Method and device for reproducing spherical hologram

Abstract

A method and a device for reproducing a spherical hologram are provided. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the device for reproducing a hologram comprises: a holographic recording medium in which holographic content is recorded in a holographic medium coated on the surface of a spherical frame; and a light source for irradiating the holographic recording medium with reference light to reproduce the holographic content recorded in the holographic recording medium. Accordingly, by manufacturing and reproducing a spherical holographic recording medium viewable from all directions, rather than a conventional frame-type holographic recording medium in a flat rectangular frame shape viewable from almost only one direction, it is possible to maximize the realism of a hologram and expect quality improvement in various application services for exhibition, UI, industry, etc.

Description

Method and apparatus for reproducing a spherical hologram

[0001] The present invention relates to a hologram, and more specifically, to a method and apparatus for reproducing a hologram that can be viewed from all directions to maximize realism.

[0002] Holographic records utilize holographic technology to record the interference of light occurring in an object onto a recording medium, and restore the recorded object in three dimensions for viewing.

[0003] Holographic records can be produced by recording holographic content onto a recording medium using a holographic printer. A holographic record produced in this manner is shown in Fig. 1.

[0004] As can be seen from Fig. 1, conventional holographic records are in the shape of a flat rectangular frame, such as a picture frame. However, holographic records of this shape are a factor that limits the viewing angle of the hologram, which is called a perfect three-dimensional hologram, to a narrow range, and thus fail to maximize the realism of the hologram.

[0005] The present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the objective of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for reproducing a spherical hologram that can be viewed from all directions to maximize realism.

[0006] A hologram reproduction device according to one embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above objective comprises: a hologram record having hologram content recorded on a hologram medium applied to the surface of a spherical frame; and a light source for irradiating the hologram record with reference light to reproduce the hologram content recorded on the hologram record.

[0007] Holographic content recorded on a holographic medium can be viewed from all directions.

[0008] A hologram reproduction device according to the present invention may include: a first light source that irradiates a reference light onto a portion of a semicircular part of a hologram record; and a second light source that irradiates a reference light onto the remaining semicircular part of a hologram record.

[0009] A first light source irradiates a reference light in a first direction toward a holographic record from a first point, and a second light source irradiates a reference light in a second direction toward a holographic record from a second point, the first point and the second point are points facing each other with respect to the holographic record, and the first direction and the second direction may be opposite directions.

[0010] A first point is a point located at a certain distance upward from the top of a holographic record, and a second point is a point located at a certain distance downward from the bottom of a holographic record; a first direction is a direction toward the holographic record from the first point, and a second direction is a direction toward the holographic record from the second point; and the holographic reproduction device may further include a first support plate supporting the front end of a holographic record at a point located at a certain distance forward from the front end of the holographic record; and a second support plate supporting the rear end of a holographic record at a certain distance backward from the rear end of the holographic record.

[0011] A first point is a point located at a certain distance forward from the front end of a holographic record, and a second point is a point located at a certain distance backward from the rear end of a holographic record; a first direction is a direction toward the holographic record from the first point, and a second direction is a direction toward the holographic record from the second point; and the holographic reproduction device may further include a first support plate that supports the upper part of a holographic record at a point located at a certain distance upward from the top of a holographic record; and a second support plate that supports the lower part of a holographic record at a certain distance downward from the bottom of a holographic record.

[0012] The frame includes a first frame in the shape of a hemisphere forming part of the sphere; and a second frame in the shape of a hemisphere forming the remainder of the sphere; and the first frame and the second frame may be capable of being combined and separated.

[0013] The holographic medium is divided into multiple hogels, and holographic content is recorded on a hogel-by-hogel basis. When recording holographic content on each hogel, the angle of incidence of the object beam can be adaptively changed according to the position of each hogel.

[0014] When recording holographic content on each hogel, the angle of incidence of the reference beam may be constant within the same frame, regardless of the position of each hogel.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for reproducing a hologram is provided, characterized by comprising: a step of producing a holographic record in which holographic content is recorded on a holographic medium applied to the surface of a spherical frame; and a step of irradiating the holographic record with a reference light to reproduce the holographic content recorded on the holographic record.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, a holographic reproduction device is provided, characterized by comprising: a holographic record having holographic content recorded on a holographic medium applied to the surface of a spherical frame; and a support plate supporting the holographic record.

[0017] As explained above, according to the embodiments of the present invention, by producing and reproducing a spherical holographic record that can be viewed from all directions, unlike conventional flat rectangular frame-shaped holographic records that could only be viewed from almost one direction, the realism of the hologram can be maximized, thereby enabling the expectation of improved quality in various application services such as exhibitions, UI, and industry.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a conventional holographic record,

[0019] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a holographic record to which the present invention is applicable.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a concept of a hologram reproduction method according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0021] FIG. 4 shows the structure of a holographic display according to another embodiment of the present invention,

[0022] FIG. 5 shows the direction and appearance in which a user views the holographic exhibit presented in FIG. 4.

[0023] FIG. 6 shows the structure of a holographic display according to another embodiment of the present invention,

[0024] FIG. 7 shows the direction and appearance in which a user views the holographic exhibit presented in FIG. 6.

[0025] Figure 8 is a configuration diagram of a hologram production system.

[0026] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0027] An embodiment of the present invention presents a method and apparatus for reproducing a spherical hologram. It is a technology for reproducing a holographic record by producing it in a spherical shape so that it can be viewed from all directions.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the concept of a holographic recording to which the present invention is applicable compared with the prior art. As illustrated, unlike the prior art, in which holographic content is recorded on a rectangular planar holographic recording medium and thus can only reproduce a hologram constrained to a rectangular planar shape, the holographic recording to which the present invention is applicable reproduces a spherical hologram in which holographic content is recorded on a spherical holographic recording medium and can be viewed in all directions, namely 360 degrees in the left-right direction and 360 degrees in the up-down direction, thereby causing the user to mistakenly believe that there is an object inside the spherical shape.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the concept of a hologram reproduction method according to an embodiment of the present invention in comparison with the prior art. As shown, unlike the prior art in which a reference beam was irradiated onto a hologram recording medium of a rectangular plane using a single light source, the hologram reproduction method according to an embodiment of the present invention provides two light sources, one at the top and one at the bottom of the hologram recording, so that a reference beam can be irradiated onto the top and bottom of the hologram recording, respectively.

[0030] Meanwhile, a holographic record to which an embodiment of the present invention is applicable comprises a spherical frame (body) and a holographic medium (not shown) applied to the surface of the frame, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 3. Since the holographic medium is applied over the entire area of ​​the frame, the spherical shape shown in the lower part of FIG. 3 can be described as a spherical frame with a holographic medium applied to all surfaces, on which holographic content is recorded.

[0031] Meanwhile, as described, the frame is divided into an upper frame and a lower frame; the upper frame is a hemispherical frame forming the upper part of the frame, and the lower frame is a hemispherical frame forming the lower part of the frame.

[0032] Meanwhile, the upper and lower frames can be combined and separated. When recording a hologram, the upper and lower frames must be separated, and once the recording is complete, the upper and lower frames are combined to complete the hologram recording.

[0033] The holographic medium coated on the frame surface of a holographic recording is divided into multiple hogels, and the recording of holographic content on a hogel-by-hogel basis is identical to the prior art. However, the holographic recording method differs from the prior art in that the frame is spherical, meaning the divided hogels are spherical rather than flat. Specifically, unlike the prior art where the hogels are flat and the angles of incidence of the object beam and the reference beam on the holographic recording medium are the same for all hogels, the holographic recording to which the present invention is applicable requires adaptively changing the angle of incidence of the object beam on the holographic recording medium according to the position of each hogel, as the hogels are spherical. On the other hand, regarding the reference beam, the angle of incidence differs between the hogels within the upper frame and the hogels within the lower frame. However, the angle of incidence of the reference beam is constant among the hogels within the upper frame, and also constant among the hogels within the lower frame.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a holographic display according to another embodiment of the present invention. The holographic display according to an embodiment of the present invention is a holographic reproduction device for reproducing holographic content recorded in the aforementioned spherical holographic record.

[0035] A holographic display according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises, as illustrated, a holographic record consisting of an upper frame (111) and a lower frame (112), light sources (121, 122), and support plates (131, 132).

[0036] The light sources (121, 122) are configured to irradiate a reference light onto a holographic record (111, 112) to reproduce holographic content recorded in the holographic record (111, 112), and include an upper light source (121) and a lower light source (122).

[0037] The upper light source (121) irradiates reference light in a direction toward the hologram record (111, 112) from a point located at a certain distance upward from the top of the hologram record (111, 112). And the lower light source (122) irradiates reference light in a direction toward the hologram record (111, 112) from a point located at a certain distance downward from the bottom of the hologram record (111, 112).

[0038] In this way, the light sources (121, 122) are positioned at points facing each other with respect to the holographic record (111, 112) and are structured to irradiate reference beams in opposite directions, such that one of the light sources (121, 122) irradiates a reference light to a part of the semicircle portion of the holographic record (111, 112), and the other irradiates a reference light to the remaining semicircle portion of the holographic record (111, 112).

[0039] Support plates (131, 132) are configured to support / fix holographic records (111, 112) and include a front support plate (131) and a rear support plate (132).

[0040] The front support plate (131) supports / fixes the front portion of the hologram record (111, 112) at a certain distance forward from the front end of the hologram record (111, 112). The rear support plate (132) supports / fixes the rear portion of the hologram record (111, 112) at a certain distance backward from the rear end of the hologram record (111, 112).

[0041] Figure 5 illustrates the direction and appearance of a user viewing a holographic display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a holographic display according to another embodiment of the present invention. The holographic display according to an embodiment of the present invention is also a holographic reproduction device for reproducing holographic content recorded in the aforementioned spherical holographic record.

[0043] A holographic display according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises, as illustrated, a holographic record consisting of a front frame (113) and a rear frame (114), light sources (123, 124), and support plates (133, 134).

[0044] The light sources (123, 124) are configured to irradiate a reference light onto a holographic record (113, 114) to reproduce the holographic content recorded on the holographic record (113, 114), and include a front light source (123) and a rear light source (124). The front light source (123) irradiates a reference light in a direction toward the front of the holographic record (113, 114) from a point located at a certain distance forward from the front end of the holographic record (113, 114). The rear light source (124) irradiates a reference light in a direction toward the rear of the holographic record (113, 114) from a point located at a certain distance backward from the rear end of the holographic record (113, 114).

[0045] Support plates (133, 134) are configured to support / fix holographic records (113, 114) and include an upper support plate (133) and a lower support plate (134).

[0046] The upper support plate (133) supports / fixes the upper part of the hologram record (113, 114) at a certain distance upward from the top of the hologram record (113, 114). And the lower support plate (134) supports / fixes the lower part of the hologram record (113, 114) at a certain distance downward from the bottom of the hologram record (113, 114).

[0047] Figure 7 illustrates the direction and appearance of a user viewing a holographic display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a hologram production system. As illustrated, the hologram production system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a hologram record (100), a hologram generation system (200), and a hologram printer (300).

[0049] The holographic record (100) is a collective term for the holographic record composed of the upper frame (111) and lower frame (112) shown in FIG. 4 and the holographic record composed of the front frame (113) and rear frame (114) shown in FIG. 6.

[0050] The hologram generation system (200) is a computing system for generating hologram content to be recorded on a hologram record (100). As hologram content to be recorded on the hologram record (100), the hologram generation system (200) generates a wavefront-shaped CGH (Computer Generated Holography) pattern.

[0051] A hologram printer (300) is configured to record hologram content generated by a hologram generation system (200) onto a hologram record (100). When recording hologram content, the angle of incidence of the reference beam on the hologram recording medium is constant for the hogels within the same frame, but the angle of incidence of the object beam on the hologram recording medium must be adaptively changed according to the position of each hogel.

[0052] A holographic record (100) on which holographic content is recorded by a holographic printer (300) is installed in a holographic display shown in FIGS. 4 and FIGS. 6 described above, and when a reference light is irradiated from a light source, the holographic content recorded in the holographic record (100) is reproduced.

[0053] Up to now, a method and apparatus for reproducing a spherical hologram have been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the realism of the hologram was maximized by producing and reproducing a spherical holographic record that can be viewed from all directions, rather than a conventional flat rectangular frame holographic record that could only be viewed from almost one direction.

[0055] Meanwhile, it goes without saying that the technical concept of the present invention may also be applied to a computer-readable recording medium containing a computer program that enables the device and method according to the present embodiment to perform their functions. Furthermore, the technical concept according to various embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in the form of computer-readable code recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. A computer-readable recording medium may be any data storage device that can be read by a computer and store data. For example, a computer-readable recording medium may be a ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical disk, hard disk drive, etc. Additionally, computer-readable code or a program stored on a computer-readable recording medium may be transmitted through a network connected between computers.

[0056] Furthermore, although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. Various modifications are possible by those skilled in the art without departing from the essence of the invention as claimed in the claims, and such modifications should not be understood individually from the technical spirit or perspective of the present invention.

Claims

1. A holographic record having holographic content recorded on a holographic medium applied to the surface of a spherical frame; and A hologram reproduction device characterized by including a light source that irradiates a hologram record with reference light to reproduce hologram content recorded in the hologram record.

2. In Claim 1, Holographic content recorded on a holographic medium is, A hologram reproduction device characterized by being viewable from all directions.

3. In Claim 2, A first light source that irradiates reference light onto a semicircular portion of a holographic record; and A hologram reproduction device characterized by including a second light source that irradiates reference light onto the remaining semicircular portion of the hologram recording.

4. In Claim 3, The first light source is, At the first point, a reference light is irradiated in the first direction toward the holographic record, and The second light source is, At the second point, a reference light is projected in the second direction toward the holographic record, and The first and second points are, These are points facing each other based on the holographic records, The first direction and the second direction are, A hologram reproduction device characterized by opposite directions.

5. In Claim 4, The first point is, It is a point located at a certain distance upward from the top of the holographic record, and The second branch is, It is a point located at a certain distance downward from the bottom of the holographic record, and The first direction is, It is the direction from the first point toward the holographic record, and The second direction is, It is the direction toward the holographic record from the second point, and The hologram reproduction device is, A first support plate supporting the shear portion of a holographic record at a point located a certain distance forward from the shear portion of the holographic record; A hologram reproduction device characterized by further including a second support plate that supports the rear end of a hologram record at a point located at a certain distance from the rear end of the hologram record.

6. In Claim 4, The first point is, It is a point located at a certain distance forward from the shear of the holographic record, and The second branch is, It is a point located at a certain distance from the rear end of the holographic record, and The first direction is, It is the direction from the first point toward the holographic record, and The second direction is, It is the direction toward the holographic record from the second point, and The hologram reproduction device is, A first support plate supporting the upper portion of a holographic record at a certain distance from the top of the holographic record upward; A hologram reproduction device characterized by further including a second support plate that supports the lower part of a hologram record at a point located at a certain distance from the bottom of the hologram record downward.

7. In Claim 1, The frame is, A first frame in the shape of a hemisphere forming part of a sphere; It includes a second frame in the shape of a hemisphere that forms the remainder of the sphere; and The first frame and the second frame are, A hologram reproduction device characterized by being capable of combining and separating.

8. In Claim 7, The holographic medium is, It is divided into multiple hogels, and holographic content is recorded on a hogel-by-hogel basis, When recording holographic content on each hogel, A hologram reproduction device characterized by adaptively changing the incident angle of the object beam according to the position of each hogel.

9. In Claim 8, When recording holographic content on each hogel, A hologram reproduction device characterized by the fact that the angle of incidence of the reference beam is constant within the same frame, regardless of the position of each hogel.

10. A step of producing a holographic record in which holographic content is recorded on a holographic medium applied to the surface of a spherical frame; and A hologram reproduction method characterized by including the step of irradiating a hologram record with a reference light to reproduce hologram content recorded in the hologram record.

11. A holographic record having holographic content recorded on a holographic medium applied to the surface of a spherical frame; and A hologram reproduction device characterized by including a support plate that supports a hologram recording.

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