2013 Seventh International Conference on Image and Graphics

Holographic projection using converging spherical wave illumination

Shen Chuan, Zhang Cheng, Cheng Hong, Zhang Fen and Wei Sui*
Key Laboratory of Intelligent Computing & Signal Processing, Anhui University.
No.3, FeiXi Road, HeFei, China
swei@ahu.edu.cn

factor. This produces undesirable zero order beam and higher

diffraction orders that disturb the reconstructed image in
holographic projection. Several works have been devoted to
solve these problems. As for Fourier holographic projection,
D. Palima introduces a corrective phase to destructively
interfere with the zero order beam [7]. H. Zhang et al.
add spherically and linearly loaded phase to the calculated
phase hologram for the elimination of zero order beam
[8]. M. Agour et al. achieve the suppression of higher
diffraction orders using 4f conguration with an amplitude
mask inserted in the Fourier plane [9]. As for Fresnel
holographic projection, S. Y. Wu et al. recently demonstrate
the phase compression technique to eliminate the zero order
beam for the near eld holographic projection [10]. These
works focus on specic systems, rather than take Fourier
and Fresnel holographic projection system as a whole. In
summary, a universal holographic projection system can be
used for both Fourier and Fresnel applications and it is
possible to employ a general method to eliminate zero order
beam and higher diffraction orders.
In this paper we present a holographic projection system
using converging spherical wave illumination. Our system
enables the use of Fourier or Fresnel phase hologram
without the optical setup modied. In section II we review
the schematic of available Fourier and Fresnel holographic
projection system using collimated wave illumination and
describe the effect introduced by pixelated SLM. Then the
schematic of holographic projection system using converging spherical wave illumination is presented. In section
III we propose the optical setup of holographic projection
system based on liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS), highpass lter and aperture are placed in the Fourier plane to
eliminate the zero order beam and higher diffraction orders.
Furthermore, the system is experimentally demonstrated.

AbstractA holographic projection system using converging

spherical wave illumination has been presented. The system
takes into account the combination of Fresnel holographic
projection and Fourier holographic projection. The effect of
pixelated spatial light modulator is analyzed. By adding the
quadratic phase of diffractive lens to the phase of the generated
hologram, the separation of image plane from Fourier plane is
achieved. Meanwhile, the zero-order beam and high diffraction
orders can be ltered out by higher pass lter and aperture
placed in the Fourier plane. A holographic projection system
based on liquid crystal on silicon is set up. Experimental results
show that not only Fresnel holographic projection but also
Fourier holographic projection can be achieved without zero
order beam and higher diffraction orders in this universal
system.
Keywords-holographic projection; spherical wave illumination; fourier plane; liquid crystal on silicon;

I. I NTRODUCTION
Arbitrary 2D images can be reconstructed by phase-only
holograms based on diffraction propagation [1-3]. Holographic projection, unlike conventional projection, has the
ability to simultaneously fulll the key requirements such as
high resolution and high brightness. In fact, each pixel on
the phase hologram contributes to every pixel in the reconstructed image, making the system tolerant to the defects of
display device. Depending on image plane within different
regions of diffraction, the current holographic projection systems can be divided into two categories, Fresnel holographic
projection and Fourier holographic projection. Although they
are both based on a collimated laser illumination, the optical
setups of them are slightly different [4,5].
The heart of holographic projection system is an electrooptical device which is called spatial light modulator (SLM).
The SLM can be used to modulate the incident light
and project the desired 2D image. Conventional projectors
frequently employ an amplitude modulating SLM as the
image display device whereas holograms often displayed on
a phase modulating SLM can be used to reconstruct the
image in the existing holographic projection systems. A.
V. Oppenheim points that, the reconstructions from phaseonly holograms rather than amplitude-only holograms have
more important features in common with the original objects
[6]. As a phase modulation device, the SLM which consists
of 2D array of discrete pixels has a limited optical ll
978-0-7695-5050-3/13 $26.00 2013 IEEE
DOI 10.1109/ICIG.2013.156

II. T HEORY AND M ETHOD

A. Principals of holographic projection
The schematic of typical holographic projection system
is illustrated in Fig. 1. In detail, Fig. 1(a) shows the
schematic of Fresnel holographic projection system, laser
beam is expanded by beam expander, and then the phase
hologram written to the SLM is illuminated by collimated
light. Finally, the light is modulated and the desired image
782
781
761

is projected, the distance between SLM and image plane

is z . Fresnel holographic projection is a kind of lensless
system. According to Fresnel diffraction propagation, the
eld at distance z from the SLM to be given by

 i  2
ikz
U 2 (x, y) = eiz exp z
x + y2
+
 ik  2

 
(1)

+ 2
U1 (, ) exp 2z


exp i2
z (x + y) dd,

p(, ) = exp[id ]

M 1,N
 1

( mL, nL), (5)

m,n=0

a(, ) = rect(

,
).
M L N L

(6)

represents the 2D convolution operator. q(, ) denotes

the discrete function of the phase distribution of hologram
, d denotes the constant phase shift caused by the nonactive area of the SLM, and a(, ) denotes global aperture
of the SLM having M N number of pixels. The SLM pixels
are assumed to consist of square active area surrounded by
non-active area, as shown in Fig. 2, L and L are the
pixel pitch and the square active pixel size respectively. The
2
optical ll factor is dened as (L/L) . Note that only the
active area of each pixel is used to modulate the light while
the non-active area is used for the circuitry that addresses
the individual pixels.

where is the wavelength, k = 2/ is the wave number,

U1 (, ) denotes SLM transmittance function.

Figure 1. Schematic of typical holographic projection system (a) Fresnel

projection; (b) Fourier projection.

Consider next the case of Fourier holographic projection

system, as illustrated in Fig. 1(b), a Fourier lens is introduced
and the SLM is placed in the front focal plane of the Fourier
lens. Performing the Fourier transformation by Fourier lens,
the image is projected and the eld at image plane (x, y)
therefore becomes
+




i2
U3 (x, y) =
U1 (, ) exp
(x + y) dd,
f0

Figure 2.

In Fourier holographic projection system, according to

(2), evidently the eld U3 (x, y) is the Fourier transform of
the SLM transmittance U1 (, ). Because of the pixelated
structure formed a periodic diffraction grid pattern, the
diffraction pattern in the back focal plane of Fourier lens
includes zero order beam, higher diffraction orders and
projected image.
In Fresnel holographic projection system, the eld
U2 (x, y) in (1) could be expressed as a Fourier transformation of the function U4 (x, y), when the quadratic phase
factor that precedes the integral is dropped [12].



ik  2
U4 (, ) = U1 (, ) exp
(7)
+ 2 .
2z

(2)
where U1 (, ) also denotes SLM transmittance function,
and f0 is the focal length of the Fourier lens.
B. Characteristic of pixelated SLM
When Fourier or Fresnel phase hologram is displayed
on a pixelated SLM which has a limited optical ll factor,
this effect will result in an interruption of the reconstructed
image. The discrete representation of the SLM transmittance
can be given by [9,11]
U1 (, ) = a(, ){rect( L , L ) q(, )

, L
) rect( L , L )] p(, )},
+[rect( L

(3)

where
q(, ) = exp[i]

M 1,N
 1

Pixelated SLM structure.

So that (1) can be rewritten as

 i  2

ikz
2
U2 (x,y) = eiz exp z
x + y

ik
2 + 2
,
 U1 (, ) exp 2z

( mL, nL), (4)

m,n=0

762
782
783

(8)

where  {} denotes the Fourier transform, the diffraction

pattern at distance z from the SLM also includes zero
order beam, higher diffraction orders and projected image.
In effect, zero order beam and higher diffraction orders
disturb the projected image in Fourier or Fresnel holographic
projection. Both of them should be eliminated.

incident on the SLM is a converging spherical wave rather

than a collimating wave, and a correction to compensate
for the equivalent inherent effect must be introduced. An
alternate choice for this correction is a Fresnel lens [14, 15].
As for Fresnel holographic projection, the quadratic phase
introduced by a Fresnel lens with focal length d can be
displayed onto the SLM, so the SLM transmittance can be
rewritten as



ik  2
U5 (, ) = U1 (, ) exp
(11)
+ 2 .
2d

C. Analysis of spherical wave illumination

Consider the system shown in part (a) of the Fig. 3, lens2
is introduced and placed in the plane between lens1 and
SLM. The SLM located a distance in front of the back focal
plane of the lens2. Now the illumination of the SLM is a
converging spherical wave, using a paraxial approximation,
the eld in the back focal plane of lens2 is written as follows
[13]
 i  2

1
Uf2 (x, y) = id
exp d
x + y 2 fd2


+




U1 (, )P fd2 , fd2 exp i2

d (x + y) dd,

Substituting (11) into (10), we have

 i  2

1
exp d
x + y 2 fd2
Uf2 (x, y) = id
+




U5 (, ) exp i2
d (x + y) dd

 i  2

1
exp d
x + y 2 fd2
= id
+
 ik  2

 

+ 2
U1 (, ) exp 2d


exp i2
d (x + y) dd.

(9)


where P fd2 , fd2 is the pupil function, f2 is the focal
length of lens2. Thus, up to a quadratic phase factor, the
focal-plane eld distribution is the Fourier transform of that
portion of SLM subtended by the projected lens aperture. For
simplicity we assume the entire area of SLM
 is illuminated,
f2
f2
thus let the pupil function P d , d = 1, (9) can be
rewritten as
 i  2

1
exp d
x + y 2 fd2
Uf2 (x, y) = id
+



(10)

U1 (, ) exp i2
d (x + y) dd.

(12)

Since z = d + (z d) , Fresnel propagation over distance

z is equivalent to propagation over the sum of the distances
d, z d, thus the distance between SLM and image plane
is still z. It should be noted that the quadratic phase display
on the active area of each pixel, it contributes to separate
the image plane and the focal plane of the lens2 along the
optical axis, zero order beam and higher diffraction orders
are still formed in the back focal plane of the lens2. By
placing high-pass lter and aperture in the focal plane of the
lens2, zero order beam and higher diffraction orders can be
ltered out separately. Considering the Fourier holographic
projection, the separation of image plane from focal plane is
also achieved based on the addition of the quadratic phase.
In the same way, the zero order beam and higher diffraction
orders are eliminated in the focal plane so that we can get
the projected image what we desire.
For the purpose of using fewer optical devices, when
relative motion of lens1 is achieved, we could perform
the same operation without introducing lens2. Consider the
system shown in part (b) of the Fig. 3, only lens1 is used.
Lens1 now serves as both a lens for collecting the light from
the point source and as a Fourier transforming lens. The
distance between light source and lens1 is u. The Fourier
plane is found in the plane where the light source is imaged,
at distance v from lens1. Here u, v and the focal length f1
satisfy the lens law, 1/u + 1/v = 1/f1 . Similar to Fig. 3(a),
image plane and Fourier plane are generated separately at
different planes. Aperture and high pass lter are also placed
in the Fourier plane to eliminate the effect of pixelated SLM.
Clearly, the system shown in the Fig. 3(b) has the same
function as the previous system shown in the Fig. 3(a), but
uses fewer lens.

Figure 3.
Different options for holographic projection system using
converging spherical wave illumination (a) two lenses; (b) one lens.

Now, up to a quadratic phase factor, the focal-plane eld

distribution is the Fourier transform of the SLM transmittance.
Consider the Fourier or Fresnel phase hologram is displayed in the same holographic projection system. Now

763
783
784

III. O PTICAL SETUP AND RESULTS

LCOS is a kind of liquid crystal (LC) SLMs which are
used in many cases because of their high optical efciency,
high number of degrees of freedom, and wide availability.
Besides, reective SLMs have a higher optical ll factor
than their translucent counterparts. According to part (b)
of the Fig. 3, the performance of a holographic projection
system based on LCOS has been experimentally veried.
The optical setup is illustrated in Fig. 4. A laser beam
( = 532.8nm) is expanded and illuminates the MD1280
LCOS of Three-Five system (1280 1024 pixels with a
pitch of 12m ). The LCOS in phase modulation mode
has an optical ll factor of 87%. By means, to enable
separation of the incident and reected beams, incident beam
illuminates the LCOS with a near-perpendicular incidence.
This additional effect on the modulation can be neglected
for the sake of simplicity.

Figure 4.

Figure 5. Reconstructed image (a) by Fresnel phase hologram using typical

Fresnel holographic projection system;(b) by Fourier phase hologram using
typical Fourier holographic projection system; (c) and (d) by Fresnel and
Fourier phase hologram respectively using our system.

Fresnel or Fourier holographic projection, the projected logo

is disturbed by the zero order beam and higher diffraction
orders.
Then the performance of our system is observed. Lens1
locates at the distance u = 450mm from point source,
according to the classical lens law, the Fourier plane is
found at distance v = 900mm from lens1, and the distance
 d from
 the LCOS is 600mm, so the quadratic phase
ik 2 + 2 2d was added to the generated Fresnel phase
hologram qF r (, ), the aperture and high pass lter are
placed in the Fourier plane, the size of the aperture is
10mm10mm, thus the diffraction pattern as shown in Fig.
5(c) is also reconstructed at the distance z from the LCOS.
Similarly, the quadratic phase is added to the generated
Fourier phase hologram qF o (, ) as well. The corresponding diffraction pattern is shown in Fig. 5(d). According to
comparison, zero order beam and higher diffraction orders
have been eliminated by the method described in the previous section. The aim of holographic projection can be
achieved by our system.

Optical setup of holographic projection system.

The Gerchberg-Saxton(GS) algorithm [16] can be used to

generate not only Fresnel phase hologram but also Fourier
phase hologram. The difference is that the algorithm takes
Fresnel propagation instead of Fourier transformation to
generate Fresnel phase hologram [17,18]. We have compared
the different results for holographic projection between our
system and existing system shown in Fig. 1. First, for Fresnel
holographic projection, we set the propagation distance z =
600mm. The generated Fresnel phase hologram qF r (, ) is
displayed in the system using a collimated laser illumination
as shown in Fig. 1(a). The focal length f1 of the lens1
is 300mm and its diameter is 50mm. The reconstructed
diffraction pattern at the distance from LCOS z = 600mm
is shown in Fig. 5(a).
For Fourier holographic projection, the system as shown
in Fig. 1(b) is tested by displaying the Fourier phase hologram qF o (, ). The focal length f0 of the Fourier lens is
300mm. Note that the projected image is laterally shifted
to present a better visual impression and the diffraction
pattern at the back focal plane is shown in Fig. 5(b). The
effect of pixelated LCOS on the diffracted light away from
the LCOS is shown in Fig. 5(a) and Fig. 5(b), for either

IV. C ONCLUSION
In summary, this paper has presented a holographic projection system using converging spherical wave illumination.
By adding the phase of diffractive lens to the phase of the
generated hologram, not only Fresnel holographic projection
but also Fourier holographic projection can be achieved
in a universal system. Meanwhile, the effect of pixelated
SLM is analyzed, the zero-order beam and high diffraction
orders can be ltered out by high pass lter and aperture
placed in the Fourier plane. Finally, a holographic projection
system based on LCOS is set up. Experimental results
verify the feasibility of the method presented here. The
future work is to analyze the diffraction efciency of the
holographic projection system using converging spherical

764
784
785

wave illumination and improve the quality of holographic

projected image.

[12] M. Sypek, Light propagation in the Fresnel region. New

numerical approach, Optics communications, Vol. 116, No.
1, 1995, pp. 43-48.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

[13] J. W. Goodman, Introduction to Fourier optics, 3rd Edition,

Roberts and Company, Greenwood Village, Colorado, 2004.

This work was supported by the Research Fund for

the Doctoral Program of Colleges in China under Grant
No. 20113401130001, NSFC Guangdong Joint Foundation
Key Project No. U1201255, Youth Science Foundation of
Anhui University under Grant No. KJQN1010 and Starting
Research Fund from the Anhui University.

[14] I. Moreno, C. Iemmi, A. Marquez, J. Campos, and M.

J. Yzuel, Modulation light efciency of diffractive lenses
displayed in a restricted phase-mostly modulation display,
Applied optics, Vol. 43, No. 34, 2004, pp. 6278-6284.
[15] A. Marquez, C. Iemmi, J. C. Escalera, J. Campos, S. Ledesma,
J. A. Davis, and M. J. Yzuel, Amplitude apodizers encoded
onto Fresnel lenses implemented on a phase-only spatial light
modulator, Applied Optics, Vol. 40, No. 14, 2001, pp. 23162322.

R EFERENCES
[1] E. Buckley,Invited Paper: Holographic Laser Projection Technology, SID Symposium Digest of Technical Papers, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Vol. 39, No. 1, May. 2008, pp. 1074-1079.

[16] R. W. Gerchberg, A practical algorithm for the determination

of phase from image and diffraction plane pictures, Optik, 35,
1972, pp. 237-246.

[2] M. Makowski, M. Sypek, and A. Kolodziejczyk, Colorful reconstructions from a thin multi-plane phase hologram, Optics
express, Vol. 16, No. 15, 2008, pp. 11618-11623.

[17] F. Yaras, M. Kovachev, R. Ilieva, M. Agour, and L. Onural,

Holographic reconstructions using phase-only spatial light
modulators, In 3DTV Conference: The True Vision-Capture,
Transmission and Display of 3D Video, IEEE, May. 2008, pp.
PD-1.

[3] T. Shimobaba, T. Takahashi, N. Masuda, and T. Ito, Numerical

study of color holographic projection using space-division
method, Optics Express, Vol. 19, No. 11, 2011, pp. 1028710292.

[18] M. Sypek, A. Kolodziejczyk, and G. Mikul, Three-plane

phase-only computer hologram generated with iterative Fresnel
algorithm, Optical Engineering, Vol. 44, No. 12, 2005, pp.
125805-125805.

[4] E. Buckley, Holographic laser projection, Display Technology, Journal of, Vol. 7, No. 3, 2011, pp. 135-140.
[5] M. Makowski, M. Sypek, I. Ducin, A. Fajst, A. Siemion,
J. Suszek, and A. Kolodziejczyk, Experimental evaluation
of a full-color compact lensless holographic display, Optics
Express, Vol. 17, No. 23, 2009, pp. 20840-20846.
[6] A. V. Oppenheim and J. S. Lim, The importance of phase in
signals, Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 69, No. 5, 1981, pp.
529-541.
[7] D. Palima and V. R. Daria, Holographic projection of arbitrary
light patterns with a suppressed zero-order beam, Applied
optics, Vol. 46, No. 20, 2007, pp. 4197-4201.
[8] H. Zhang, J. Xie, J. Liu, and Y. Wang, Elimination of a zeroorder beam induced by a pixelated spatial light modulator for
holographic projection, Applied optics, Vol. 48, No. 30, 2009,
pp. 5834-5841.
[9] M. Agour, E. Kolenovic, C. Falldorf, and C. von Kopylow,
Suppression of higher diffraction orders and intensity improvement of optically reconstructed holograms from a spatial
light modulator, Journal of Optics A: Pure and Applied Optics,
Vol. 11, No. 10, 2009, pp. 105405.
[10] S. Y. Wu, J. Liang, and M. F. Becker, Suppression of
the Zero Order Diffracted Beam for Near Field Holographic
Projection by Phase Compression, In Frontiers in Optics,
Optical Society of America, Oct. 2011, FWJ3.
[11] V. Arrizon, E. Carreon, and M. Testorf, Implementation
of Fourier array illuminators using pixelated SLM: efciency
limitations, Optics communications, Vol. 160, No. 4, 1999,
pp. 207-213.

765
785
786