EP0275947A2
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EP
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Image enhancement for fiber optics transmission
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1988-01-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-01-16
Abstract
Abstract For enhancing images transmitted by flexible fiber optics bundles the image is spectrally dispersed by a holographic optical element (18) for fiber optics (12) transmission and spectrally recombined by a holographic optical element (20) after fiber optics transmission. The arrangement eliminates the reception of blank spots and fixed pattern noise due to broken fibers and optical fiber boundaries and improves resolution of images transmitted by fiber optics bundles (Fig. 1).
Inventors
- 👤 Justin G. Droessler
- 👤 Richard N. Mostrom
- 👤 Sherman S. Steadman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:36
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4298; G02B5/00; G02B5/32; G02B6/04; G02B6/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
An image enhancement apparatus (10,80,70) for a fiber optics image relay system, characterized by spectral dispersion means (22,18,19,88) for holographically converting source images into spectrally dispersed images for transmission through said fiber optics image relay system (12); and spectral recombination means (24,20,21,90) for holographically recombining said spectrally dispersed images from said fiber optics image relay system into said source images.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
An image enhancement apparatus (10,80,70) for a fiber optics image relay system, characterized by spectral dispersion means (22,18,19,88) for holographically converting source images into spectrally dispersed images for transmission through said fiber optics image relay system (12); and spectral recombination means (24,20,21,90) for holographically recombining said spectrally dispersed images from said fiber optics image relay system into said source images.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that said spectral dispersion means (22,18,19,88) and/or said spectral recombination means (24,20,21,90) comprises at least one holographic optical element HOE (18,19,88;20,21,90)
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 2, characterized by first holographic optical element means (22,18,19,88) for optically focusing source images and for converting said source images into spectrally dispersed images for transmission through said fiber optics image relay system (12); and second holographic optical element means (24,20,21,90) for recombining said spectrally dispersed images from said fiber optics image relay system, into said source images, and for optically collimating said source images for reception (28).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said holographic optical element means (18,88;20,90) comprises a diffraction grating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said spectral dispersion means (22,18,19,88) comprises two holographic diffraction gratings (18,19,88) for maintaining zero deviation of a center light beam during said spectral dispersion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1, 2 or 5, characterized in that said spectral recombination means (24,20,21,90) comprises two holographic diffraction gratings (20,21,90) for maintaining zero deviation of said center light beam during said spectral recombination.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that said spectral dispersion means (22,18,19) comprises an optical element (22) for focusing said source images.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 7, characterized in that said spectral recombination means (24,20,21) comprises an optical element (24) for collimating said recombined source image for reception.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said holographic optical dispersion means (88) comprises an optical means for focusing said image-forming light beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 9, characterized in that said holographic optical recombination means (90) comprises an optical means for collimating said recombined image-forming light beam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 2, characterized in that said first (18,19;88) and second (20,21,90) holographic optical elements are positioned differently relative to the orientation of said set of plurality of spectrally dispersed beams (39a,39b,39c), e.g. rotated by 180°, so that said second holographic optical means spectrally recombines said plurality of spectrally dispersed beams.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
170 words
An image transmission system comprising an apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by first holographic optical means (22,18,19,88) for dispersing an image-forming light beam (39) along a first singular optical path (40,42) into a set of plurality of spectrally dispersed beams (39a,39b,39c) along a first set of plurality of optical paths (43,44,45); a fiber optic bundle (12) having a plurality of optical fibers where said set of plurality of spectrally dispersed beams (39a,39b,39c) along said first set of plurality of optical paths (43,44,45) enters a first end (14) of said bundle and is transmitted through said bundle along a second set of plurality of optical paths (46,47,48), and exits from a second end (16) of said bundle to a third set of plurality of optical paths (49,50,51) and second holographic optical means (24,20,21,90) for recombining said set of plurality of spectrally dispersed beams from along said third set of plurality of optical paths (49,50,51) into said image-forming light beam (39) along a second singular optical path (52,53).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system of claim 12 comprising an apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that said first holographic optical element means (22,18,19,88) comprises at least two diffraction gratings (18,19,88) for spectral dispersion of said light beam (39) along said first singular optical path (40,42), such that a light beam (42) along a center optical path (44a) of said first set of plurality of optical paths, is parallel to said light beam along said first singular optical path (40,42).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
80 words
The system of claim 12 or 13 comprising an apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that said second holographic optical element means (24,20,21,90) comprises at least two diffraction gratings (20,21,90) for spectral recombination of said light beams along said third set of plurality of optical paths (49,50,51) wherein a light beam along a center optical path (50) of said third set of plurality of optical paths, is parallel to said light beam along said second singular optical path (52,53).
Claim 16
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of enhancing images in a fiber optics relay system, comprising the steps of: separating at least one image light beam into spectral components, by a first holographic means (18,19,88); transmitting said spectral components from said first holographic means through a fiber optics bundle (12); and combining said spectral components from said bundle into at least one said image light beam by a second holographic means (20,21,90).
Claim 17
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of enhancing images in a fiber optics relay system, comprising the steps of: separating at least one image light beam into spectral components, by a first holographic means (18,19,88); transmitting said spectral components from said first holographic means through a fiber optics bundle (12); and combining said spectral components from said bundle into at least one said image light beam by a second holographic means (20,21,90).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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