Abstract: A three-dimensional light modulator, of which the pixels are combined to form modulation elements. Each modulation element can be coded with a preset discrete value such that three-dimensionally arranged object points can be holographically reconstructed. The light modulator is characterized in that assigned to the pixels of the modulator are beam splitters or beam combiners which, for each modulation element, combine the light wave parts modulated by the pixels by means of refraction or diffraction on the output side to form a common light beam which exits the modulation element in a set propagation direction.

Abstract: A method of computing a hologram by determining the wavefronts at the approximate observer eye position that would be generated by a real version of an object to be reconstructed. In normal computer generated holograms, one determines the wavefronts needed to reconstruct an object; this is not done directly in the present invention. Instead, one determines the wavefronts at an observer window that would be generated by a real object located at the same position of the reconstructed object. One can then back-transforms these wavefronts to the hologram to determine how the hologram needs to be encoded to generate these wavefronts. A suitably encoded hologram can then generate a reconstruction of the three-dimensional scene that can be observed by placing one's eyes at the plane of the observer window and looking through the observer window.

Abstract: The invention relates to a display device, in particular a head-mounted display or a head-up display, for representing a two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional scene. The display device comprises a spatial light modulator device having pixels, and a beam offset device. The spatial light modulator device is illuminatable with light. The beam offset device is configured to be controllable in such a way that the light modulated by the pixels of the spatial light modulator device is laterally displaceable by less than one pixel extent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a display, in particular an autostereoscopic or holographic display, for representing preferably three-dimensional information, wherein the stereo views or the reconstructions of the holographically encoded objects can be tracked to the movements of the associated eyes of one or more observers in a finely stepped manner within a plurality of zones of the movement region. In this case, the zones are selected by the activation of switchable polarization gratings.

Abstract: The invention relates to a holographic display device for representing a two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional scene. The holographic display device comprises at least one spatial light modulator device and an optical component. The at least one spatial light modulator device is provided in order to reconstruct the scene and in order to generate at least one virtual visibility region in an observer plane. The optical component is configured with at least two regions that have a different transparency to one another, the value of the transparency respectively lying between 0 and 1. Furthermore, the optical component is arranged in the display device in such a way that it provides filtering, to be carried out at least partially, of a diffraction order spot in at least one diffraction order inside the virtual visibility region.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating holograms for encoding in a spatial light modulation device for a holographic display for representing a two- and/or three-dimensional scene. The two- and/or three-dimensional scene is decomposed into object points and encoded in a hologram, which is subdivided into subholograms, in the spatial light modulation device. The object points of the scene are encoded into encoding regions on the spatial light modulation device. A size and/or shape of the encoding region is selected in relation to a size and/or shape of a subhologram, assigned to the encoding region, in such a way that crosstalk of higher diffraction orders in a virtual visibility region is reduced.

Abstract: A phase modulator for polarized light, comprising a first substrate with a first surface and a second substrate with a second surface, a liquid crystal layer between the two substrates and an electrode arrangement. The phase modulator is usable as a variable deflection grating, and liquid crystal materials which are currently conventional are usable for its production. A phase modulator has an out-of-plane angle of the liquid crystal molecules next to the two surfaces whose magnitude is greater than 0 but less than or equal to 45 degrees, and an electrode arrangement controllable such that an in-plane component of the liquid crystal molecule orientation is adjustable in an angle range of up to 180 degrees, and the rotation sense of the liquid crystal molecules next to the first surface is opposite to the rotation sense of the liquid crystal molecules next to the second surface.

Abstract: A three-dimensional light modulator, of which the pixels are combined to form modulation elements. Each modulation element can be coded with a preset discrete value such that three-dimensionally arranged object points can be holographically reconstructed. The light modulator is characterized in that assigned to the pixels of the modulator are beam splitters or beam combiners which, for each modulation element, combine the light wave parts modulated by the pixels by means of refraction or diffraction on the output side to form a common light beam which exits the modulation element in a set propagation direction.

Abstract: For comfortable viewing of a 3-D scene at various viewing angles, a display having a large tracking range for a variable viewer distance is required. A controllable light-influencing element deflects light in coarse steps in a viewer range. Within said steps, the light is deflected by a further controllable light-influencing element continuously or with fine gradation. The light modulation device is suitable in holographic or autostereoscopic displays for guiding the visibility ranges of the image information to be displayed so as to follow the eyes of the viewers.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for computing holograms for holographic reconstruction of two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional scenes in a display apparatus, wherein a scene for reconstruction is broken down into object points and the object points are encoded as sub-holograms into at least one spatial light modulation device of the display apparatus. A reconstructed scene is viewed from a region of visibility. At least one virtual plane of the at least one spatial light modulation device is stipulated on the basis of a real plane of the spatial light modulation device. A computation of sub-holograms is performed in the at least one virtual plane of the at least one spatial light modulation device.

Abstract: A projection device is provided for displaying at least one of a two-dimensional and three-dimensional scene or of content. The projection device comprises an illumination device, at least two spatial light modulator devices and an optical system. The illumination device comprises at least one light source for generating a holographic illumination. One of said spatial light modulator devices is designed as spatial light modulator device modulating at least the phase of the light for the holographical generation of illumination patterns. This spatial light modulator device as first spatial light modulator device is followed by a second spatial light modulator device. The optical system is disposed to illuminate the second spatial light modulator device with a predefinable light distribution generated by the first spatial light modulator device.

Abstract: A controllable device for phase modulation of coherent light comprises a modulator matrix having a plurality of liquid crystal modulator cells each being adapted to modulate a phase value of light passing through a liquid crystal modulator cell depending on a voltage, which is applied to the liquid crystal modulator cell; at least one polarity area of said modulator matrix including at least one liquid crystal modulator cell; at least one storage unit for storing at least one pair of voltage values of which one has a positive and the other has a negative polarity for the liquid crystal modulator cells, whereby the pair of voltage values corresponds to a predetermined phase value; and a control unit for selectively applying one pair of voltage values to one liquid crystal modulator cell.

Abstract: A method of computing a hologram by determining the wavefronts at the approximate observer eye position that would be generated by a real version of an object to be reconstructed. In normal computer generated holograms, one determines the wavefronts needed to reconstruct an object; this is not done directly in the present invention. Instead, one determines the wavefronts at an observer window that would be generated by a real object located at the same position of the reconstructed object. One can then back-transforms these wavefronts to the hologram to determine how the hologram needs to be encoded to generate these wavefronts. A suitably encoded hologram can then generate a reconstruction of the three-dimensional scene that can be observed by placing one's eyes at the plane of the observer window and looking through the observer window.

Abstract: For comfortable viewing of a 3-D scene at various viewing angles, a display having a large tracking range for a variable viewer distance is required. A controllable light-influencing element deflects light in coarse steps in a viewer range. Within said steps, the light is deflected by a further controllable light-influencing element continuously or with fine gradation. The light modulation device is suitable in holographic or autostereoscopic displays for guiding the visibility ranges of the image information to be displayed so as to follow the eyes of the viewers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a controllable diffraction device for a light modulator device. The controllable diffraction device comprises at least two substrates, at least one electrode on each of said substrates facing each other, and liquid crystals forming at least one liquid crystal layer arranged between said electrodes on said substrates. The orientation of the liquid crystals is controllable by a voltage supplied to the electrodes. The liquid crystal layer is provided on at least one alignment layer arranged on at least one electrode on said substrates. The liquid crystals close to the alignment layer are pre-oriented by at least one pre-tilt angle relative to the alignment layer such that the resulting light diffraction in opposite spatial directions is approximately equal.

Abstract: A phase modulator for polarized light, comprising a first substrate with a first surface and a second substrate with a second surface, a liquid crystal layer between the two substrates and an electrode arrangement. The phase modulator is usable as a variable deflection grating, and liquid crystal materials which are currently conventional are usable for its production. A phase modulator has an out-of-plane angle of the liquid crystal molecules next to the two surfaces whose magnitude is greater than 0 but less than or equal to 45 degrees, and an electrode arrangement controllable such that an in-plane component of the liquid crystal molecule orientation is adjustable in an angle range of up to 180 degrees, and the rotation sense of the liquid crystal molecules next to the first surface is opposite to the rotation sense of the liquid crystal molecules next to the second surface.

Abstract: For comfortable viewing of a 3-D scene at various viewing angles, a display having a large tracking range for a variable viewer distance is required. A controllable light-influencing element deflects light in coarse steps in a viewer range. Within said steps, the light is deflected by a further controllable light-influencing element continuously or with fine gradation. The light modulation device is suitable in holographic or autostereoscopic displays for guiding the visibility ranges of the image information to be displayed so as to follow the eyes of the viewers.

Abstract: A method of computing a hologram by determining the wavefronts at the approximate observer eye position that would be generated by a real version of an object to be reconstructed. In normal computer generated holograms, one determines the wavefronts needed to reconstruct an object; this is not done directly in the present invention. Instead, one determines the wavefronts at an observer window that would be generated by a real object located at the same position of the reconstructed object. One can then back-transforms these wavefronts to the hologram to determine how the hologram needs to be encoded to generate these wavefronts. A suitably encoded hologram can then generate a reconstruction of the three-dimensional scene that can be observed by placing one's eyes at the plane of the observer window and looking through the observer window.

Abstract: A phase modulator for polarized light, comprising a first substrate with a first surface and a second substrate with a second surface, a liquid crystal layer between the two substrates and an electrode arrangement. The phase modulator is usable as a variable deflection grating, and liquid crystal materials which are currently conventional are usable for its production. A phase modulator has an out-of-plane angle of the liquid crystal molecules next to the two surfaces whose magnitude is greater than 0 but less than or equal to 45 degrees, and an electrode arrangement controllable such that an in-plane component of the liquid crystal molecule orientation is adjustable in an angle range of up to 180 degrees, and the rotation sense of the liquid crystal molecules next to the first surface is opposite to the rotation sense of the liquid crystal molecules next to the second surface.

Abstract: A hologram is constructed from individual subholograms assigned to corresponding encoding regions in a light modulation device and respectively assigned to an object point of the object to be reconstructed with the hologram. With a virtual observer window, a defined viewing region is provided through which a reconstructed scene in a reconstruction space is observed by an observer. A complex value of a wavefront for each individual object point is calculated in the virtual observer window. Each individual amplitude of a complex value of a wavefront in the virtual observer window is subsequently multiplied by a correction value with which a correction of the angle selectivity of at least one volume grating arranged downstream in the beam path of the light modulation device is carried out.