedded in the back panel of the case where no actual object is present. And a method of producing an optical illusion of embedded design elements in a case including the steps of forming a first panel with at least one first impression formed on a first side of the first panel, applying a reflective coating to the at least one first impression, forming a second panel, and joining the second panel to the first side of the first panel.

Examples are disclosed that relate to computing devices, head-mounted display devices, and methods for displaying holographic objects using slicing planes or volumes. In one example a computing device causes a display system to display a holographic object associated with a holographic volume, the holographic object occluding an occluded holographic object that is not displayed. Location data of at least a portion of a hand is received from a sensor. The location data of the hand is used to locate a slicing plane or a slicing volume within the holographic volume. Based on the location of the slicing plane or the slicing volume, at least a portion of the occluded holographic object is displayed via the display system.

An augmented reality display device (such as a head mounted device) includes a partially transparent and partially reflective lens, a laser light source, a radio frequency source, a display controller, an acousto-optical modulator, and a microelectromechanical (MEMS) device. The laser light source generates light. The radio frequency (RF) source generates a RF signal. The display controller generates a synchronization signal. The acousto-optical modulator receives at least a portion of the light, modulates the light based on the RF signal, and provides modulated light. The MEMS device receives the synchronization signal from the display controller and reflects the modulated light towards the partially transparent and partially reflective lens. The MEMS device determines a direction in which the modulated light reflects based on the synchronization signal and the partially transparent and partially reflective lens reflecting the modulated laser light towards an eye of a user of the augmented realty display device.

A mobile hologram apparatus is disclosed. An example apparatus includes a sheet folded along preformed creases into a pyramid structure configured to be actuated between a compressed state and an uncompressed state. The pyramid structure has a base section and a top section connected by four side sections. The pyramid structure in the compressed state has a height that is less than 1/10th the height of the pyramid structure in the uncompressed state. The apparatus also includes an elastic band connected to a perimeter of the base section of the pyramid structure and configured to cause the pyramid structure to self-actuate from the compressed state to the uncompressed state.