Holographic desktop monitor

A projection monitor and a method of displaying an output image on a viewing screen of the monitor utilize a number of reconfigurable holographic optical elements (HOEs), allowing the components of the monitor to be physically arranged in a compact configuration. The reconfigurable HOEs may be designed to perform simple optical functions that are commonly associated with traditional optical devices, such as those performed by lenses, prisms and mirrors. However, the reconfigurable HOEs are also designed to perform sophisticated optical manipulations, such as varying the light intensity with respect to a specific direction. Each reconfigurable HOE includes a hologram that is sandwiched between two electrode layers. The hologram is a holographic photopolymeric film that has been combined with liquid crystal. The hologram has an optical property that changes in response to an applied electrical field. Preferably, the compact configuration of the monitor's components minimizes the required depth of the monitor, making the monitor ideally suited for desktop use. In a first embodiment, the monitor includes a mirror that reflects images projected from an image generator to a holographic reflector having reconfigurable HOEs. The holographic reflector operates to reflect and diffract the projected images to a viewing screen also having reconfigurable HOEs. The reconfigurable HOEs of the screen operate to diffuse the projected images in a predefined diffusion pattern. In a second embodiment, the image generator is positioned to project images directly to the holographic reflector, thereby eliminating the need for the mirror.