Transparent flat-panel holographic display

A method for creating a holographic image, comprising:

• providing one or more wavelengths of light to a holographic video display, the video display comprising:
• a control layer, the control layer comprising electrical inputs and configured for controlling drive electronics and light sources;
• and
• a plurality of independently-controlled simultaneously-operable waveguide elements coupled to the control layer, each simultaneously-operable waveguide element comprising:
• a light-guiding substrate physically coupled to the control layer and having optical inputs;
• and
• an array of surface acoustic wave transducers arranged along an outer surface of the light-guiding substrate, the array being electrically connected to the control layer and configured to produce a diffraction grating comprising surface acoustic waves, wherein the surface acoustic wave diffraction grating causes the waveguide element to outcouple light bouncing within the substrate and focuses the outcoupled light to one or more points, or produces wavefront curvatures in the light consistent with its having emanated from one or more point sources, in order to form a holographic image,
• wherein each independently-controlled simultaneously-operable waveguide element is individually independently controlled and driven by dedicated associated electrical inputs from the control layer to the array of transducers, such that light within each waveguide element is independently and differentially diffracted with respect to light within each of the other independently-controlled simultaneously-operable waveguide elements, due to a different diffraction grating produced by the array of transducers because of different inputs received from the associated electrical inputs, and wherein at least some of the independently-controlled simultaneously-operable waveguide elements are operated at the same time as others of the independently-controlled simultaneously-operable waveguide elements;
• providing holographic information to the holographic video display;
• coupling the light received at the holographic video display into the waveguide elements for diffraction according to the holographic information;
• and
• scanning the diffracted light to form the holographic image.

A method for creating a holographic image, comprising:

• providing one or more wavelengths of light to a holographic video display, the video display comprising:
• a control layer, the control layer comprising electrical inputs and configured for controlling drive electronics and light sources;
• and
• at least one waveguide element coupled to the control layer, each waveguide element comprising:
• a light-guiding substrate physically coupled to the control layer and having optical inputs, wherein an exit face of the substrate has nanopatterned areas alternated with pristine flat surface areas in order to create regions of optimal internal reflection next to regions of low Fresnel reflection, thereby providing for minimized loss of propagation of confined light and efficient exit of unconfined light;
• and
• an array of surface acoustic wave transducers arranged along an outer surface of the light-guiding substrate, the array being electrically connected to the control layer and configured to produce a diffraction grating comprising surface acoustic waves, wherein the surface acoustic wave diffraction grating causes the waveguide element to outcouple light bouncing within the substrate and focuses the outcoupled light to one or more points, or produces wavefront curvatures in the light consistent with its having emanated from one or more point sources, in order to form a holographic image;
• providing holographic information to the holographic video display;
• coupling the light received at the holographic video display into the waveguide elements for diffraction according to the holographic information;
• and
• scanning the diffracted light to form the holographic image.