Introduction

The design and manufacture of displays are now mature enough to introduce three-dimensional (3D) displays into the marketplace. This happened first with displays for mobile devices in the form of near-to-the-eye displays, but home TV will follow suit.

This book covers five approaches to realize 3D perception, namely, stereoscopic and autostereoscopic displays, integral imaging, holography, and volumetric displays.

The intention guiding the book is to promote a well-founded understanding of the electro-optic effects of 3D systems and of the addressing circuits. Equations are as a rule not simply stated but are derived, or, if not fully done so, at least hints for the derivation are given. An example of this concept is the explanation of the basics of holography by phasors, which will be outlined, but which are also known from electrical engineering or from the Jones vector. This renders complex facts associated with holograms easier to understand.