Holographic image generation and reconstruction

An apparatus configured to reconstruct a holographic image of an object, the apparatus comprising:

• a receiver unit configured to receive an input signal representative of a hologram of the object;
• a virtual image light source configured to generate a virtual image light beam responsive to the input signal;
• a scan mirror configured to receive the virtual image light beam and return the virtual image light beam as a scan beam, wherein the scan mirror is configured to be magnetically actuated, electrically actuated or electromagnetically actuated;
• a screen coated with a photochromic material and configured to receive the scan beam from the scan mirror, wherein the screen includes a visible light transmittance characteristic that is adjustable in response to the scan beam and effective to form the hologram of the object on the screen, and wherein the photochromic material comprises hexaarylbiimidazole (HABI);
• a plurality of reconstruction light sources, each configured to generate a reconstruction light beam corresponding to a wavelength in a different range;
• and
• a shutter configured to receive the reconstruction light beams from the plurality of reconstruction light sources, and selectively pass one of the reconstruction light beams through the shutter to irradiate the screen to reconstruct the holographic image of the object.

A method to generate and reconstruct a holographic image of an object, the method comprising:

• generating, by a plurality of light sources, a plurality of light beams corresponding to a different range of wavelengths, wherein the plurality of light beams includes reconstruction light beams;
• receiving the plurality of light beams from the plurality of light sources at a shutter;
• performing switching operation, by the shutter, to selectively pass one of the plurality of light beams through the shutter;
• splitting, by a beam splitter, the light beam irradiated from the shutter into a first portion and a second portion of the light beam such that the first portion of the light beam is irradiated on the object to reconstruct a holographic image of the object, wherein the beam splitter comprises an aluminum layer formed on a glass substrate;
• receiving and returning, by a mirror unit, the second portion of the light beam as a reference beam;
• detecting, by an image sensor array, an interference image caused by interference between the reference beam and the first portion of the light beam scattered by the object, wherein the image sensor array comprises an array of sensors configured in a shape of either a cylinder or a polygonal prism that substantially surrounds the object;
• and
• converting, by a video signal generator unit, the detected interference image into an image signal.