Holographic light panels and flat panel display systems and method and apparatus for making same

An image display panel for displaying images, comprising:

• a substrate made from an optically transparent material, having a first and second areal surface disposed substantially parallel to each other and a light input surface for conducting a light beam into said substrate;
• a light diffractive grating mounted to said first areal surface of said substrate and having a slanted fringe structure embodied therein for diffracting said light beam falling incident thereto, along a first diffractive order of said slanted fringe structure;
• a spatial intensity modulation panel arranged with said substrate and volume hologram, for modulating the spatial intensity of light transmitted through said spatial intensity modulation panel and forming an image for display;
• and
• a light source for producing a light beam for transmission through said input surface and direct through said substrate to said slanted fringe structure so as to produce an output light beam of areal extent that emerges from either said first or second areal surface along said first diffractive order, for use in illuminating said spatial intensity modulation panel and forming said image for display.

A method of making an illumination panel for illuminating an object, comprising the steps:

• (a) providing a substrate made from an optically transparent material, having first and second areal surfaces disposed substantially parallel to each other and a light input surface for conducting a light beam into said substrate;
• (b) mounting a light diffractive grating to said first areal surface of said substrate and having a slanted fringe structure embodied therein for diffracting said light beam falling incident thereto and along a first diffractive order of said slanted fringe structure;
• and
• (c) assembling a light source with said substrate, for producing a light beam for transmission through said input surface and direct passage through said substrate to a said slanted fringe structure so as to produce an output light beam of areal extent that emerges from either said first or second areal surface along said first diffractive order, for use in illuminating an object.