Abstract

Animation adds a new dimension to the information content and appeal of a hologram. Animation has been previously incorporated in holographic stereograms by creating a vertical array of exit pupils that both have the spatial viewpoint and vary simultaneously in time. Although this can create an effective visual display, the superposition of time and viewpoint on the same axis creates perceptual distortions. The holographic animation that we demonstrate eliminates this problem by creating a spatially multiplexed hologram in which the exit pupil is parallel to the line between the two eyes (horizontal) with an array of different exit pupils perpendicular to this direction (vertical). In addition to animation in the vertical direction, horizontal parallax can be incorporated, as with normal holographic stereograms. To reduce the effects of chromatic dispersion in blurring the vertical time sequence, reflection holograms are most convenient for viewing under white-light illumination. The small remaining chromatic dispersion can be eliminated by using an auxiliary dispersive element between the hologram and the light source. A generalization of the animation concept permits parameters other than time to vary in the image sequence along the vertical direction.

© 1990 Optical Society of America