Optical detection system and method with spatial filtering

Claim 1

A method for retrieving at distinct detection planes a plurality of component record images stored on a record in superposition and in respective multiplication with a unique spatially periodic modulation, said method comprising: illuminating the record along a primary optical axis with a beam of light having at least partial coherence at the record; forming in a Fourier transform space a corresponding plurality of diffraction patterns of the record spatial frequencies each including a multiorder Dirac delta function array produced by a periodic modulation on the record convolved with the spectra of a different component record image; selectively passing through said transform space a diffracted order of each of said diffraction patterns to provide a plurality of information channels each containing a spatial frequency spectrum associated with a different one of said component record images; optically deflecting from points in the vicinity of said transform space the light constituting said transmitted diffracted order channels along secondary axes angled with respect to said primary optical axis; focusing the light constituting said diffracted order channels to reconstruct said component record images at distinct detection planes; and photodetecting the intensity distribution in each of said reconstructed images.

Claim 2

A method for retrieving at distinct detection planes a plurality of component record images stored on a record in superposition and in respective multiplication with a unique spatially periodic modulation, said method comprising: illuminating the record along a primary optical axis with a beam of light having at least partial coherence at the record; forming in a Fourier transform space a corresponding plurality of diffraction patterns of the record spatial frequencies each including a multiorder Dirac delta function array produced by a periodic modulation on the record convolved with the spectra of a different component record image; selectively passing through said transform space a diffracted order of each of said diffraction patterns to provide a plurality of information channels each containing a spatial frequency spectrum associated with a different one of said component record images; optically deflecting from points in the vicinity of said transform space the light constituting said transmitted diffracted order channels along secondary axes angled with respect to said primary optical axis; focusing the light constituting said diffracted order channels to reconstruct said component record images at distinct detection planes; and photodetecting the intensity distribution in each of said reconstructed images.

Claim 3

A method for detecting at distinct detection planes a plural number of distinct images from a record comprising superimposed images respectively multiplied with a unique spatially periodic modulation, said method comprising: illuminating the record along a primary optical axis with a beam of light having at least partial coherence at the record; forming in a Fourier transform space a diffraction pattern of the record spatial frequencies, including a Dirac delta function produced by a periodic modulation convolved with a first spectrum of record spatial frequencies; selectively passing through said transform space a diffracted order of said delta function pattern to provide an information channel containing said first spectrum of record spatial frequencies; selectively passing through said transform space the zeroth order of said diffraction pattern to provide an information channel containing a second spectrum of spatial frequencies; optically deflecting from a point in the vicinity of said transform space the light constituting at least one of said channels along a secondary axis angled with respect to said primary optical axis; focusing the light constituting said diffracted and zeroth order channels to erect detectable images at respective detection planes; and photodetecting the intensity distributions in each of said erected images.

Claim 4

A method for detecting at distinct detection planes a plural number of distinct images from a record comprising superimposed images respectively multiplied with a unique spatially periodic modulation, said method comprising: illuminating the record along a primary optical axis with a beam of light having at least partial coherence at the record; forming in a Fourier transform space a diffraction pattern of the record spatial frequencies, including a Dirac delta function produced by a periodic modulation convolved with a first spectrum of record spatial frequencies; selectively passing through said transform space a diffracted order of said delta function pattern to provide an information channel containing said first spectrum of record spatial frequencies; selectively passing through said transform space the zeroth order of said diffraction pattern to provide an information channel containing a second spectrum of spatial frequencies; optically deflecting from a point in the vicinity of said transform space the light constituting at least one of said channels along a secondary axis angled with respect to said primary optical axis; focusing the light constituting said diffracted and zeroth order channels to erect detectable images at respective detection planes; and photodetecting the intensity distributions in each of said erected images.

Claim 5

A method for individually retrieving at distinct detection planes a plurality of color separation images stored in superposition upon a colorless record in respective multiplication with a unique spatially periodic modulation for use in color television film reproduction, simultaneous color separation photography, or the like, comprising: illuminating the record with a beam of light having at least partial coherence at the record; forming in a Fourier transform space a corresponding plurality of diffraction patterns of the record spatial frequencies respectively associated with said superimposed images, each of said diffraction patterns having a common zeroth order location and being oriented in transform space along a diffraction axis related to the vectorial direction of the associated modulation; selectively passing through said transform space a diffracted order of each of said diffraction patterns to provide a plurality of information channels each containing a spatial frequency spectrum associated with a different one of said color separation images; selectively passing through said transform space said zeroth orders of said plurality of diffraction patterns to provide an information channel containing a sum of the spectra associated with said color separation images; optically deflecting from a point in the vicinity of said transform space the light constituting said transmitted diffracted orders along respective channel axes; forMing a focused image with the light in each of said diffracted and zeroth order channels at respective detection planes; and separately photodetecting the intensity distributions in each of said focused images.

Claim 6

A method for individually retrieving at distinct detection planes a plurality of color separation images stored in superposition upon a colorless record in respective multiplication with a unique spatially periodic modulation for use in color television film reproduction, simultaneous color separation photography, or the like, comprising: illuminating the record with a beam of light having at least partial coherence at the record; forming in a Fourier transform space a corresponding plurality of diffraction patterns of the record spatial frequencies respectively associated with said superimposed images, each of said diffraction patterns having a common zeroth order location and being oriented in transform space along a diffraction axis related to the vectorial direction of the associated modulation; selectively passing through said transform space a diffracted order of each of said diffraction patterns to provide a plurality of information channels each containing a spatial frequency spectrum associated with a different one of said color separation images; selectively passing through said transform space said zeroth orders of said plurality of diffraction patterns to provide an information channel containing a sum of the spectra associated with said color separation images; optically deflecting from a point in the vicinity of said transform space the light constituting said transmitted diffracted orders along respective channel axes; forMing a focused image with the light in each of said diffracted and zeroth order channels at respective detection planes; and separately photodetecting the intensity distributions in each of said focused images.

Claim 9

A method of color television film reproduction for enabling the televising of full color displays from a colorless record encoded with a plurality of superimposed color separation images multiplied, respectively, with a spatially periodic modulation of unique azimuthal orientation, said method comprising: illuminating the record with a beam of light having at least partial coherence at the record; forming in a Fourier transform space a corresponding plurality of diffraction patterns of the record spatial frequencies respectively associated with said superimposed images, each of said diffraction patterns having a common zeroth order location and being oriented in transform space along a diffraction axis related to the vectorial direction of the associated modulation; selectively passing through said transform space a diffracted order of each of said diffraction patterns to provide a plurality of information channels each containing a spatial frequency spectrum associated with a different one of said component record images; selectively passing through said transform space said common zeroth order of said plurality of diffraction patterns to provide an information channel containing a sum of the spectra associated with said component record images; optically deflecting from a point in the vicinity of said transform space the light constituting said transmitted diffracted orders along respective channel axes; focusing the light in said diffracted and zeroth order channels upon the screens of respective cathode ray pickup tubes; forming respective color separation electrical signals and a monochrome signal; and combining said signals to form a composite signal.

Claim 10

A method of color television film reproduction for enabling the televising of full color displays from a colorless record encoded with a plurality of superimposed color separation images multiplied, respectively, with a spatially periodic modulation of unique azimuthal orientation, said method comprising: illuminating the record with a beam of light having at least partial coherence at the record; forming in a Fourier transform space a corresponding plurality of diffraction patterns of the record spatial frequencies respectively associated with said superimposed images, each of said diffraction patterns having a common zeroth order location and being oriented in transform space along a diffraction axis related to the vectorial direction of the associated modulation; selectively passing through said transform space a diffracted order of each of said diffraction patterns to provide a plurality of information channels each containing a spatial frequency spectrum associated with a different one of said component record images; selectively passing through said transform space said common zeroth order of said plurality of diffraction patterns to provide an information channel containing a sum of the spectra associated with said component record images; optically deflecting from a point in the vicinity of said transform space the light constituting said transmitted diffracted orders along respective channel axes; focusing the light in said diffracted and zeroth order channels upon the screens of respective cathode ray pickup tubes; forming respective color separation electrical signals and a monochrome signal; and combining said signals to form a composite signal.

Claim 13

A system for retrieving at distinct detection planes a plurality of component record images stored on a record in superposition and in respective multiplication with a unique spatially periodic modulation, said system comprising: light source means for illuminating the record along a primary optical axis with a beam of light having at least partial coherence at the record; lens means for forming in a Fourier transform space a corresponding plurality of diffraction patterns of the record spatial frequencies including a multiorder Dirac delta function array produced by a periodic modulation convolved with the spectra of a different component record image; spatial filter means comprising a mask having an aperture for selectively passing through said transform space a diffracted order of each of said diffraction patterns to provide a plurality of information channels each containing a spatial frequency spectrum associated with a different one of said component record images; optical means for deflecting from points in the vicinity of said transform space the light constituting said transmitteD diffracted order channels along secondary axes angled with respect to said primary optical axis; lens means for focusing the light constituting said diffracted order channels to reconstruct said component record images at distinct detection planes; and photoresponsive means disposed at said detection planes for detecting the intensity distributions in each of said reconstructed images.

Claim 14

A system for retrieving at distinct detection planes a plurality of component record images stored on a record in superposition and in respective multiplication with a unique spatially periodic modulation, said system comprising: light source means for illuminating the record along a primary optical axis with a beam of light having at least partial coherence at the record; lens means for forming in a Fourier transform space a corresponding plurality of diffraction patterns of the record spatial frequencies including a multiorder Dirac delta function array produced by a periodic modulation convolved with the spectra of a different component record image; spatial filter means comprising a mask having an aperture for selectively passing through said transform space a diffracted order of each of said diffraction patterns to provide a plurality of information channels each containing a spatial frequency spectrum associated with a different one of said component record images; optical means for deflecting from points in the vicinity of said transform space the light constituting said transmitteD diffracted order channels along secondary axes angled with respect to said primary optical axis; lens means for focusing the light constituting said diffracted order channels to reconstruct said component record images at distinct detection planes; and photoresponsive means disposed at said detection planes for detecting the intensity distributions in each of said reconstructed images.

Claim 15

A system for detecting at distinct detection planes a plural number of distinct images from a record comprising superimposed images respectively multiplied with a unique spatially periodic modulation, said system comprising: light source means for illuminating the record along a primary optical axis with a beam of light having at least partial coherence at the record; lens means for forming in a Fourier transform space a diffraction pattern of the record spatial frequencies, including a Dirac delta function produced by a periodic modulation convolved with a first spectrum of record spatial frequencies; spatial filter means comprising a mask having an aperture therein for selectively passing through said transform space a diffracted order of said delta function pattern to provide an information channel containing said first spectrum of record spatial frequencies, said mask having another aperture therein for selectively passing through said transform space the zeroth order of said diffraction patterns to provide an information channel containing a second spectrum of spatial frequencies; optical means for deflecting from a point in the vicinity of said transform space the light constituting at least one of said channels along a secondary axis angled with respect to said primary optical axis; means for focusing the light constituting said diffracted and zeroth order channels to form reconstruction images at respective detection planes; and photoresponsive means disposed at each of said detection planes for separately detecting the intensity distributions in each of said reconstruction images.

Claim 16

A system for detecting at distinct detection planes a plural number of distinct images from a record comprising superimposed images respectively multiplied with a unique spatially periodic modulation, said system comprising: light source means for illuminating the record along a primary optical axis with a beam of light having at least partial coherence at the record; lens means for forming in a Fourier transform space a diffraction pattern of the record spatial frequencies, including a Dirac delta function produced by a periodic modulation convolved with a first spectrum of record spatial frequencies; spatial filter means comprising a mask having an aperture therein for selectively passing through said transform space a diffracted order of said delta function pattern to provide an information channel containing said first spectrum of record spatial frequencies, said mask having another aperture therein for selectively passing through said transform space the zeroth order of said diffraction patterns to provide an information channel containing a second spectrum of spatial frequencies; optical means for deflecting from a point in the vicinity of said transform space the light constituting at least one of said channels along a secondary axis angled with respect to said primary optical axis; means for focusing the light constituting said diffracted and zeroth order channels to form reconstruction images at respective detection planes; and photoresponsive means disposed at each of said detection planes for separately detecting the intensity distributions in each of said reconstruction images.

Claim 17

A system for color television film reproduction for enabling the televising of full color displays from a colorless film record encoded with a plurality of superimposed color separation images multiplied, respectively, with a spatially periodic modulation of unique azimuthal orientation, said system comprising: light source means for illuminating the record with a light source producing light having at least partial coherence at the record; lens means for forming in a Fourier transform space a corresponding plurality of diffraction patterns of the record spatial frequencies respectively associated with said superimposed images, each of said diffraction patterns having a common zeroth order location and being oriented in transform space along a diffraction axis related to the vectorial direction of the associated modulation; spatial filter means comprising a mask having an aperture therein for selectively passing through said transform space a diffracted order of each of said diffraction patterns to provide a plurality of information channels each containing a spatial frequency spectrum associated with a different one of said color separation images, said mask including an aperture for selectively passing through said transform space said zeroth orders of said plurality of diffraction patterns to provide an information channel containing a sum of the spectra associated with said color separation images; optical means for deflecting from a point in the vicinity of said transform space the light constituting said transmitted diffracted orders along respective channel axes; means including said lens means for forming a focused image of the light in said diffracted and zeroth order channels upon the screens of respective cathode ray pickup tubes; means for forming respective color separation electrical signals and a monochrome signal; and electronic matrixing means for combining said signals to form a coMposite signal.

Claim 18

A system for color television film reproduction for enabling the televising of full color displays from a colorless film record encoded with a plurality of superimposed color separation images multiplied, respectively, with a spatially periodic modulation of unique azimuthal orientation, said system comprising: light source means for illuminating the record with a light source producing light having at least partial coherence at the record; lens means for forming in a Fourier transform space a corresponding plurality of diffraction patterns of the record spatial frequencies respectively associated with said superimposed images, each of said diffraction patterns having a common zeroth order location and being oriented in transform space along a diffraction axis related to the vectorial direction of the associated modulation; spatial filter means comprising a mask having an aperture therein for selectively passing through said transform space a diffracted order of each of said diffraction patterns to provide a plurality of information channels each containing a spatial frequency spectrum associated with a different one of said color separation images, said mask including an aperture for selectively passing through said transform space said zeroth orders of said plurality of diffraction patterns to provide an information channel containing a sum of the spectra associated with said color separation images; optical means for deflecting from a point in the vicinity of said transform space the light constituting said transmitted diffracted orders along respective channel axes; means including said lens means for forming a focused image of the light in said diffracted and zeroth order channels upon the screens of respective cathode ray pickup tubes; means for forming respective color separation electrical signals and a monochrome signal; and electronic matrixing means for combining said signals to form a coMposite signal.