Complex light modulator, holographic display device, and see-through display device

1 . A complex light modulator comprising:

a first polarization plate;

a second polarization plate;

an amplitude modulator provided between the first polarization plate and the second polarization plate;

a phase modulator provided between the amplitude modulator and the second polarization plate; and

color filters provided between the amplitude modulator and the phase modulator,

wherein the phase modulator and the amplitude modulator are configured to generate a first complex pixel having first complex light modulation characteristics and a second complex pixel having second complex light modulation characteristics,

wherein the first complex pixel comprises first sub-complex pixels arranged in a 3×3 matrix and configured to implement the first complex light modulation characteristics,

wherein the second complex pixel comprises second sub-complex pixels arranged in a 3×3 matrix and configured to implement the second complex light modulation characteristics, and

wherein the first complex pixel and the second complex pixel share a first overlapping pixel included in the first sub-complex pixels and the second sub-complex pixels.

2 . The complex light modulator of claim 1 , wherein the phase modulator comprises a first cured liquid crystal layer, a second cured liquid crystal layer, a third cured liquid crystal layer, and a fourth cured liquid crystal layer, which are sequentially arranged in a direction from the first polarization plate toward the second polarization plate.

3 . The complex light modulator of claim 2 , wherein a first twist angle of the first cured liquid crystal layer and a fourth twist angle of the fourth cured liquid crystal layer have a same magnitude and have opposite directions, and

wherein a second twist angle of the second cured liquid crystal layer and a third twist angle of the third cured liquid crystal layer have a same magnitude and have opposite directions.

4 . The complex light modulator of claim 3 , wherein a first thickness of the first cured liquid crystal layer and a fourth thickness of the fourth cured liquid crystal layer are equal to each other, and

wherein a second thickness of the second cured liquid crystal layer and a third thickness of the third cured liquid crystal layer are equal to each other.

5 . The complex light modulator of claim 2 , further comprising a light alignment layer provided between the color filters and the first cured liquid crystal layer.

6 . The complex light modulator of claim 1 , wherein the phase modulator and the amplitude modulator are further configured to generate a third complex pixel having third complex light modulation characteristics,

wherein the first overlapping pixel comprises first overlapping pixels,

wherein the third complex pixel comprises third sub-complex pixels arranged in a 3×3 matrix and configured to implement the third complex light modulation characteristics,

wherein the first complex pixel, the second complex pixel, and the third complex pixel share one of the first overlapping pixels, and

wherein the one of the first overlapping pixels is included in the third sub-complex pixels.

7 . The complex light modulator of claim 6 , wherein the phase modulator and the amplitude modulator are further configured to generate a fourth complex pixel having fourth complex light modulation characteristics,

wherein the fourth complex pixel comprises fourth sub-complex pixels arranged in a 3×3 matrix and configured to implement the fourth complex light modulation characteristics,

wherein the first complex pixel, the second complex pixel, the third complex pixel, and the fourth complex pixel share the one of the first overlapping pixels, and

wherein the one of the first overlapping pixels is included in the fourth sub-complex pixels.

8 . The complex light modulator of claim 7 , wherein the first complex pixel and the fourth complex pixel further share a second overlapping pixel included in the first sub-complex pixels and the fourth sub-complex pixels.

9 . The complex light modulator of claim 1 , wherein phases of the first sub-complex pixels have a point symmetry, and

wherein phases of the second sub-complex pixels have a point symmetry.

10 . A holographic display device comprising:

a backlight unit configured to provide light having coherence;

a Fourier lens configured to focus the light; and

a complex light modulation element provided on a path of the light,

wherein the complex light modulation element comprises:

a first polarization plate;

a second polarization plate;

an amplitude modulator provided between the first polarization plate and the second polarization plate;

a phase modulator provided between the amplitude modulator and the second polarization plate; and

color filters provided between the amplitude modulator and the phase modulator,

wherein the phase modulator and the amplitude modulator are configured to generate a first complex pixel having first complex light modulation characteristics and a second complex pixel having second complex light modulation characteristics,

wherein the first complex pixel comprises first sub-complex pixels arranged in a 3×3 matrix and configured to implement the first complex light modulation characteristics,

wherein the second complex pixel comprises second sub-complex pixels arranged in a 3×3 matrix and configured to implement the second complex light modulation characteristics, and

wherein the first complex pixel and the second complex pixel share a first overlapping pixel included in the first sub-complex pixels and the second sub-complex pixels.

11 . The holographic display device of claim 10 , wherein the phase modulator contacts the color filters.

12 . The holographic display device of claim 10 , wherein the phase modulator comprises a first cured liquid crystal layer, a second cured liquid crystal layer, a third cured liquid crystal layer, and a fourth cured liquid crystal layer, which are sequentially arranged in a direction from the first polarization plate toward the second polarization plate,

wherein a first twist angle of the first cured liquid crystal layer and a fourth twist angle of the fourth cured liquid crystal layer have a same magnitude and have opposite directions, and

wherein a second twist angle of the second cured liquid crystal layer and a third twist angle of the third cured liquid crystal layer have a same magnitude and have opposite directions.

13 . A see-through display device comprising:

a holographic display device configured to generate a holographic image;

a combiner configured to combine the holographic image with an actual image and provide a combined image; and

a projection optical system configured to project the holographic image provided by the holographic display device to the combiner,

wherein the holographic display device comprises:

a backlight unit configured to provide light having coherence;

a Fourier lens configured to focus the light; and

a complex light modulation element provided on a path of the light, and

wherein the complex light modulation element comprises:

a first polarization plate;

a second polarization plate;

an amplitude modulator provided between the first polarization plate and the second polarization plate;

a phase modulator provided between the amplitude modulator and the second polarization plate; and

color filters provided between the amplitude modulator and the phase modulator,

wherein the phase modulator and the amplitude modulator are configured to generate a first complex pixel having first complex light modulation characteristics and a second complex pixel having second complex light modulation characteristics,

wherein the first complex pixel comprises first sub-complex pixels arranged in a 3×3 matrix and configured to implement the first complex light modulation characteristics,

wherein the second complex pixel comprises second sub-complex pixels arranged in a 3×3 matrix and configured to implement the second complex light modulation characteristics, and

wherein the first complex pixel and the second complex pixel share a first overlapping pixel included in the first sub-complex pixels and the second sub-complex pixels.

14 . The see-through display device of claim 13 , wherein a distance between the complex light modulation element and the projection optical system is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 18 mm.