Abstract: Systems and methods for convergent 3D displays. In one embodiment, the 3D display has a display screen that includes a convergent reflector and a horizontally narrow angle diffuser. The convergent reflector focuses 2D images projected on the diffuser from an array of 2D image projectors to form viewpoints in an eyebox where one viewpoint corresponds to one projector. At a particular viewpoint, the viewer's eye sees a full-screen field of view from a corresponding projector in the array. The narrow angle diffuser diffuses incident rays projected from the 2D image projectors into narrow angular slices so that the views in the eyebox are continuously blended together. The system and methods provide advantages in that only a few projectors are required in the array to provide the viewer with a full-screen field of view and a sufficiently large eyebox for comfortable viewing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a 3D display system. In one embodiment, a system includes a display screen, 2D image projectors that project 2D projection images onto the screen and a camera that captures calibration images of the screen. A computer generates the 2D projection images, which include calibration patterns, and processes the captured calibration images. The computer uses the calibration images to calculate corrections based upon the calibration images. The computer can then generate corrected 2D projection images that are projected by the 2D image projectors onto the screen to produce a substantially visually correct 3D image with continuous viewing, true horizontal parallax, and a different view for each eye within a valid viewing zone. The corrections to the images may include corrections to the geometry (including distortion, alignment, etc.) color (including intensity and related parameters).

Abstract: Systems and methods for shear-corrected digital hologram acquisition, wherein the shear-corrected geometry is highly suited for two (or more) color operation with either broadband or laser illumination. An apparatus for shear-corrected recording of a spatially heterodyne hologram with broad-band or laser illumination includes: an illumination source; a beamsplitter optically coupled to said illumination source(s); a reference beam corner-mirror pair for translation and phase-shaping of the object beam optically coupled to the beamsplitter; an object optically coupled to the beamsplitter; a focusing lens optically coupled to both the reference beam corner-mirror pair and the object; and a digital recorder optically coupled to the focusing lens. A reference beam is incident upon the translating and phase-shaping corner-mirror pair, and the reference beam and an object beam are focused by the focusing lens at a focal plane of the digital recorder to form a spatially heterodyne hologram.

Abstract: Systems and methods for convergent 3D displays. In one embodiment, the 3D display has a display screen that includes a convergent reflector and a horizontally narrow angle diffuser. The convergent reflector focuses 2D images projected on the diffuser from an array of 2D image projectors to form viewpoints in an eyebox where one viewpoint corresponds to one projector. At a particular viewpoint, the viewer's eye sees a full-screen field of view from a corresponding projector in the array. The narrow angle diffuser diffuses incident rays projected from the 2D image projectors into narrow angular slices so that the views in the eyebox are continuously blended together. The system and methods provide advantages in that only a few projectors are required in the array to provide the viewer with a full-screen field of view and a sufficiently large eyebox for comfortable viewing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a 3D display system. In one embodiment, a system includes a display screen, 2D image projectors that project 2D projection images onto the screen and a camera that captures calibration images of the screen. A computer generates the 2D projection images, which include calibration patterns, and processes the captured calibration images. The computer uses the calibration images to calculate corrections based upon the calibration images. The computer can then generate corrected 2D projection images that are projected by the 2D image projectors onto the screen to produce a substantially visually correct 3D image with continuous viewing, true horizontal parallax, and a different view for each eye within a valid viewing zone. The corrections to the images may include corrections to the geometry (including distortion, alignment, etc.) color (including intensity and related parameters).

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a true 3-D display, where each of a viewer's eyes not only sees a different scene, but the scene changes continuously as the viewer moves his/her head or change his/her position from one angular location to another angular location with respect to the display screen. In one embodiment, a system comprises a set of 2-D image projectors and a display screen. The 2-D image projectors are configured to project individual 2-D images substantially in focus on the display screen. The display screen then diffuses (or reflects) each pixel from each of the 2-D images into a small angular slice. This enables the viewer observing the display screen to see a different one of the 2-D images with each eye. Further, the image seen by each eye varies as the viewer moves his or her head with respect to the display screen.

Abstract: Systems and methods for shear-corrected digital hologram acquisition, wherein the shear-corrected geometry is highly suited for two (or more) color operation with either broadband or laser illumination. An apparatus for shear-corrected recording of a spatially heterodyne hologram with broad-band or laser illumination includes: an illumination source; a beamsplitter optically coupled to said illumination source(s); a reference beam corner-mirror pair for translation and phase-shaping of the object beam optically coupled to the beamsplitter; an object optically coupled to the beamsplitter; a focusing lens optically coupled to both the reference beam corner-mirror pair and the object; and a digital recorder optically coupled to the focusing lens. A reference beam is incident upon the translating and phase-shaping corner-mirror pair, and the reference beam and an object beam are focused by the focusing lens at a focal plane of the digital recorder to form a spatially heterodyne hologram.

Abstract: Systems and methods for shearless digital hologram acquisition, including an apparatus incorporating an illumination source configured to produce a first beam of light, which is then split by a beamsplitter into a reference beam and an object illumination beam. The reference beam is directed onto a phase-shaping optical element which imparts a phase shift to the reference beam and returns the phase-shifted reference beam on itself to the beamsplitter. The object illumination beam is directed onto an object, and a portion of the beam is reflected back to the beamsplitter, which combines the phase-shifted reference beam and object illumination beam substantially coaxially. The combined beams are passed through a focusing lens which focuses them at a focal plane. A digital recorder is positioned at the focal plane to record the spatially heterodyne hologram formed by the focused phase-shifted reference beam and reflected object illumination beam.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a true 3-D display, where each of a viewer's eyes not only sees a different scene, but the scene changes continuously as the viewer moves his/her head or change his/her position from one angular location to another angular location with respect to the display screen. In one embodiment, a system comprises a set of 2-D image projectors and a display screen. The 2-D image projectors are configured to project individual 2-D images substantially in focus on the display screen. The display screen then diffuses (or reflects) each pixel from each of the 2-D images into a small angular slice. This enables the viewer observing the display screen to see a different one of the 2-D images with each eye. Further, the image seen by each eye varies as the viewer moves his or her head with respect to the display screen.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a true 3-D display, where each of a viewer's eyes not only sees a different scene, but the scene changes continuously as the viewer moves his/her head or change his/her position from one angular location to another angular location with respect to the display screen. In one embodiment, a system comprises a set of 2-D image projectors and a display screen. The 2-D image projectors are configured to project individual 2-D images substantially in focus on the display screen. The display screen then diffuses (or reflects) each pixel from each of the 2-D images into a small angular slice. This enables the viewer observing the display screen to see a different one of the 2-D images with each eye. Further, the image seen by each eye varies as the viewer moves his or her head with respect to the display screen.

Abstract: Systems and methods for shearless digital hologram acquisition, including an apparatus incorporating an illumination source configured to produce a first beam of light, which is then split by a beamsplitter into a reference beam and an object illumination beam. The reference beam is directed onto a phase-shaping optical element which imparts a phase shift to the reference beam and returns the phase-shifted reference beam on itself to the beamsplitter. The object illumination beam is directed onto an object, and a portion of the beam is reflected back to the beamsplitter, which combines the phase-shifted reference beam and object illumination beam substantially coaxially. The combined beams are passed through a focusing lens which focuses them at a focal plane. A digital recorder is positioned at the focal plane to record the spatially heterodyne hologram formed by the focused phase-shifted reference beam and reflected object illumination beam.

Abstract: A method of writing a spatially heterodyne hologram having spatially heterodyne fringes includes: passing a single write beam through a spatial light modulator that digitally modulates said single write beam; and focusing the single write beam at a focal plane of a lens to impose a holographic diffraction grating pattern on the photorefractive crystal, the holographic diffraction grating pattern including the spatially heterodyne hologram having spatially heterodyne fringes, wherein only said single write beam is incident on said photorefractive crystal without a reference beam.

Abstract: Systems and methods for shearless digital hologram acquisition, including an apparatus incorporating an illumination source configured to produce a first beam of light, which is then split by a beamsplitter into a reference beam and an object illumination beam. The reference beam is directed onto a phase-shaping optical element which imparts a phase shift to the reference beam and returns the phase-shifted reference beam on itself to the beamsplitter. The object illumination beam is directed onto an object, and a portion of the beam is reflected back to the beamsplitter, which combines the phase-shifted reference beam and object illumination beam substantially coaxially. The combined beams are passed through a focusing lens which focuses them at a focal plane. A digital recorder is positioned at the focal plane to record the spatially heterodyne hologram formed by the focused phase-shifted reference beam and reflected object illumination beam.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a true 3-D display, where each of a viewer's eyes not only sees a different scene, but the scene changes continuously as the viewer moves his/her head or change his/her position from one angular location to another angular location with respect to the display screen. In one embodiment, a system comprises a set of 2-D image projectors and a display screen. The 2-D image projectors are configured to project individual 2-D images substantially in focus on the display screen. The display screen then diffuses (or reflects) each pixel from each of the 2-D images into a small angular slice. This enables the viewer observing the display screen to see a different one of the 2-D images with each eye. Further, the image seen by each eye varies as the viewer moves his or her head with respect to the display screen.

Abstract: An apparatus operable to record a spatially low-frequency heterodyne hologram including spatially heterodyne fringes for Fourier analysis includes: a laser; a beamsplitter optically coupled to the laser; an object optically coupled to the beamsplitter; a focusing lens optically coupled to both the beamsplitter and the object; a digital recorder optically coupled to the focusing lens; and a computer that performs a Fourier transform, applies a digital filter, and performs an inverse Fourier transform.

Abstract: A method of recording a spatially low-frequency heterodyne hologram, including spatially heterodyne fringes for Fourier analysis, includes: splitting a laser beam into a reference beam and an object beam; interacting the object beam with an object; focusing the reference beam and the object beam at a focal plane of a digital recorder to form a spatially low-frequency heterodyne hologram including spatially heterodyne fringes for Fourier analysis; digital recording the spatially low-frequency heterodyne hologram; Fourier transforming axes of the recorded spatially low-frequency heterodyne hologram including spatially heterodyne fringes in Fourier space to sit on top of a heterodyne carrier frequency defined by an angle between the reference beam and the object beam; cutting off signals around an origin; and performing an inverse Fourier transform.

Abstract: Systems and method are described for addressable field emission array (AFEA) chips. A plurality of individually addressable cathodes are integrated with an electrostatic focusing stack and/or a plurality of detectors on the addressable field emission array. The systems and methods provide advantages including the avoidance of space-charge blow-up.

Abstract: In digital holographic imaging systems, streamed holograms are compared on a pixel-by-pixel basis for defect detection after hologram generation. An automated image matching, registration and comparison method with feedback confidence allows for runtime wafer inspection, scene matching refinement, rotational wafer alignment and the registration and comparison of difference images.

Abstract: Optical acquisition systems for direct-to-digital holography are disclosed. The system includes an illumination lens for focusing a reference beam and a beam splitter optically coupled to the illumination lens by the reference beam. A reference mirror is located at a waist of the reference beam and operates to eliminate a reference objective.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for off-axis illumination direct-to-digital holography.