Design and fabrication of HOE with arbitrary phase distribution

Holographic optical element (HOE) is one of the most promising solutions for achieving widespread market recognition and rapid implementation of augmented reality (AR) display systems. Nevertheless, the spherical HOE lacks sufficient modulation capability to constrain off-axis aberration, which weakens the competitiveness of the HOE scheme. This paper designs and fabricates HOE with arbitrary phase distributions to correct aberrations and improve the imaging quality of AR display systems. A hybrid optimization algorithm that integrates global and local algorithms is developed to achieve large-scale search and stable convergence. A HOE design framework with a hybrid optimization algorithm as the core, considering application requirements and process constraints, is constructed. HOE with arbitrary phase distributions is designed by the framework to suppress aberrations. The samples are fabricated by a self-made holographic printer according to the design results, and an AR display system prototype is built based on the HOE sample. The distortion, as an imaging indicator, is reduced by 84.9% and 72%, respectively, in the design and experiment after optimization. The high flexibility and performance brought by arbitrary phase distribution will enhance the attractiveness of HOE schemes to AR display systems.