Volumetric 3D display in real space using a diffractive lens, fast projector, and polychromatic light source

Opt Lett. 2019 Oct 1;44(19):4901-4904. doi: 10.1364/OL.44.004901.

Abstract

We present a method for realizing a solid-state volumetric display based on the chromatic dispersion properties of a 150 mm diffractive lens that images a series of planar patterns presented by a digital micro-mirror device projector. The projector is driven by a narrowband polychromatic source, where the position of each image plane is defined by a distinct wavelength of light. The volumetric display system achieves 20 image planes at a volume refresh rate of 20 Hz, creating a volume of 17.4 cm3 with 13 mm of depth and a field of view of 10° floating 145 mm above the lens in real space.