Holographic display system and method

A method of generating a hologram from a three-dimensional image data set, the three-dimensional data set being separated into a plurality of two-dimensional image layers at different image planes, comprising:

• a) performing a Fourier transform on each image layer to provide a transformed image layer,
• b) applying a focus factor to each transformed image layer,
• c) applying a pseudo-random phase factor to each transformed image layer, and
• d) combining the transformed image layers to form a holographic sub-frame,
• e) repeating steps (c) and (d) for a plurality of iterations, applying a different pseudo-random phase factor to the transformed image layers in each iteration to form a plurality of holographic sub-frames;
• and
• f) driving a spatial light modulator with the holographic sub-frames in rapid temporal succession and illuminating the spatial light modulator with a coherent light source.

A holographic image display system comprising:

• a coherent, or a partially-coherent light source;
• a spatial light modulator illuminated by the coherent, or partially-coherent light source;
• a processor configured to drive the spatial light modulator with output hologram data, the processor receiving image data at an input and producing output hologram data based on the image data,
• wherein the image data comprises three-dimensional image data that is separable into a plurality of two-dimensional image layers at different image planes, and wherein the processor is configured to:
• a) perform a space-frequency transform on each image layer to provide a transformed image layer,
• b) apply a focus factor to each transformed image layer,
• c) apply a pseudo-random phase factor to each transformed image layer wherein the pseudo-random phase factor is constant across each transformed image layer, and
• d) sum the transformed image layers to form a holographic sub-frame,
• e) repeat steps (c) and (d) for a plurality of iterations, applying a different pseudo-random phase factor to the transformed image layers in each iteration to form a plurality of holographic sub-frames, the plurality of holographic sub-frames forming the output hologram data;
• and
• f) drive the spatial light modulator with the holographic sub-frames in rapid temporal succession.