Three-dimensional/two-dimensional convertible display based on computer-generated holograms and an amplitude-modulated spatial light modulator

A three-dimensional/two-dimensional (3-D/2-D) convertible display was proposed. The display system offers 2-D images via the traditional display technology and offers 3-D images via the computer-generated hologram (CGH) technology. In this system, 2-D and 3-D images are generated from the same amplitude-modulated spatial light modulator (SLM). In the 2-D display mode, the panel displays an amplitude-modulated image and the 2-D image is projected on a polarization-dependent diffuser (PD) screen. In the 3-D display mode, the SLM panel displays CGHs to generate 3-D images. The zero-order diffraction of the amplitude-type CGH will be blocked by a spatial filter (SF), which is designed by a polarizer. Furthermore, a liquid crystal element was employed to modulate the polarization state of the reconstructed light to let the 3-D image quality not to be reduced by the PD. Finally, the proposed system can offer 2-D and 3-D images both clearly. The system suppresses the zero-order diffraction noise of the amplitude-type CGH system successfully.