Liquid crystal-on-silicon implementation of the partial pixel three-dimensional display architecture

We report the implementation of a liquid crystal-on-silicon, three-dimensional (3-D) diffractive display based on the partial pixel architecture. The display generates multiple stereoscopic images that are perceived as a static 3-D scene with one-dimensional motion parallax in a manner that is functionally equivalent to a holographic stereogram. The images are created with diffraction gratings formed in a thin liquid crystal layer by fringing electric fields from transparent indium tin oxide interdigitated electrodes. The electrodes are controlled by an external drive signal that permits the 3-D scene to be turned on and off. The display has a contrast ratio of 5.8, which is limited principally by optical scatter caused by extraneous fringing fields. These scatter sources can be readily eliminated. The display reported herein is the first step toward a real-time partial pixel architecture display in which large numbers of dynamic gratings are independently controlled by underlying silicon drive circuitry.