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We propose a simple gradation representation method using a binary-weighted computer-generated hologram (CGH) to be displayed on a high-speed spatial light modulator that can be controlled by the pulse-width modulation technique. The proposed method uses multiple bit planes comprising binary-weighted CGHs with various pulse widths. The object points of a three-dimensional (3D) object are assigned to multiple bit planes according to their gray levels. The bit planes are sequentially displayed in a time-division-multiplexed manner. Consequently, the proposed method realizes a gradation representation of a reconstructed 3D object.

In amplitude-modulation-type electroholography, the binary-weighted computer-generated hologram (BW-CGH) facilitates the gradation-expressible reconstruction of three-dimensional (3D) objects. To realize real-time gradation-expressible electroholography, we propose an efficient and high-speed method for calculating bit planes consisting of BW-CGHs. The proposed method is implemented on a multiple graphics processing unit (GPU) cluster system comprising 13 GPUs. The proposed BW-CGH method realizes eight-gradation-expressible electroholography at approximately the same calculation speed as that of conventional electroholography based on binary computer-generated holograms. Consequently, we were able to successfully reconstruct a real-time electroholographic 3D video comprising approximately 180,000 points expressed in eight gradations at 30 frames per second.

We propose a high-speed playback method for the spatiotemporal division multiplexing electroholographic three-dimensional (3D) video stored in a solid-state drive (SSD) using a digital micromirror device. The spatiotemporal division multiplexing electroholography prevents deterioration in the reconstructed 3D video from a 3D object comprising many object points. In the proposed method, the stored data is remarkably reduced using the packing technique, and the computer-generated holograms are played back at high speed. Consequently, we successfully reconstructed a clear 3D video of a 3D object comprising approximately 1,100,000 points at 60 frames per second by reducing the reading time of the stored data from an SSD.

The recently proposed random-phase-free method enables holographic reconstructions with very low noise, which allows fine projections without time integration of sub-holograms. Here, we describe the additional advantage of this method, namely, the extended depth of sharp imaging. It can be attributed to a lower effective aperture of the hologram section forming a given image point at the projection screen. We experimentally compare the depth of focus and imaging resolution for various defocusing parameters in the cases of the random-phase method and the random-phase-free method. Moreover, we discuss the influence of the effective aperture in the presence of local obstacles in the hologram’s plane.

Systems containing multiple graphics-processing-unit (GPU) clusters are difficult to use for real-time electroholography when using only a single spatial light modulator because the transfer of the computer-generated hologram data between the GPUs is bottlenecked. To overcome this bottleneck, we propose a rapid GPU packing scheme that significantly reduces the volume of the required data transfer. The proposed method uses a multi-GPU cluster system connected with a cost-effective gigabit Ethernet network. In tests, we achieved real-time electroholography of a three-dimensional (3D) video presenting a point-cloud 3D object made up of approximately 200,000 points.

Computationally, the calculation of computer-generated holograms is extremely expensive, and the image quality deteriorates when reconstructing three-dimensional (3D) holographic video from a point-cloud model comprising a huge number of object points. To solve these problems, we implement herein a spatiotemporal division multiplexing method on a cluster system with 13 GPUs connected by a gigabit Ethernet network. A performance evaluation indicates that the proposed method can realize a real-time holographic video of a 3D object comprising ∼1,200,000 object points. These results demonstrate a clear 3D holographic video at 32.7 frames per second reconstructed from a 3D object comprising 1,064,462 object points.

We demonstrate real-time three-dimensional (3D) color video using a color electroholographic system with a cluster of multiple-graphics processing units (multi-GPU) and three spatial light modulators (SLMs) corresponding respectively to red, green, and blue (RGB)-colored reconstructing lights. The multi-GPU cluster has a computer-generated hologram (CGH) display node containing a GPU, for displaying calculated CGHs on SLMs, and four CGH calculation nodes using 12 GPUs. The GPUs in the CGH calculation node generate CGHs corresponding to RGB reconstructing lights in a 3D color video using pipeline processing. Real-time color electroholography was realized for a 3D color object comprising approximately 21,000 points per color.

We propose a method for color electroholography using a simple red–green–blue (RGB) gradation representation method without controlling the respective brightness of the reference RGB-colored lights. The proposed method uses RGB multiple bit planes comprising RGB binary-weighted computer-generated holograms with various light transmittances. The object points of a given three-dimensional (3D) object are assigned to RGB multiple bit planes according to their RGB gradation levels. The RGB multiple bit planes are sequentially displayed in a time-division-multiplexed manner. Consequently, the proposed method yields a color gradation representation of a reconstructed 3D object.

We demonstrate fast time-division color electroholography using a multiple-graphics-processing-unit (GPU) cluster system with a spatial light modulator and a controller to switch the color of the reconstructing light. The controller comprises a universal serial bus module to drive the liquid crystal optical shutters. By using the controller, the computer-generated hologram (CGH) display node of the multiple-GPU cluster system synchronizes the display of the CGH with the color switching of the reconstructing light. Fast time-division color electroholography at 20 fps is realized for a three-dimensional object comprising 21,000 points per color when 13 GPUs are used in a multiple-GPU cluster system.