Patents by Inventor Gerald Futterer

Gerald Futterer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12117770
    Abstract: An illumination device for illuminating a spatial light modulator device. Sub-holograms are used for encoding a hologram into the spatial light modulator device. The Illumination device includes at least one light source for emitting light for illuminating the spatial light modulator device and a beam shaping unit. The beam shaping unit provides a flat-top plateau-type distribution of an absolute value of a complex degree of mutual coherence of the light in a plane of the spatial light modulator device to be illuminated. The flat-top plateau-type distribution of the absolute value of the complex degree of mutual coherence has a shape that is at least similar to a shape of the largest sub-hologram used for encoding of object points into the spatial light modulator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventor: Gerald Futterer
  • Patent number: 12055890
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventors: Gerald Futterer, Norbert Leister, Ralf Haussler, Grigory Lazarev
  • Patent number: 11953683
    Abstract: The invention relates to a display device, in particular a head-mounted display or hocular, having a spatial light modulator and a controllable light-deflecting device for generating a multiple image of the spatial light modulator, which consists of segments, the multiple image being produced at least with a predefinable number of segments which determines the size of a visible area within which a 3D-scene holographically encoded in the spatial light modulator can be reconstructed for observation by an eye of an observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventor: Gerald Futterer
  • Patent number: 11914251
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light modulation device for a display for representing two- and/or three-dimensional image content or image sequences. The light modulation device comprises a light modulator and a controller. The phase and/or the amplitude of a light wave field, which is substantially collimated, can be varied by means of the light modulator depending on the location of the light modulator. The light modulator can be actuated by means of the control device. According to the invention, in the direction of propagation of the light wave field, at least one diffracting unit is arranged downstream of the light modulator. The diffracting unit has a variable diffracting structure. By means of the diffracting structure, the light wave field varied by the light modulator can be diffracted in a variable and predeterminable manner. Further, the present invention relates to a display and a method for producing a light modulation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventors: Bo Kroll, Norbert Leister, Gerald Futterer, Robert Missbach, Stephan Reichelt
  • Patent number: 11675426
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a measurement method in which, by predetermined illumination by means of a display device, in particular a holographic or autostereoscopic display device, with an intensity distribution of the illumination light in a plane of a light source image, a first location of an object, in particular an observer of the display device, is marked, and wherein the relative position of the first location in relation to a second location of the object is determined in a coordinate system of a camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventor: Gerald Futterer
  • Patent number: 11397406
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventors: Norbert Leister, Ralf Haussler, Gerald Futterer
  • Patent number: 11385594
    Abstract: A holographic display with an illumination device, an enlarging unit and a light modulator. The illumination device includes at least one light source and a light collimation unit, the light collimation unit collimates the light of the at least one light source and generates a light wave field of the light that is emitted by the light source with a specifiable angular spectrum of plane waves, the enlarging unit is disposed downstream of the light collimation unit, seen in the direction of light propagation, where the enlarging unit includes a transmissive volume hologram realising an anamorphic broadening of the light wave field due to a transmissive interaction of the light wave field with the volume hologram, and the light modulator is disposed upstream or downstream of the anamorphic enlarging unit, seen in the direction of light propagation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventor: Gerald Futterer
  • Patent number: 11366426
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventors: Gerald Futterer, Norbert Leister, Ralf Haussler, Grigory Lazarev
  • Patent number: 11340457
    Abstract: A display device for representing two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional objects or scenes, having at least one spatial light modulation device having pixels for modulating light, at least one optical system, and at least one light guiding device. Light beams originating from the individual pixels of the spatial light modulation device are incident on the at least one light guiding device at different angles on average in relation to the surface of the at least one light guiding device and can be coupled therein, whereby a coupling angular spectrum is definable. The light beams propagating in the at least one light guiding device can be coupled out of the at least one light guiding device at different angles on average in relation to an observer region, whereby a decoupling angular spectrum is definable. The decoupling angular spectrum is enlarged in comparison to the coupling angular spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventors: Norbert Leister, Bo Kroll, Gerald Futterer
  • Patent number: 11300924
    Abstract: An illumination device for illuminating a spatial light modulator device. Sub-holograms are used for encoding a hologram into the spatial light modulator device. The Illumination device includes at least one light source for emitting light for illuminating the spatial light modulator device and a beam shaping unit. The beam shaping unit provides a flat-top plateau-type distribution of an absolute value of a complex degree of mutual coherence of the light in a plane of the spatial light modulator device to be illuminated. The flat-top plateau-type distribution of the absolute value of the complex degree of mutual coherence has a shape that is at least similar to a shape of the largest sub-hologram used for encoding of object points into the spatial light modulator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventor: Gerald Futterer
  • Patent number: 11294246
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light modulation device for a display for representing two- and/or three-dimensional image content or image sequences. The light modulation device comprises a light modulator and a controller. The phase and/or the amplitude of a light wave field, which is substantially collimated, can be varied by means of the light modulator depending on the location of the light modulator. The light modulator can be actuated by means of the control device. According to the invention, in the direction of propagation of the light wave field, at least one diffracting unit is arranged downstream of the light modulator. The diffracting unit has a variable diffracting structure. By means of the diffracting structure, the light wave field varied by the light modulator can be diffracted in a variable and predeterminable manner. Further, the present invention relates to a display and a method for producing a light modulation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventors: Bo Kroll, Norbert Leister, Gerald Futterer, Robert Missbach, Stephan Reichelt
  • Patent number: 11002982
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light modulation device for a display for representing two- and/or three-dimensional image content or image sequences. The light modulation device comprises a light modulator and a controller. The phase and/or the amplitude of a light wave field, which is substantially collimated, can be varied by means of the light modulator depending on the location of the light modulator. The light modulator can be actuated by means of the control device. According to the invention, in the direction of propagation of the light wave field, at least one diffracting unit is arranged downstream of the light modulator. The diffracting unit has a variable diffracting structure. By means of the diffracting structure, the light wave field varied by the light modulator can be diffracted in a variable and predeterminable manner. Further, the present invention relates to a display and a method for producing a light modulation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S. A.
    Inventors: Bo Kroll, Norbert Leister, Gerald Futterer, Robert Missbach, Stephan Reichelt
  • Patent number: 10782522
    Abstract: The invention relates to a display device, in particular a head-mounted display or hocular, having a spatial light modulator and a controllable light-deflecting device for generating a multiple image of the spatial light modulator, which consists of segments, the multiple image being produced at least with a predefinable number of segments which determines the size of a visible area within which a 3D-scene holographically encoded in the spatial light modulator can be reconstructed for observation by an eye of an observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventor: Gerald Futterer
  • Patent number: 10698149
    Abstract: The invention refers to an apparatus for generating two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional objects. The apparatus comprises at least one spatial light modulator device for modulating incident light and an optical system. The optical system is designed and arranged such that a segmentation of wave fields is provided in a plane, where the plane in which the segmentation of the wave fields is provided differs with a plane that comprises object points. Adjacent segmented wave fields do have a mutual overlap. The apparatus also comprises a scanning device which couples light waves into a beam expanding waveguide with outcoupling gratings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: SERREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventor: Gerald Futterer
  • Patent number: 10684489
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light modulation device for a display for representing two- and/or three-dimensional image content or image sequences. The light modulation device comprises a light modulator and a controller. The phase and/or the amplitude of a light wave field, which is substantially collimated, can be varied by means of the light modulator depending on the location of the light modulator. The light modulator can be actuated by means of the control device. According to the invention, in the direction of propagation of the light wave field, at least one diffracting unit is arranged downstream of the light modulator. The diffracting unit has a variable diffracting structure. By means of the diffracting structure, the light wave field varied by the light modulator can be diffracted in a variable and predeterminable manner. Further, the present invention relates to a display and a method for producing a light modulation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventors: Bo Kroll, Norbert Leister, Gerald Futterer, Robert Missbach, Stephan Reichelt
  • Patent number: 10509364
    Abstract: A light modulator, for a display for the presentation of two- and/or three-dimensional image contents or image sequences, includes two opposing substrates and electrodes. At least one liquid crystal layer is provided between the two substrates. An alignment means is provided on the substrate which faces the liquid crystal layer to set a predeterminable initial alignment of the liquid crystals. The orientation of the liquid crystals can be controlled in a given range through an electric field generated by the electrodes. The alignment means is controllable and can be controlled to modify the initial alignment of the liquid crystals. The alignment can be controlled such the orientation of the liquid crystals can be oriented outside the given range or so that the initial alignment of the liquid crystals can be set specifically for certain positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventors: Bo Kroll, Norbert Leister, Stephan Reichelt, Gerald Futterer
  • Patent number: 10394189
    Abstract: The invention relates to a display device for holographic reconstruction. The display device comprises a spatial light modulator device having combined phase modulating pixels and amplitude modulating pixels, an illumination unit generating sufficiently coherent light and arranged to illuminate of the spatial light modulator device and a reflection plane. The device being arranged such that light enters the spatial light modulator device and passes both the phase modulating pixel and the amplitude modulating pixel of the spatial light modulator device. The light is reflected by the reflection plane in between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventor: Gerald Futterer
  • Patent number: 10295959
    Abstract: A holographic display with an illumination device, an enlarging unit and a light modulator. The illumination device includes at least one light source and a light collimation unit, the light collimation unit collimates the light of the at least one light source and generates a light wave field of the light that is emitted by the light source with a specifiable angular spectrum of plane waves, the enlarging unit is disposed downstream of the light collimation unit, seen in the direction of light propagation, where the enlarging unit includes a transmissive volume hologram realizing an anamorphic broadening of the light wave field due to a transmissive interaction of the light wave field with the volume hologram, and the light modulator is disposed upstream or downstream of the anamorphic enlarging unit, seen in the direction of light propagation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventor: Gerald Futterer
  • Patent number: 10234821
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventors: Gerald Futterer, Norbert Leister, Ralf Haussler, Grigory Lazarev
  • Patent number: 10168540
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventors: Bo Kroll, Gerald Futterer, Norbert Leister, Stephan Reichelt, Ralf Haussler