In this paper, a dual-view integral imaging three-dimensional (3D) display consisting of a display panel, two orthogonal polarizer arrays, a polarization switcher, and a micro-lens array is proposed. Two elemental image arrays for two different 3D images are presented by the display panel alternately, and the polarization switcher controls the polarization direction of the light rays synchronously. The two elemental image arrays are modulated by their corresponding and neighboring micro-lenses of the micro-lens array, and reconstruct two different 3D images in viewing zones 1 and 2, respectively. A prototype of the dual-view II 3D display is developed, and it has good performances.

We propose a high-performance reflection-type augmented reality (AR) 3D display by using a reflective polarizer (RP). The RP functions as a reflective imaging device as well as an image combiner that combines the real scenes and the 3D images reconstructed by the integral imaging display unit. Benefiting from the flawless imaging of the RP, the proposed reflection-type AR system can achieve high-definition 3D display. A prototype based on the proposed reflection-type AR structure is developed, and it presents good 3D display effects and reflection-type AR performances. The developed prototype is very compact, as thin as 3.4 mm, which makes it be a potential candidate in stomatology and vehicle AR display.

We propose a dual-view integral imaging (DVII) 3D display using polarizer parallax barriers (PPBs). The DVII 3D display consists of a display panel, a microlens array, and two PPBs. The elemental images (EIs) displayed on the left and right half of the display panel are captured from two different 3D scenes, respectively. The lights emitted from two kinds of EIs are modulated by the left and right half of the microlens array to present two different 3D images, respectively. A prototype of the DVII 3D display is developed, and the experimental results agree well with the theory.

In this paper, we propose a tabletop augmented reality (AR) three-dimensional (3D) display system based on integral imaging by using a holographic optical element (HOE) that performs the optical function of a microlens array. The microlens array HOE records the wavefronts of a set of tilted spherical waves based on the theory of reflective volume holograms. In the reconstruction, an elemental image array projected by a projector and collimated by relay optics satisfies Bragg matching conditions and reconstructs the tilted spherical waves. Based on the theory of integral imaging, a 3D image is generated by the tilting spherical waves in an oblique viewing angle, which presents the tabletop 3D feature. Meanwhile, because of the wavelength and angular selectivity of the reflective volume hologram, the Bragg mismatched lights emitted from the real-world scene directly pass through the microlens array HOE. The 3D image and the real-world scene are seamlessly combined, which presents the AR feature. The experimental results confirm that the proposed system can provide a 3D virtual image in an oblique viewing angle and the real-world scene behind the system can also be clearly presented.

Depth of field (DOF) is one of the important parameters of three-dimensional (3D) displays. A two-dimensional (2D)/3D switchable display that can display both high-resolution 2D images and vivid 3D images with large DOF is an ideal purpose. In this paper, we propose a depth-enhanced 2D/3D switchable integral imaging display by using n-layer focusing control units (FCUs). Each layer of FCU is composed of a polarization switch and a polarization-dependent liquid crystal micro-lens array (LCMLA). According to the polarization state of incident light switched by the polarization switch, the polarization-dependent LCMLA can realize focusing effect or transmission effect, respectively. Because each layer of FCU has two optional optical effects and has different gap from the display panel, the combination of n-layer FCUs could generate 2 ⁿ-1 central depth planes, hence 2 ⁿ-1 sub-DOFs can be obtained for depth-enhanced 3D display. The 2D display mode can be easily realized when all layers of FCUs are transmission effect. We experimentally set up a prototype of the proposed 2D/3D switchable display with two-layer FCUs. The experimental results indicated that the proposed prototype can effectively increase the DOF of 3D display and realize 2D/3D switchable display as well.

We propose a dual-view integral imaging 3D display based on a multiplexed lens-array holographic optical element (MHOE). A MHOE is a volume holographic optical element obtained by multiplexing technology, which can be used for dual-view integral imaging 3D display due to the angle selectivity of the volume HOE. In the fabrication of the MHOE, two spherical wavefront arrays with different incident angles are recorded using photopolymer material. In the reconstruction, two projectors are used to project the elemental image arrays (EIA) with corresponding angles for two viewing zones. We have developed a prototype of the dual-view integral imaging display. The experimental results demonstrate the correctness of the theory.