Coarse Integral Holographic Display for Seamless Full Parallax

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing holographic displays face challenges in providing a large field of view with both horizontal and vertical parallax due to limitations in spatial light modulator pitches and tiling methods, which result in seams and reduced resolution, making them unsuitable for interactive and multi-viewer applications.

Innovation Solution

A holographic display system combining multiple low-pitch spatial light modulators with coarse integral optics to create a wide field of view display with adjustable horizontal and vertical parallax, using angular tiling to combine elemental holograms into a super hologram.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If multiple SLMs are spatially tiled to increase display size or field of view, then the field of view or display area is improved, but visible seams appear in the holographic image due to gaps between SLMs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidimage continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A diffuser is introduced as an intermediary optical element between the array of SLMs and the viewer. The diffuser scatters light from each SLM element, causing the light fields to overlap and blend together. This mediation eliminates the visible seams that would otherwise appear at the boundaries between adjacent SLMs, creating a seamless holographic image across the entire display area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If the pitch of the SLM is made fine to increase field of view, then the field of view is improved, but the display size must be increased which is generally unacceptable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield of viewVSAvoiddisplay size
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The display system is segmented into multiple independent SLM elements arranged in an array, where each element contributes to a portion of the overall field of view. By dividing the total field of view requirement across multiple segments rather than requiring a single large SLM with fine pitch, the system achieves a wide field of view without needing an excessively large display size. The diffuser integrates these segmented views into a unified holographic image.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Area of stationary object

If multiple SLMs are arranged in an arc to increase field of view, then the field of view is improved, but the holographic images overlap in the center and resolution is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield of viewVSAvoidimage resolution
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Each SLM element in the array is assigned a specific angular range or viewing zone, creating local quality differentiation across the array. The diffuser ensures that light from each element is directed to its appropriate angular range, preventing overlap in the center region. This local optimization of light distribution maintains high resolution across the entire field of view by ensuring each spatial frequency component is properly allocated to its designated angular range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system achieves a full parallax super hologram with continuous horizontal and vertical parallax, reducing computational costs and visual seams, suitable for interactive and multi-viewer applications.

Implementation Method 1

Holography is a technique that enables three-dimensional (3D) images to be generated, recorded, and later displayed. It typically involves the use of a laser, interference, diffraction, light intensity recording, and suitable illumination of the recording.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Implementation Method 2

Holography is a technique that enables three-dimensional (3D) images to be generated, recorded, and later displayed. It typically involves the use of a laser, interference, diffraction, light intensity recording, and suitable illumination of the recording.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInterference: Interference

Implementation Method 3

a coarse integral optics assembly adapted to combine the plurality of elemental holographic images into a single hologram viewable in a hologram image plane a distance apart from the course integral optics assembly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical transformation: Lens

Data Source

PatentEP2784599B1Coarse integral holographic display
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 DISNEY ENTERPRISES INC
  • EP2784599B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2784599B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2784599B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A holographic display system (100) for generating a super hologram (150) with full parallax in the horizontal and vertical directions. The system includes an array of holographic display devices (110), e.g., spatial light modulators (SLMs, 114), operable to provide a plurality of holographic images (115) of a scene from differing viewpoints of the scene. Each SLM is operated concurrently to output a narrow field of view, elemental hologram. The system includes coarse integral optics (120) combining the holographic images into a single hologram ("super hologram", 150) viewable in a hologram image plane a distance from the coarse integral optics. The coarse integral optics combine the holographic images by providing angular tiling of the holographic images, e.g., bending the axes (141) of parallel lenses. In this manner, the field of view, in one direction, of the super hologram is based on the number of holographic display devices provided in the array in one direction.