The United States Patent office has revealed Apple’s latest patent application for a holographic 3-D display today. The patent has been filed by Apple Inc. for a three dimensional display system providing a predetermined angular responsive reflective surface function on a projection screen and 3D images modulated in coordination to define what Apple’s abstract described as a programmable mirror with a programmable deflection angle. The claims which have been laid down in the application include ‘A three-dimensional display system, comprising: providing a projection screen having a predetermined angularly-responsive reflective surface function; determining the left and right eye locations of at least one observer; projecting left and right three-dimensional sub-images toward the projection screen; and modulating the sub-images respectively in coordination with the predetermined angularly-responsive reflective surface function to respectively direct the left and right sub-images substantially exclusively to the respective left and right eye locations. 

The claims also include a three-dimensional display system, comprising: providing a projection screen having a spatial filter defining a predetermined angularly-responsive reflective surface function; determining the left and right eye locations of at least one observer substantially facing and in proximity with the projection screen; projecting left and right sub-images of a three-dimensional image toward the projection screen; and angularly and intensity modulating the left and right sub-images respectively in coordination with the predetermined angularly-responsive reflective surface function to define respective discrete light paths that respectively direct the left and right sub-images to reflect from the projection screen substantially exclusively to the respective left and right eye locations to provide a three-dimensional viewing experience.’

Apple has elaborated upon the application as ‘although much more realistic, a dynamically presented holographic image also requires far greater computational ability and bandwidth than is generally required for a two-view stereo display. Effective means are also noticeably wanting for dynamically recreating the original wavefront, or an acceptable facsimile thereof, in real time and at commercially acceptable costs. Thus, a need still remains for highly effective, practical, efficient, uncomplicated, and inexpensive autostereoscopic 3D displays that allow the observer complete and unencumbered freedom of movement. Additionally, a need continues to exist for practical autostereoscopic 3D displays that provide a true parallax experience in both the vertical as well as the horizontal movement directions.’

 The application was originally filed by Apple Inc on the 20th of September in the year 2006. The full patent application as on the United States Patents Office site can be viewed here.