Holographic lenses with wide angular and spectral bandwidths for use in a color display device

Claim 2

A lens structure for directing input optical radiation to a predetermined target, said radiation having a discrete wavelength that falls within a predetermined wavelength range, making a discrete angle of incidence with respect to an input side of said lens structure and having a characteristic divergence angle, with said incidence and divergence angles falling within respective predetermined ranges, comprising: an optically transmissive substrate, and at least three holographic lens arrays that are responsive to radiation wavebands centered respectively on different colors, each of said lens arrays comprising a plurality of lateral holographic lenses, with each of said holographic lenses comprising a plurality of primary angularly customized holograms, said angularly customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and having respective acceptance angle ranges centered on respective discrete acceptance angles, said discrete acceptance angles being separated so that the acceptance angle ranges of said holograms partially overlap and the predetermined angle of incidence and divergence angle ranges of said input optical radiation fall within a cumulative acceptance angle range of said holograms.

Claim 3

The lens structure of claim 1, wherein the acceptance angle range overlap between said angularly customized holograms results in substantially all of said input radiation being diffracted towards said target over said predetermined angle of incidence, divergence angle and wavelength ranges.

Claim 4

The lens structure of claim 1, further comprising at least one reflection angularly customized hologram on said substrate for rejecting input radiation that falls outside of said predetermined angle of incidence or divergence angle range.

Claim 5

The lens structure of claim 1, each of said lens arrays further comprising a plurality of primary spectrally customized holograms, which are partially offset from each other in a staggered order and are responsive to respective radiation wavebands centered about respective discrete wavelengths, with said discrete wavelengths separated so that the radiation wavebands of said holograms partially overlap and the predetermined wavelength range of said input radiation falls within cumulative radiation wavebands of said holograms.

Claim 6

A lens structure for spatially separating white light into component radiation wavebands centered on a plurality of discrete wavelengths, said white light making a discrete angle of incidence with respect to an input side of said lens structure and having a characteristic divergence angle, with said incidence and divergence angles falling within respective predetermined ranges, comprising: an optically transmissive substrate, and at least three holographic lens arrays that are responsive to radiation wavebands centered respectively on different colors, each of said lens arrays comprising a plurality of lateral holographic lenses, with each of said holographic lenses comprising a plurality of primary angularly customized holograms, said primary angularly customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and having respective acceptance angle ranges centered on respective discrete acceptance angles, said discrete acceptance angles being separated so that the acceptance angle ranges of said holograms partially overlap and the predetermined angle of incidence and divergence angle range of said white light fall within a cumulative acceptance angle range of said holograms.

Claim 7

A lens structure for spatially separating white light into component radiation wavebands centered on a plurality of discrete wavelengths, said white light making a discrete angle of incidence with respect to an input side of said lens structure and having a characteristic divergence angle, with said incidence and divergence angles falling within respective predetermined ranges, comprising: an optically transmissive substrate, and at least three holographic lens arrays that are responsive to radiation wavebands centered respectively on different colors, each of said lens arrays comprising a plurality of lateral holographic lenses, with each of said holographic lenses comprising a plurality of primary angularly customized holograms, said primary angularly customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and having respective acceptance angle ranges centered on respective discrete acceptance angles, said discrete acceptance angles being separated so that the acceptance angle ranges of said holograms partially overlap and the predetermined angle of incidence and divergence angle range of said white light fall within a cumulative acceptance angle range of said holograms.

Claim 8

The lens structure of claim 5, wherein the acceptance angle range overlap between said primary angularly customized holograms results in substantially all of said white light being separated into said component radiation wavebands over said predetermined angle of incidence and divergence angle ranges.

Claim 9

The lens structure of claim 5, wherein each of said holographic lenses further comprises at least one reflection angularly customized hologram for rejecting light that falls outside of said predetermined angle of incidence or divergence angle ranges.

Claim 10

The lens structure of claim 5, each of said lens arrays further comprising a plurality of primary spectrally customized holograms which are partially offset from each other in a stagger order and are responsive to respective radiation wavebands centered about respective discrete wavelengths, with said discrete wavelengths separated so that the radiation wavebands of said spectrally customized holograms partially overlap and define the radiation waveband of their respective lens.

Claim 11

A lens structure for spatially separating white light into component radiation wavebands centered on red, green and blue wavelengths, said white light making a discrete angle of incidence with respect to an input side of said lens structure and having a characteristic divergence angle, with said incidence and divergence angles falling within respective predetermined ranges, comprising: first, second and third holographic lens arrays that are responsive to radiation wavebands centered respectively on red, green and blue colors, each of said lens arrays comprising a plurality of lateral holographic lenses, with each of said holographic lenses comprising a plurality of primary angularly customized holograms, and an optically transmissive substrate for holding the holographic lenses of each array so that they are offset in staggered order from the lenses of each of the other arrays by approximately one-third the lens dimension along the offset, said primary angularly customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and having respective acceptance angle ranges centered on respective discrete acceptance angles, said discrete acceptance angles being separated so that the acceptance angle ranges of said holograms partially overlap and the predetermined angle of incidence and divergence angle ranges of said white light fall within a cumulative acceptance angle range of said holograms.

Claim 12

A lens structure for spatially separating white light into component radiation wavebands centered on red, green and blue wavelengths, said white light making a discrete angle of incidence with respect to an input side of said lens structure and having a characteristic divergence angle, with said incidence and divergence angles falling within respective predetermined ranges, comprising: first, second and third holographic lens arrays that are responsive to radiation wavebands centered respectively on red, green and blue colors, each of said lens arrays comprising a plurality of lateral holographic lenses, with each of said holographic lenses comprising a plurality of primary angularly customized holograms, and an optically transmissive substrate for holding the holographic lenses of each array so that they are offset in staggered order from the lenses of each of the other arrays by approximately one-third the lens dimension along the offset, said primary angularly customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and having respective acceptance angle ranges centered on respective discrete acceptance angles, said discrete acceptance angles being separated so that the acceptance angle ranges of said holograms partially overlap and the predetermined angle of incidence and divergence angle ranges of said white light fall within a cumulative acceptance angle range of said holograms.

Claim 13

The lens structure of claim 9, wherein the acceptance angle range overlap between said primary angularly customized holograms results in substantially all of said white light being separated into said red, green and blue radiation wavebands.

Claim 14

The lends structure of claim 9, wherein each of said holographic lenses further comprises at least one reflection angularly customized hologram for rejecting light that falls outside of said predetermined angle of incidence or divergence angle ranges.

Claim 15

The lens structure of claim 9, wherein the green lenses are responsive to a radiation bandwidth which overlaps the bandwidths of the other lenses.

Claim 16

The lens structure of claim 9, wherein the red, green and blue lenses are formed on a common substrate.

Claim 17

The lens structure of claim 9, each of said lens arrays further comprising a plurality of primary spectrally customized holograms which are partially offset from each other in a stagger order and are responsive to respective radiation wavebands centered about respective discrete wavelengths, with said discrete wavelengths separated so that the radiation wavebands of said spectrally customized holograms partially overlap and define the radiation waveband of their corresponding lens.

Claim 18

A high efficiency color display device for displaying selected elements of input optical radiation having a plurality of different waveband components, comprising: an area target array comprising a plurality of generally adjacent target areas respectively corresponding to predetermined waveband components of the input optical radiation, and an area lens assembly spaced from said target array and adapted to receive input optical radiation having an angle of incidence and a first divergence angle that falls within respective predetermined ranges, said lens assembly having, for each target area in the target array, a focuser which is optically aligned with said target area comprising a first set of primary angularly customized holograms that are responsive to input radiation within the waveband of its corresponding target area for converging said input radiation directly onto said area target array and for generally transmitting input radiation outside of said waveband, each of said focusers and corresponding target area being adapted to direct said converging input radiation after convergence with a second divergence angle for superimposed display, the focusers for the various wavebands being arranged in said lens assembly so that at least one focuser for each of the waveband components is disposed in the path of input radiation substantially across the area of said lens assembly, each focuser partially overlapping a focuser for each of the other waveband components, said primary angularly customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and having respective acceptance angle ranges centered on respective discrete acceptance angles, said discrete acceptance angles being separated so that the acceptance angle ranges of said holograms partially overlap and the predetermined angle of incidence and first divergence angle ranges of said input optical radiation fall within a cumulative acceptance angle range of said holograms.

Claim 19

A high efficiency color display device for displaying selected elements of input optical radiation having a plurality of different waveband components, comprising: an area target array comprising a plurality of generally adjacent target areas respectively corresponding to predetermined waveband components of the input optical radiation, and an area lens assembly spaced from said target array and adapted to receive input optical radiation having an angle of incidence and a first divergence angle that falls within respective predetermined ranges, said lens assembly having, for each target area in the target array, a focuser which is optically aligned with said target area comprising a first set of primary angularly customized holograms that are responsive to input radiation within the waveband of its corresponding target area for converging said input radiation directly onto said area target array and for generally transmitting input radiation outside of said waveband, each of said focusers and corresponding target area being adapted to direct said converging input radiation after convergence with a second divergence angle for superimposed display, the focusers for the various wavebands being arranged in said lens assembly so that at least one focuser for each of the waveband components is disposed in the path of input radiation substantially across the area of said lens assembly, each focuser partially overlapping a focuser for each of the other waveband components, said primary angularly customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and having respective acceptance angle ranges centered on respective discrete acceptance angles, said discrete acceptance angles being separated so that the acceptance angle ranges of said holograms partially overlap and the predetermined angle of incidence and first divergence angle ranges of said input optical radiation fall within a cumulative acceptance angle range of said holograms.

Claim 20

The color display device of claim 15, wherein each of said primary angularly customized holograms has a peak responsivity to said input radiation in its corresponding waveband at said discrete acceptance angle, and a generally progressively diminishing response at acceptance angles that are further away from said discrete acceptance angle.

Claim 21

The color display device of claim 15, wherein the acceptance angle range overlap between said primary angularly customized holograms results in substantially all of said input radiation being converged onto said angularly.

Claim 22

The color display device of claim 15, wherein each of said focusers further comprises at least one reflection angularly customized hologram for rejecting light that falls outside of said predetermined angle of incidence or divergence angle ranges.

Claim 23

The color display device of claim 15, wherein the radiation beam has n waveband components, the area of each target area is approximately A, and the area of each focuser is approximately nA.

Claim 24

The color display device of claim 19, wherein the waveband components are centered on red, green and blue optical radiation.

Claim 25

The color display device of claim 15, wherein said target array comprises an array of transmissive light modulation cells.

Claim 26

The lens structure of claim 15, each of said lens arrays further comprising a plurality of primary spectrally customized holograms which are partially offset from each other in a stagger order and are responsive to respective radiation wavebands centered about respective discrete wavelengths, with said discrete wavelengths separated so that the radiation wavebands of said spectrally customized holograms partially overlap and define the radiation waveband of their corresponding focuser.

Claim 27

A high efficiency color display device for displaying selected elements of input optical radiation having a plurality of different waveband components, comprising: a target array of transmissive light modulation cells comprising a plurality of generally adjacent target areas respectively corresponding to predetermined waveband components of the input optical radiation, an area lens assembly spaced from said target array and adapted to receive input optical radiation having an angle of incidence and a first divergence angle that falls within respective predetermined ranges, said lens assembly having, for each target area in the target array, a focuser which is optically aligned with said target area comprising a first set of primary angularly customized holograms that are responsive to input radiation within the waveband of its corresponding target area for converging said input radiation directly onto said area target array and for generally transmitting input radiation outside of said waveband, each of said focusers and corresponding target area being adapted to direct said converging input radiation after convergence with a second divergence angle for superimposed display, the focusers for the various wavebands being arranged in said lens assembly so that at least one focuser for each of the waveband components is disposed in the path of input radiation substantially across the area of said lens assembly, each focuser partially overlapping a focuser for each of the other waveband components, said primary angularly customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and having respective acceptance angle ranges centered on respective discrete acceptance angles, said discrete acceptance angles being separated so that the acceptance angle ranges of said holograms partially overlap and the predetermined angle of incidence and first divergence angle ranges of said input optical radiation fall within a cumulative acceptance angle range of said holograms, and a second area lens assembly spaced from said target array on the opposite side of said target array from said first lens assembly and adapted to receive said diverging input optical radiation and superimposed the waveband components of said optical radiation after said radiation has passed through said target array, said second lens assembly having, for each cell in the target array, a focuser which is optically aligned with said cell comprising a second set of primary angularly customized holograms that are responsive to input radiation within the waveband of its corresponding cell for focusing input radiation that has passed through said cell and for generally transmitting input radiation outside of said waveband, the focusers for the various wavebands being arranged in said second lens assembly so that at least one focuser for each of the waveband components is disposed in the path of input radiation substantially across the area of said lens assembly, each focuser partially overlapping a focuser for each of the other waveband components, each of said primary angularly customized holograms in said second set having respective acceptance angle ranges centered on respective discrete acceptance angles, said discrete acceptance angles being separated so that the acceptance angle ranges of said holograms partially overlap and the predetermined angle of incidence and second divergence angle ranges of said input optical radiation fall within a cumulative acceptance angle range of said holograms.

Claim 28

A high efficiency color display device for displaying selected elements of input optical radiation having a plurality of different waveband components, comprising: a target array of transmissive light modulation cells comprising a plurality of generally adjacent target areas respectively corresponding to predetermined waveband components of the input optical radiation, an area lens assembly spaced from said target array and adapted to receive input optical radiation having an angle of incidence and a first divergence angle that falls within respective predetermined ranges, said lens assembly having, for each target area in the target array, a focuser which is optically aligned with said target area comprising a first set of primary angularly customized holograms that are responsive to input radiation within the waveband of its corresponding target area for converging said input radiation directly onto said area target array and for generally transmitting input radiation outside of said waveband, each of said focusers and corresponding target area being adapted to direct said converging input radiation after convergence with a second divergence angle for superimposed display, the focusers for the various wavebands being arranged in said lens assembly so that at least one focuser for each of the waveband components is disposed in the path of input radiation substantially across the area of said lens assembly, each focuser partially overlapping a focuser for each of the other waveband components, said primary angularly customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and having respective acceptance angle ranges centered on respective discrete acceptance angles, said discrete acceptance angles being separated so that the acceptance angle ranges of said holograms partially overlap and the predetermined angle of incidence and first divergence angle ranges of said input optical radiation fall within a cumulative acceptance angle range of said holograms, and a second area lens assembly spaced from said target array on the opposite side of said target array from said first lens assembly and adapted to receive said diverging input optical radiation and superimposed the waveband components of said optical radiation after said radiation has passed through said target array, said second lens assembly having, for each cell in the target array, a focuser which is optically aligned with said cell comprising a second set of primary angularly customized holograms that are responsive to input radiation within the waveband of its corresponding cell for focusing input radiation that has passed through said cell and for generally transmitting input radiation outside of said waveband, the focusers for the various wavebands being arranged in said second lens assembly so that at least one focuser for each of the waveband components is disposed in the path of input radiation substantially across the area of said lens assembly, each focuser partially overlapping a focuser for each of the other waveband components, each of said primary angularly customized holograms in said second set having respective acceptance angle ranges centered on respective discrete acceptance angles, said discrete acceptance angles being separated so that the acceptance angle ranges of said holograms partially overlap and the predetermined angle of incidence and second divergence angle ranges of said input optical radiation fall within a cumulative acceptance angle range of said holograms.

Claim 29

The color display device of claim 23, wherein said second lens assembly is substantially identical to said first lens assembly and is spaced from said cell array at a symmetric distance with respect to said first lens assembly.

Claim 30

The color display device of claim 23, wherein said second lens assembly is designed and positioned to provide a viewing angle that is larger than an acceptance cone angle defined by said first lens assembly.

Claim 31

The color display device of claim 23, wherein said second lens assembly is designed and positioned to direct substantially all of said input optical radiation towards a predetermined target.

Claim 32

The lens structure of claim 23, each of said lens arrays further comprising a plurality of primary spectrally customized holograms which are partially offset from each other in a stagger order and are responsive to respective radiation wavebands centered about respective discrete wavelengths, with said discrete wavelengths separated so that the radiation wavebands of said spectrally customized holograms partially overlap and define the radiation waveband of their corresponding focuser, each focuser in said second area lens assembly further comprising a second set of primary spectrally customized holograms which are responsive to respective radiation wavebands centered about respective discrete wavelengths, with said discrete wavelengths separated so that the radiation wavebands of said spectrally customized holograms partially overlap and define the radiation waveband of their corresponding focuser.

Claim 33

A lens structure for directing input optical radiation to a predetermined target, said radiation having a discrete wavelength that falls within a predetermined wavelength range, making a discrete angle of incidence with respect to an input side of said lens structure and having a characteristic divergence angle, with said incidence and divergence angles falling within respective predetermined ranges, comprising: an optically transmissive substrate, and at least three holographic lens arrays that are responsive to radiation wavebands centered respectively on different colors, each of said lens arrays comprising a plurality of lateral holographic lenses, with each of said holographic lenses comprising a plurality of primary spectrally customized holograms, said spectrally customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and being responsive to respective radiation wavebands centered about respective discrete wavelengths, with said discrete wavelengths separated so that the radiation wavebands of said holograms partially overlap and the predetermined wavelength range of said input radiation falls within cumulative radiation wavebands of said holograms.

Claim 34

A lens structure for directing input optical radiation to a predetermined target, said radiation having a discrete wavelength that falls within a predetermined wavelength range, making a discrete angle of incidence with respect to an input side of said lens structure and having a characteristic divergence angle, with said incidence and divergence angles falling within respective predetermined ranges, comprising: an optically transmissive substrate, and at least three holographic lens arrays that are responsive to radiation wavebands centered respectively on different colors, each of said lens arrays comprising a plurality of lateral holographic lenses, with each of said holographic lenses comprising a plurality of primary spectrally customized holograms, said spectrally customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and being responsive to respective radiation wavebands centered about respective discrete wavelengths, with said discrete wavelengths separated so that the radiation wavebands of said holograms partially overlap and the predetermined wavelength range of said input radiation falls within cumulative radiation wavebands of said holograms.

Claim 35

The lens structure of claim 28, wherein the radiation waveband overlap between said spectrally customized holograms results in substantially all of said input radiation being diffracted towards said target over said predetermined angle of incidence, divergence angle and wavelength ranges.

Claim 36

The lens structure of claim 28, further comprising at least one reflection spectrally customized hologram on said substrate for rejecting input radiation that falls outside of said predetermined wavelength range.

Claim 37

A lens structure for spatially separating white light into component radiation wavebands centered on a plurality of discrete wavelengths, said white light making a discrete angle of incidence with respect to an input side of said lens structure and having a characteristic divergence angle, with said incidence and divergence angles falling within respective predetermined ranges, comprising: an optically transmissive substrate, and at least three holographic lens arrays that are responsive to radiation wavebands centered respectively on different colors, each of said lens arrays comprising a plurality of lateral holographic lenses, with each of said holographic lenses comprising a plurality of primary spectrally customized holograms, said primary spectrally customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and being responsive to respective radiation wavebands centered about respective discrete wavelengths, with said discrete wavelengths separated so that the radiation wavebands of said spectrally customized holograms partially overlap and define the radiation waveband of their respective lens.

Claim 38

A lens structure for spatially separating white light into component radiation wavebands centered on a plurality of discrete wavelengths, said white light making a discrete angle of incidence with respect to an input side of said lens structure and having a characteristic divergence angle, with said incidence and divergence angles falling within respective predetermined ranges, comprising: an optically transmissive substrate, and at least three holographic lens arrays that are responsive to radiation wavebands centered respectively on different colors, each of said lens arrays comprising a plurality of lateral holographic lenses, with each of said holographic lenses comprising a plurality of primary spectrally customized holograms, said primary spectrally customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and being responsive to respective radiation wavebands centered about respective discrete wavelengths, with said discrete wavelengths separated so that the radiation wavebands of said spectrally customized holograms partially overlap and define the radiation waveband of their respective lens.

Claim 39

The lens structure of claim 31, wherein the radiation waveband overlap between said primary spectrally customized holograms results in substantially all of said white light being separated into said component radiation wavebands over said predetermined angle of incidence and divergence angle ranges.

Claim 40

The lens structure of claim 31, wherein each of said holographic lenses further comprises at least one reflection spectrally customized hologram for rejecting light that falls outside of a predetermined wavelength range.

Claim 41

A lens structure for spatially separating white light into component radiation wavebands centered on red, green and blue wavelengths, said white light making a discrete angle of incidence with respect to an input side of said lens structure and having a characteristic divergence angle, with said incidence and divergence angles falling within respective predetermined ranges, comprising: first, second and third holographic lens arrays that are responsive to radiation wavebands centered respectively on red, green and blue colors, each of said lens arrays comprising a plurality of lateral holographic lenses, with each of said holographic lenses comprising a plurality of primary spectrally customized holograms, and an optically transmissive substrate for holding the holographic lenses of each array so that they are offset in staggered order from the lenses of each of the other arrays by approximately one-third the lens dimension along the offset, said primary spectrally customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and being responsive to respective radiation wavebands centered about respective discrete wavelengths, with said discrete wavelengths separated so that the radiation wavebands of said spectrally customized holograms partially overlap and define the radiation waveband of their corresponding lens.

Claim 42

A lens structure for spatially separating white light into component radiation wavebands centered on red, green and blue wavelengths, said white light making a discrete angle of incidence with respect to an input side of said lens structure and having a characteristic divergence angle, with said incidence and divergence angles falling within respective predetermined ranges, comprising: first, second and third holographic lens arrays that are responsive to radiation wavebands centered respectively on red, green and blue colors, each of said lens arrays comprising a plurality of lateral holographic lenses, with each of said holographic lenses comprising a plurality of primary spectrally customized holograms, and an optically transmissive substrate for holding the holographic lenses of each array so that they are offset in staggered order from the lenses of each of the other arrays by approximately one-third the lens dimension along the offset, said primary spectrally customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and being responsive to respective radiation wavebands centered about respective discrete wavelengths, with said discrete wavelengths separated so that the radiation wavebands of said spectrally customized holograms partially overlap and define the radiation waveband of their corresponding lens.

Claim 43

The lens structure of claim 34 wherein the radiation waveband overlap between said primary spectrally customized holograms results in substantially all of said white light being separated into said red, green and blue radiation wavebands.

Claim 44

The lens structure of claim 34, wherein each of said holographic lenses further comprises at least one reflection spectrally customized hologram for rejecting light that falls outside of a predetermined wavelength range.

Claim 45

The lens structure of claim 34, wherein the green lenses are responsive to a radiation bandwidth which overlaps the bandwidths of the other lenses.

Claim 46

The lens structure of claim 34, wherein the red, green and blue lenses are formed on a common substrate.

Claim 47

A high efficiency color display device for displaying selected elements of input optical radiation having a plurality of different waveband components, comprising: an area target array comprising a plurality of generally adjacent target areas respectively corresponding to predetermined waveband components of the input optical radiation, and an area lens assembly spaced from said target array and adapted to receive input optical radiation having an angle of incidence and a first divergence angle that falls within respective predetermined ranges, said lens assembly having, for each target area in the target array, a focuser which is optically aligned with said target area comprising a first set of primary spectrally customized holograms that are responsive to input radiation within the waveband of its corresponding target area for converging said input radiation directly onto said area target array and for generally transmitting input radiation outside of said waveband, each of said focusers and corresponding target area being adapted to direct said converging input radiation after convergence with a second divergence angle for superimposed display, the focusers for the various wavebands being arranged in said lens assembly so that at least one focuser for each of the waveband components is disposed in the path of input radiation substantially across the area of said lens assembly, each focuser partially overlapping a focuser for each of the other waveband components, said primary spectrally customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and being responsive to respective radiation wavebands centered about respective discrete wavelengths, with said discrete wavelengths separated so that the radiation wavebands of said spectrally customized holograms partially overlap and define the radiation waveband of their corresponding focuser.

Claim 48

A high efficiency color display device for displaying selected elements of input optical radiation having a plurality of different waveband components, comprising: an area target array comprising a plurality of generally adjacent target areas respectively corresponding to predetermined waveband components of the input optical radiation, and an area lens assembly spaced from said target array and adapted to receive input optical radiation having an angle of incidence and a first divergence angle that falls within respective predetermined ranges, said lens assembly having, for each target area in the target array, a focuser which is optically aligned with said target area comprising a first set of primary spectrally customized holograms that are responsive to input radiation within the waveband of its corresponding target area for converging said input radiation directly onto said area target array and for generally transmitting input radiation outside of said waveband, each of said focusers and corresponding target area being adapted to direct said converging input radiation after convergence with a second divergence angle for superimposed display, the focusers for the various wavebands being arranged in said lens assembly so that at least one focuser for each of the waveband components is disposed in the path of input radiation substantially across the area of said lens assembly, each focuser partially overlapping a focuser for each of the other waveband components, said primary spectrally customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and being responsive to respective radiation wavebands centered about respective discrete wavelengths, with said discrete wavelengths separated so that the radiation wavebands of said spectrally customized holograms partially overlap and define the radiation waveband of their corresponding focuser.

Claim 49

The color display device of claim 39, wherein the radiation waveband overlap between said primary spectrally customized holograms results in substantially all of said input radiation being converged onto said spectrally customized holograms' corresponding target area.

Claim 50

The color display device of claim 39, wherein each of said focusers further comprises at least one reflection spectrally customized hologram for rejecting light that falls outside of a predetermined wavelength range.

Claim 51

The color display device of claim 39, wherein the radiation beam has n waveband components, the area of each target area is approximately A, and the area of each focuser is approximately nA.

Claim 52

The color display device of claim 42, wherein the waveband components are centered on red, green and blue optical radiation.

Claim 53

The color display device of claim 39, wherein said target array comprises an array of transmissive light modulation cells.

Claim 54

A high efficiency color display device for displaying selected elements of input optical radiation having a plurality of different waveband components, comprising: a target array of transmissive light modulation cells comprising a plurality of generally adjacent target areas respectively corresponding to predetermined waveband components of the input optical radiation, an area lens assembly spaced from said target array and adapted to receive input optical radiation having an angle of incidence and a first divergence angle that falls within respective predetermined ranges, said lens assembly having, for each target area in the target array, a focuser which is optically aligned with said target area comprising a first set of primary spectrally customized holograms that are responsive to input radiation within the waveband of its corresponding target area for converging said input radiation directly onto said area target array and for generally transmitting input radiation outside of said waveband, each of said focusers and corresponding target area being adapted to direct said converging input radiation after convergence with a second divergence angle for superimposed display, the focusers for the various wavebands being arranged in said lens assembly so that at least one focuser for each of the waveband components is disposed in the path of input radiation substantially across the area of said lens assembly, each focuser partially overlapping a focuser for each of the other waveband components, said primary spectrally customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and being responsive to respective radiation wavebands centered about respective discrete wavelengths, with said discrete wavelengths separated so that the radiation wavebands of said spectrally customized holograms partially overlap and define the radiation waveband of their corresponding focuser, and a second area lens assembly spaced from said target array on the opposite side of said target array from said first lens assembly and adapted to receive said diverging input optical radiation and superimpose the waveband components of said optical radiation after said radiation has passed through said target array, said second lens assembly having, for each cell in the target array, a focuser which is optically aligned with said cell comprising a second set of primary spectrally customized holograms that are responsive to input radiation within the waveband of its corresponding cell for focusing input radiation that has passed through said cell and for generally transmitting input radiation outside of said waveband, the focusers for the various wavebands being arranged in said second lens assembly so that at least one focuser for each of the waveband components is disposed in the path of input radiation substantially across the area of said lens assembly, each focuser partially overlapping a focuser for each of the other waveband components, each of said primary spectrally customized holograms being responsive to respective radiation wavebands centered about respective discrete wavelengths, with said discrete wavelengths separated so that the radiation wavebands of said spectrally customized holograms partially overlap and define the radiation waveband of their corresponding focuser.

Claim 55

A high efficiency color display device for displaying selected elements of input optical radiation having a plurality of different waveband components, comprising: a target array of transmissive light modulation cells comprising a plurality of generally adjacent target areas respectively corresponding to predetermined waveband components of the input optical radiation, an area lens assembly spaced from said target array and adapted to receive input optical radiation having an angle of incidence and a first divergence angle that falls within respective predetermined ranges, said lens assembly having, for each target area in the target array, a focuser which is optically aligned with said target area comprising a first set of primary spectrally customized holograms that are responsive to input radiation within the waveband of its corresponding target area for converging said input radiation directly onto said area target array and for generally transmitting input radiation outside of said waveband, each of said focusers and corresponding target area being adapted to direct said converging input radiation after convergence with a second divergence angle for superimposed display, the focusers for the various wavebands being arranged in said lens assembly so that at least one focuser for each of the waveband components is disposed in the path of input radiation substantially across the area of said lens assembly, each focuser partially overlapping a focuser for each of the other waveband components, said primary spectrally customized holograms partially offset from each other in a staggered order and being responsive to respective radiation wavebands centered about respective discrete wavelengths, with said discrete wavelengths separated so that the radiation wavebands of said spectrally customized holograms partially overlap and define the radiation waveband of their corresponding focuser, and a second area lens assembly spaced from said target array on the opposite side of said target array from said first lens assembly and adapted to receive said diverging input optical radiation and superimpose the waveband components of said optical radiation after said radiation has passed through said target array, said second lens assembly having, for each cell in the target array, a focuser which is optically aligned with said cell comprising a second set of primary spectrally customized holograms that are responsive to input radiation within the waveband of its corresponding cell for focusing input radiation that has passed through said cell and for generally transmitting input radiation outside of said waveband, the focusers for the various wavebands being arranged in said second lens assembly so that at least one focuser for each of the waveband components is disposed in the path of input radiation substantially across the area of said lens assembly, each focuser partially overlapping a focuser for each of the other waveband components, each of said primary spectrally customized holograms being responsive to respective radiation wavebands centered about respective discrete wavelengths, with said discrete wavelengths separated so that the radiation wavebands of said spectrally customized holograms partially overlap and define the radiation waveband of their corresponding focuser.

Claim 56

The color display device of claim 45, wherein said second lens assembly is substantially identical to said first lens assembly and is spaced from said cell array at a symmetric distance with respect to said first lens assembly.

Claim 57

The color display of claim 45, wherein said second lens assembly is designed and positioned to provide a viewing angle that is larger than an acceptance cone angle defined by said first lens assembly.

Claim 58

The color display device of claim 45, wherein said second lens assembly is designed and positioned to direct substantially all of said input optical radiation towards a predetermined target.