Patent ID: 7411708

Claim:
An apparatus for writing and reading holograms, comprising: a spatial light modulator (SLM) operable in phase mode, having a plurality of pixels, each for generating an object beam; a holographic recording medium (HRM) in the path of the object beam; and a first lens element disposed in the path of the object beam between the SLM and the HRM, wherein a reference beam overlaps the object beam at or near the Fourier transform plane of the first lens element, wherein each pixel of the SLM operating in phase mode can be in at least a first state or a second state and wherein the number of pixels in the first state is about equal to the number of pixels in the second state, and further wherein the HRM is so disposed at or near the Fourier transform plane of the first lens element so as to record or read a homogenized hologram.