Real-time three-dimensional display using a holographic optical element

The holography is a useful technology for 3D images. There are two types of the hologram in the reconstruction; one is a transmission-type and the other is a reflection-type. Especially, the reflection-type hologram that can be hanging on the wall is convenience because it needs no space. Mark Shires presented a flat panel real-time holographic stereogram in his paper. However, his display is unquestionably a transmission-type. In this paper, a 3D real-time display with a holographic optical element (HOE) is described. This display is realized both the transmission-type and the reflection-type. The diffraction efficiency becomes better because this display has a single HOE. This simple 3D display is ideal for both consumer and industrial use.