Stackable 'holobricks' can make giant 3D images

Holographic images can be displayed using hologrambricks, which can be stacked together to generate large-scale holograms.

The researchers from the University of Cambridge and Disney Research developed a proof-of-concept that can tile holograms together to form a large seamless 3-D image. This is the first time that this technology has been demonstrated and it opens the door for larger displays. The results are reported in a journal.

People want high-quality visual experiences, from 2-D high resolution TV to 3-D augmented or virtual reality, and large true 3-D displays. For a 2-D full HD display, the information data rate is about three gigabits per second, but a 3-D display of the same resolution would require a rate of three Terabits per second.

High quality images can be reconstructed with hologram displays. They are the ultimate display technology to connect the real and virtual worlds.

Professor Chu from Cambridge's Department of Engineering said that delivering an adequate 3-D experience using the current technology is a huge challenge.

Due to their limited space bandwidth product, current light engines, known as spatial light modulators, have less display capabilities than current holograms.

It is standard practice to tile small size displays together to form one large display for 2-D displays. The approach being explored here is similar, but for 3-D displays, which has never been done before.

The researchers at CAPE and Disney Research developed a concept seven years ago for a 3-D hologram unit that uses coarse integrated hologram displays.

Each of the holobricks uses a high-information bandwidth spatial light modulator for information delivery in conjunction with coarse integrated optics to form the 3-D holograms with large viewing areas and fields of view.

Careful optical design makes sure that the fringe pattern fills the entire face of the hologram, so that multiple holograms can be stacked to form a large image 3-D display.

The proof-of-concept is made of two tiles. Each brick has a field of view of 40 feet and a frame rate of 24 frames per second.

There are still many challenges to be overcome to make large 3-D displays with wide viewing angles, such as a hologram 3-D wall.

More information: Holobricks: Modular Coarse Integral Holographic Displays, Light: Science & Applications (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41377-022-00752-7 , www.nature.com/articles/s41377-022-00742-7 Journal information: Light: Science & Applications Citation: Stackable 'holobricks' can make giant 3D images (2022, March 16) retrieved 17 March 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-03-stackable-holobricks-giant-3d-images.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.