Multi-dimensional Imaging

Chapter 13Ray-based and Wavefront-based 3D Representations for Holographic Displays

Masahiro Yamaguchi and Koki Wakunami^*

Global Scientific Information and Computing Center, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan

13.1 Introduction

A three-dimensional (3D) holography display is capable of reproducing extremely high-quality 3D images by wavefront reconstruction [1–3]. Conventional 3D displays are stereoscopic or multi-view, but more advanced displays based on light-field or light-ray reconstruction have also been investigated actively [4–6]. Then questions arise, what is the advantage of wavefront reconstruction? Is it possible to integrate light-ray-based and wavefront-based systems? This chapter addresses a technology that converts 3D data represented by light-rays into wavefront data and vice versa, and shows how to make use of the advantage of holographic displays. A method for calculating computer generated holograms (CGH), which was developed for this purpose, is introduced and experimental results are demonstrated.

13.2 Ray-based and Wavefront-based 3D Displays

Figure 13.1 shows the illustrations of ray-based and wavefront-based 3D displays. In ray-based 3D displays, the light-rays traveling in all directions are reproduced on the display surface in the same manner as those that were reflected or scattered by real objects. Therefore, an observer can see the 3D image as if they were real objects [7]. Integral photography is one of the ray-based methods with both horizontal ...