3D displays in augmented and virtual realities with holographic optical elements [Invited]

Three-dimensional (3D) displays have been vastly investigated in the past few decades. Recent development of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) has further demanded to compress the 3D display system into a compact platform, such as wearable near-eye displays. Holographic optical elements (HOEs) have received widespread attention owing to their lightweight, thin formfactor, and low cost, and thus have been widely deployed in various 3D display systems. In this review article, we first describe the working principle of some 3D techniques used in AR and VR headsets, and then present 3D display systems employing HOEs, and finally analyze how HOEs influence the system design and performance. (C) 2021 Optica Publishing Group under the terms of the Optica Open Access Publishing Agreement.

Automated summary

This review article discusses the research progress on 3D displays, focusing on the application of HOEs and their influence on system design and performance in 3D display systems.