Holographic image display device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10146182-B2
Application number	US-201615214721-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2016
Priority date	Jan 5, 2016
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

A holographic image display device includes a backlight for emitting light. An optical path adjuster includes a plurality of electrowetting prisms. Each of the plurality of electrowetting prisms is configured to adjust an optical path of the light. A spatial light modulator includes a plurality of pixels. Each of the plurality of pixels is configured to modulate an amplitude or a phase of the light.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A holographic image display device, comprising:
a backlight;
an optical path adjuster disposed on the backlight; and
a spatial light modulator disposed on the backlight,
wherein the optical path adjuster is configured to refract light emitted from the backlight in a first direction and in a second direction that crosses the first direction,
wherein an angle of refraction of the light in the first and second directions is proportional to voltages applied to the optical path adjuster, and
wherein the spatial light modulator is configured to modulate an amplitude or a phase of the light emitted from the backlight in the first and second directions.

2. The holographic image display device of claim 1 , wherein the optical path adjuster is disposed between the backlight and the spatial light modulator, wherein the optical path adjuster includes an electrowetting prism, and the spatial light modulator includes a pixel that corresponds to the electrowetting prism, and wherein the electrowetting prism is configured to refract the light emitted from the backlight in the first and second directions based on the voltages applied to the optical path adjuster, and the pixel diffracts the refracted light, having passed through the electrowetting prism, in the first and second directions.

3. The holographic image display device of claim 2 , wherein the electrowetting prism includes first and second electrodes disposed along the first direction, and third and fourth electrodes disposed along the second direction, wherein the electrowetting prism includes an interface-determining material, wherein the interface-determining material is disposed between the first and second electrodes and between the third and fourth electrodes.

4. The holographic image display device of claim 3 , wherein the light emitted from the backlight is not refracted by the electrowetting prism when no voltage is applied to the first, second, third and fourth electrodes.

5. The holographic image display device of claim 3 , wherein, when different voltages are applied to the first and second electrodes, a shape of the interface-determining material changes inside of the electrowetting prism, and the light emitted from the backlight is refracted in the first direction while passing through the electrowetting prism.

6. The holographic image display device of claim 3 , wherein, when different voltages are applied to the third and fourth electrodes, a shape of the interface-determining material changes inside of the electrowetting prism, and the light emitted from the backlight is refracted in the second direction while passing through the electrowetting prism.

7. The holographic image display device of claim 2 , wherein a size of the electrowetting prism is smaller than a size of the pixel.

8. The holographic image display device of claim 1 , wherein a viewing angle of the holographic image display device in the first direction is a sum of a first angle and a second angle, and a viewing angle of the holographic image display device in the second direction is a sum of a third angle and a fourth angle, wherein the first angle is an angle by which the optical path adjuster refracts the light in the first direction, and the second angle is an angle by which the spatial light modulator diffracts the light in the first direction, and wherein the third angle is an angle by which the optical path adjuster refracts the light in the second direction, and the fourth angle is an angle by which the spatial light modulator diffracts the light in the second direction.

9. The holographic image display device of claim 1 , wherein the spatial light modulator is disposed between the backlight and the optical path adjuster, wherein the optical path adjuster includes an electrowetting prism, and the spatial light modulator includes a pixel that corresponds to the electrowetting prism, and wherein the pixel diffracts the light emitted from the backlight in the first and second directions, and the electrowetting prism is configured to refract the diffracted light, having passed through the pixel, in the first and second directions.

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Hye Sog
• Do Yun Seon
• Kwon Jae Joong

Classifications

• G03H2001/2292

  Using scanning means · CPC title

• G03H1/2286

  Particular reconstruction light (G03H1/24 takes precedence); Beam properties · CPC title

• G03H1/2205

  using downstream optical component · CPC title

• G03H1/2294 Primary

  Addressing the hologram to an active spatial light modulator · CPC title

• G03H2225/32

  Phase only · CPC title