Video image viewing device and method

摘要

A video image viewing device includes first and second glass plates having a layer of liquid crystal therebetween. A plurality of laser diodes extending along a line near one edge of the first plate are selectively illuminated at an intensity corresponding to the amplitude of a video signal during each of a plurality of video lines. The light propagates through the first plate via total internal reflection not entering the liquid crystal layer until it reaches an area where the refractive index of the liquid crystal is selectively modified. The refractive index may be modified by selectively energizing each of a plurality of horizontal strip electrodes vertically spaced from each other. The electrodes are sequentially energized to frustrate the total internal refraction and thereby cause the light to be transmitted through the liquid crystal layer into the second plate at a location corresponding to the location of video line in a video frame of the video signal. One or more holographic optical elements diffract light passing into the second plate to a predetermined direction, thereby forming a unique virtual image point location for each combination of single electrode pair activation and laser diode activation.