Holographic projector

A method of forming a holographic reconstruction in a holographic replay field having a rectangular shape with an aspect ratio, the method comprising:

• receiving a computer-generated hologram;
• representing the computer-generated hologram on a spatial light modulator comprising a plurality of individually addressable pixels, wherein the pixels are rectangular pixels having an aspect ratio;
• spatially-modulating light in accordance with the computer-generated hologram using the spatial light modulator;
• forming a holographic reconstruction at the holographic replay field, wherein the holographic replay field is spatially separated from the spatial light modulator and wherein the aspect ratio of each pixel is matched to the desired aspect ratio of the replay field such that the aspect ratio of the holographic replay field is substantially equal to the aspect ratio of each pixel but with the replay field and each pixel orthogonally orientated with respect to each other, and wherein the holographic reconstruction comprises image content arranged to be viewed by a human viewer.

A holographic projection system arranged to project light to a rectangular replay field having an aspect ratio, wherein the holographic projection system comprises:

• a spatial light modulator, comprising an array of individually addressable pixels, arranged to receive a computer-generated hologram and output spatially-modulated light forming a holographic reconstruction at the rectangular replay field, wherein each pixel is a rectangular pixel having an aspect ratio;
• a light source arranged to illuminate the plurality of pixels to form the spatially-modulated light forming a holographic reconstruction at the replay field, wherein the holographic reconstruction comprises image content arranged to be viewed by a human viewer of the holographic projection system,
• wherein the rectangular replay field is spatially separated from the spatial light modulator and wherein the aspect ratio of each pixel is matched to the desired aspect ratio of the replay field such that the aspect ratio of the rectangular replay field is substantially equal to the aspect ratio of each pixel but with the rectangular replay field and each pixel orthogonally orientated with respect to each other,
• wherein each pixel comprises a liquid crystal having a director substantially parallel to the longer side of the rectangular pixels.