Holographic high contrast viewing screen embedded in a liquid crystal display

A liquid crystal cell comprising:

• a substrate;
• a first electrode connected to said first substrate;
• a light shaping holographic surface relief diffuser connected to said first electrode, said light shaping holographic surface relief diffuser having a first orientation and a first refractive index;
• a liquid crystal adjacent said light shaping holographic surface relief diffuser, said liquid crystal having a second refractive index that is substantially equal to said first refractive index, in absence of a driving voltage;
• an alignment layer adjacent said liquid crystal, said alignment layer having a second orientation that is substantially orthogonal to said first orientation;
• and
• a second electrode connected to said alignment layer,
• wherein said second refractive index varies as a function of the driving voltage, said driving voltage being applied between said first electrode and said second electrode.

A method comprising:

• providing a holographic high contrast viewing screen embedded in a liquid crystal display with
• a first substrate;
• a first electrode connected to said first substrate;
• a light shaping holographic surface relief diffuser connected to said first electrode, said light shaping holographic surface relief diffuser having a first orientation and a first refractive index;
• a liquid crystal adjacent said light shaping holographic surface relief diffuser, said liquid crystal having a second refractive index that is substantially equal to said first refractive index, in absence of a driving voltage;
• an alignment layer adjacent said liquid crystal, said alignment layer having a second orientation that is substantially orthogonal to said first orientation;
• a second electrode connected to said alignment layer;
• and
• a second substrate connected to said second electrode;
• and
• applying the driving voltage between said first electrode and said second electrode,
• wherein said second refractive index varies as a function of the driving voltage.