Patent EP0240261A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0240261A2
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EP
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Diffraction grating color imaging
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1987-03-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-03-27
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for full-color reproduction of a continuous tone color picture or scene using multiple diffraction gratings. The reproduction consists of a plurality of small diffraction gratings (70). A plurality of color separation masks (60) are created for each unique scene. Those picture elements in the original scene containing a given primary color are captured in these transmission-type masks. In certain zones dictated by the separation masks, a plurality of interference pattterns are recorded in the properly photosensitized media (70). The spatial frequency of said interference patterns correlates to the primary color to be reproduced. These interference patterns become multiple diffraction gratings when properly developed. The properly photosensitized media may be used as a master for replication purposes. When either master or replica (78) are properly illuminated in white light (76) and properly viewed, the multiple diffraction gratings act to reproduce the colors in the original scene.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric B. Hochberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:04
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03C; G03C7/00; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/18; G02B5/1842
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of full color reproduction of continuous tone color pictures, images or scenes by the use of diffraction techniques comprising: illuminating (20) a color picture or scene (10) to be reproduced, separating (40) the reflected light from said picture or scene into its primary component colors, generating a color separation mask (60) representing primary color content in the original picture, image or scene, exposing (70) a photosensitive plate with a characteristic interference pattern for each component color through said individual separation masks to form latent multiple diffraction gratings on said photosensitive plate representative of the colors reflected from said picture, image or scene, and developing said plate so as to convert the latent interference patterns into surface relief patterns with multiple spatial frequencies which exhibit characteristic diffraction effects and thereby reproduce the original color image, picture or scene.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of full color reproduction of continuous tone color pictures, images or scenes by the use of diffraction techniques comprising: illuminating (20) a color picture or scene (10) to be reproduced, separating (40) the reflected light from said picture or scene into its primary component colors, generating a color separation mask (60) representing primary color content in the original picture, image or scene, exposing (70) a photosensitive plate with a characteristic interference pattern for each component color through said individual separation masks to form latent multiple diffraction gratings on said photosensitive plate representative of the colors reflected from said picture, image or scene, and developing said plate so as to convert the latent interference patterns into surface relief patterns with multiple spatial frequencies which exhibit characteristic diffraction effects and thereby reproduce the original color image, picture or scene.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method of full color reproduction as claimed in claim 1, comprising imaging (30) said separated component colors one at a time onto and thereby exposing a separate photosensitive film (60) for each component color, and previously covering each of said photosensitive films with an associated individual halftone contact screen (50), one for each component color, each of said films comprising individual separation masks, one for each component color corresponding to the primary component colors reflected from said picture or scene.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as set forth in Claim 1 or Claim 2, further comprising illuminating (20) said photosensitive plate with white light so as to reveal said color image by diffracted light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as set forth in Claim 3 further comprising placing said white light illumination source at a predetermined angle to said photosensitive plate, and viewing said light at a second predetermined angle so as to reveal the true colors in the original picture, image or scene.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
30 words
The method as set forth in any preceding claim, further including replicating said multiple diffraction grating by using said photosensitive plate as a master of said picture, image or scene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A multiple diffraction grating embodying an image of an original scene, comprising a plurality of halftone areas on a substrate (70), each of said halftone areas having at least one of a plurality of diffraction grating frequencies, such that the primary component colors in the original scene are reproduced when properly illuminated and viewed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A multiple diffraction grating embodying an image of an original scene, comprising a plurality of halftone areas on a substrate (70), each of said halftone areas having at least one of a plurality of diffraction grating frequencies, such that the primary component colors in the original scene are reproduced when properly illuminated and viewed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
The multiple diffraction grating as set forth in Claim 5 wherein said plurality of grating areas comprises a first pattern of diffraction grating areas with a first grating spatial frequency representative of a first primary color, a second pattern of diffraction grating areas with a second grating spatial frequency representative of a second primary color, and a third pattern of diffraction grating areas with a third grating spatial frequency representative of a third primary color.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The multiple diffraction grating as set forth in Claim 6 or 7, wherein said substrate comprises a photosensitive plate upon which the plurality of interference patterns have been recorded and developed to reveal said diffraction gratings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The multiple diffraction grating as set forth in any of Claims 6 to 9, wherein said substrate serves as a master for the purpose of making replicas of said multiple diffraction grating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for making a full color reproduction of continuous tone color pictures, images or scenes by the use of diffraction techniques comprising: means for illuminating (20) a color picture or scene (10) to be reproduced, means for separating (40) the reflected light from said picture or scene into its primary component colors, means for generating a color separation mask representing a primary color content in the original picture, image or scene, means for exposing a photosensitive plate (70) with a characteristic interference pattern for each component color through said individual separation masks (60) to form latent multiple diffraction gratings on said photosensitive plate representative of the colors reflected from said picture, image or scene, and means for developing said plate so as to convert the latent interference patterns into surface relief patterns with multiple spatial frequencies which exhibit characteristic diffraction effects and thereby reproduce the original color image, picture or scene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for making a full color reproduction of continuous tone color pictures, images or scenes by the use of diffraction techniques comprising: means for illuminating (20) a color picture or scene (10) to be reproduced, means for separating (40) the reflected light from said picture or scene into its primary component colors, means for generating a color separation mask representing a primary color content in the original picture, image or scene, means for exposing a photosensitive plate (70) with a characteristic interference pattern for each component color through said individual separation masks (60) to form latent multiple diffraction gratings on said photosensitive plate representative of the colors reflected from said picture, image or scene, and means for developing said plate so as to convert the latent interference patterns into surface relief patterns with multiple spatial frequencies which exhibit characteristic diffraction effects and thereby reproduce the original color image, picture or scene.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus for making a full color reproduction as claimed in claim 10, comprising means for imaging (30) said separated component colors one at a time onto and thereby exposing a separate photosensitive film (60) for each component color, and means for previously covering each of said photosensitive films with an associated individual halftone contact screen (50), one for each component color, each of said films comprising individual separation masks, one for each component color corresponding to the primary component colors reflected from said picture or scene.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus as set forth in Claim 10 further including means for illuminating said photosensitive plate means with white light (76) so as to reveal said color image by diffraction light reproduction, wherein said illuminating means is placed at a predetermined angle to said photosensitive plate means such that the true component colors in the original scene or picture will be reproduced when viewed at a second predetermined angle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
180 words
Apparatus for exposing a photosensitive plate with interference patterns in a configuration to allow for full color reproduction of a color picture or scene, comprising: monochromatic laser illumination means (48) for providing a beam of laser light at a wavelength capable of exposing said photosensitive plate (70), means for supporting said photosensitive plate and for placing said plate in a position to receive part of said laser light, mirrors means (62) in the path of laser light for reflecting part of said laser light toward said photosensitive plate, such that the light reaching said photosensitive plate is a pattern of light and dark regions resulting from the interference between the direct and reflected laser light beams, different separation mask means (50) for each primary color to be reproduced positioned in contact with said photosensitive plate, each of said mask means comprising transparent and opaque repeating patterns representative of the primary colors to be reproduced on said photosensitive plate, and means for changing the angle between the two interfering beams arriving at said plate through said separation masks and supporting means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
180 words
Apparatus for exposing a photosensitive plate with interference patterns in a configuration to allow for full color reproduction of a color picture or scene, comprising: monochromatic laser illumination means (48) for providing a beam of laser light at a wavelength capable of exposing said photosensitive plate (70), means for supporting said photosensitive plate and for placing said plate in a position to receive part of said laser light, mirrors means (62) in the path of laser light for reflecting part of said laser light toward said photosensitive plate, such that the light reaching said photosensitive plate is a pattern of light and dark regions resulting from the interference between the direct and reflected laser light beams, different separation mask means (50) for each primary color to be reproduced positioned in contact with said photosensitive plate, each of said mask means comprising transparent and opaque repeating patterns representative of the primary colors to be reproduced on said photosensitive plate, and means for changing the angle between the two interfering beams arriving at said plate through said separation masks and supporting means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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