Patent US3604777A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3604777A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Return beam holography
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1969-10-21
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Granted: 1971-09-14
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Expires: 1989-10-21
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for constructing and reconstructing a hologram, whereby the hologram is reconstructed upon the original image plane used in constructing the hologram, by use, in one embodiment, of a spherical mirror placed to reflect divergent light originally passing through the hologram, back through the hologram as convergent light. Included are liquid gate means for reducing reflection glare from the hologram onto the reconstructed image.
Inventors
- 👤 Einar S Mathisen
- 👤 Leonard S Sheiner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:01
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03H; G03H1/00; G03H1/04; G03H1/0402; G03H1/22; G03H1/2286; G03H1/0005; G03H2001/0094; G03H2001/0413; G03H1/2249; G03H2001/2252; G03H2001/226; G03H2001/2278; G03H2210/00; G03H2210/20; G03H2222/00; G03H2222/50; G03H2222/52; G03H2222/53; G03H2222/54; G03H2222/56; G03H2223/00; G03H2223/14; G03H2223/24; G03H2223/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of reconstructing a holographic image comprising: illuminating the front face of a hologram constructed with a first diverging reference beam with a second diverging reference beam; placing a spherical mirror opposite the backface of said hologram, said spherical mirror having the property of being aligned with said second diverging beam of light such that the radius of curvature of said spherical mirror is coincident with the origin of said second diverging beam of light; whereby diverging light passing through said hologram is reflected back from said spherical mirror as a converging beam back through said hologram, reconstructing the image from which said hologram was constructed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of reconstructing a holographic image comprising: illuminating the front face of a hologram constructed with a first diverging reference beam with a second diverging reference beam; placing a spherical mirror opposite the backface of said hologram, said spherical mirror having the property of being aligned with said second diverging beam of light such that the radius of curvature of said spherical mirror is coincident with the origin of said second diverging beam of light; whereby diverging light passing through said hologram is reflected back from said spherical mirror as a converging beam back through said hologram, reconstructing the image from which said hologram was constructed.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
216 words
A method of reconstructing a glare-free holographic image comprising: illuminating the front face of a hologram constructed with a first diverging reference beam with a second diverging reference beam; placing a spherical mirror opposite the backface of said hologram, said spherical mirror having the property of and being aligned with said second diverging beam of light such that the radius of curvature of said spherical mirror is coincident with the origin of said second diverging beam of light; placing a liquid gate means between said hologram and the origin of said diverging beam of light, comprising a spherical transparent surface having the property of and being aligned with said diverging beam of light such that the radius of curvature of that side of said spherical transparent surface nearest said origin point of said diverging beam of light is coincident with the origin of said diverging beam of light, said spherical transparent surface being of a size sufficient to intercept that area of light that passes through said hologram; filling the space between said spherical transparent surface and said spherical mirror with a medium having the same index of refraction as said spherical transparent surface; whereby light reflected from said spherical mirror back through said hologram reconstructs a glare-free real image from which said hologram was constructed.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
216 words
A method of reconstructing a glare-free holographic image comprising: illuminating the front face of a hologram constructed with a first diverging reference beam with a second diverging reference beam; placing a spherical mirror opposite the backface of said hologram, said spherical mirror having the property of and being aligned with said second diverging beam of light such that the radius of curvature of said spherical mirror is coincident with the origin of said second diverging beam of light; placing a liquid gate means between said hologram and the origin of said diverging beam of light, comprising a spherical transparent surface having the property of and being aligned with said diverging beam of light such that the radius of curvature of that side of said spherical transparent surface nearest said origin point of said diverging beam of light is coincident with the origin of said diverging beam of light, said spherical transparent surface being of a size sufficient to intercept that area of light that passes through said hologram; filling the space between said spherical transparent surface and said spherical mirror with a medium having the same index of refraction as said spherical transparent surface; whereby light reflected from said spherical mirror back through said hologram reconstructs a glare-free real image from which said hologram was constructed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said spherical mirror is of a size and is so located as to reflect back through said hologram the entire area of light originally passing through said hologram to said spherical mirror.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said spherical mirror is of a size and is so located as to reflect back through said hologram the entire area of light originally passing through said hologram to said spherical mirror.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
116 words
Apparatus for the reconstruction of a hologram comprising: a reference frame; first focusing means located along said frame for causing an incoming reference beam to become a diverging reference beam; a spherical mirror located along said frame, said spherical mirror having the property of and being aligned with said diverging reference beam such that the radius of curvature of said spherical mirror is coincident with the origin point of said diverging reference beam; and hologram-aligning means located along said frame for interposing a hologram between said diverging means and said spherical mirror, to reflect that part of said reference beam passing through the hologram back from said spherical mirror, through the hologram, as a conjugate beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
116 words
Apparatus for the reconstruction of a hologram comprising: a reference frame; first focusing means located along said frame for causing an incoming reference beam to become a diverging reference beam; a spherical mirror located along said frame, said spherical mirror having the property of and being aligned with said diverging reference beam such that the radius of curvature of said spherical mirror is coincident with the origin point of said diverging reference beam; and hologram-aligning means located along said frame for interposing a hologram between said diverging means and said spherical mirror, to reflect that part of said reference beam passing through the hologram back from said spherical mirror, through the hologram, as a conjugate beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
140 words
The apparatus of claim 5 including a liquid gate means located upon said frame between the origin point of said diverging reference beam and said hologram aligning means, comprising a spherical transparent surface having the property of and being aligned with said diverging reference beam such that the radius of curvature of said spherical transparent surface neareSt the origin point is coincident with the origin point, said spherical transparent surface being of a size sufficient to intercept that area of light that passes through the hologram, and containing means for containing a medium having the same index of refraction as said spherical transparent surface, located between and contacting at least said spherical transparent surface and said spherical mirror such that said spherical transparent surface and said spherical mirror comprise at least two of the containing walls of said containing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a medium of the same index of refraction as said spherical transparent surface is located within said containing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 5 including object holding means located at the real image plane of the reconstructed hologram for allowing the real image to be reconstructed thereon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
309 words
Apparatus for the construction and reconstruction of holograms comprising: a reference frame; a beam-splitting means located upon said frame to split an incoming beam of light to first and second focusing means located upon said frame, said first focusing means comprising means for converting said incoming beam of light to a diverging beam of light capable of illuminating a photographic recording surface located within the diverging beam of light by a photographic-holographic holding means attached to said frame; said second focusing means comprising means for illuminating the object to be holographed such that the diverging image of said object is capable of falling upon the photographic recording surface located by said photographic-holographic holding means, the object being located by master mask-holding means attached to said frame, the object plane being located outside of the diverging beam of light created by said first focusing means; intercept means attached to said frame to intercept and cut off incoming light to said second focusing means; a spherical mirror attached to mirror interposing means attached to said frame to interpose said spherical mirror at a position after said photographic-holographic holding means relative to the origin of the diverging beam of light, said spherical mirror having the property of and said mirror interposing means so aligned that when said mirror is interposed, its radius of curvature is coincident with the origin of said diverging light; and object-holding means located upon said frame to be interchangeable with said master masking-holding means, to allow a reconstructed hologram from a hologram originally made when said first and second focusing means and a photographic recording surface are utilized, to be reconstructed upon a viewing surface located by said object holding means when the photographic plate is developed into a hologram and positioned in said photographic-holographic holding means, said spherical mirror is interposed, and said intercept means are utilized.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
309 words
Apparatus for the construction and reconstruction of holograms comprising: a reference frame; a beam-splitting means located upon said frame to split an incoming beam of light to first and second focusing means located upon said frame, said first focusing means comprising means for converting said incoming beam of light to a diverging beam of light capable of illuminating a photographic recording surface located within the diverging beam of light by a photographic-holographic holding means attached to said frame; said second focusing means comprising means for illuminating the object to be holographed such that the diverging image of said object is capable of falling upon the photographic recording surface located by said photographic-holographic holding means, the object being located by master mask-holding means attached to said frame, the object plane being located outside of the diverging beam of light created by said first focusing means; intercept means attached to said frame to intercept and cut off incoming light to said second focusing means; a spherical mirror attached to mirror interposing means attached to said frame to interpose said spherical mirror at a position after said photographic-holographic holding means relative to the origin of the diverging beam of light, said spherical mirror having the property of and said mirror interposing means so aligned that when said mirror is interposed, its radius of curvature is coincident with the origin of said diverging light; and object-holding means located upon said frame to be interchangeable with said master masking-holding means, to allow a reconstructed hologram from a hologram originally made when said first and second focusing means and a photographic recording surface are utilized, to be reconstructed upon a viewing surface located by said object holding means when the photographic plate is developed into a hologram and positioned in said photographic-holographic holding means, said spherical mirror is interposed, and said intercept means are utilized.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 9 including liquid gate means, said liquid gate means being interposed into said diverging reference beam when said spherical mirror is interposed into said diverging reference beam.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of reconstructing a hologram onto the original object plane from which said hologram was constructed, comprising the steps of: placing said hologram in the original position occupied by the photosensitive surface which upon development became said hologram; illuminating the front face of said hologram with a diverging reference beam identical to the original diverging reference beam used in exposing the photosensitive surface which upon development became said hologram; and placing a spherical mirror opposite the backface of said hologram to reflect said diverging reference beam passing through said hologram back through said hologram as a converging beam, said spherical mirror having the property of and being aligned such that the radius of curvature of said spherical mirror is coincident with the origin point of sAid diverging reference beam.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of reconstructing a hologram onto the original object plane from which said hologram was constructed, comprising the steps of: placing said hologram in the original position occupied by the photosensitive surface which upon development became said hologram; illuminating the front face of said hologram with a diverging reference beam identical to the original diverging reference beam used in exposing the photosensitive surface which upon development became said hologram; and placing a spherical mirror opposite the backface of said hologram to reflect said diverging reference beam passing through said hologram back through said hologram as a converging beam, said spherical mirror having the property of and being aligned such that the radius of curvature of said spherical mirror is coincident with the origin point of sAid diverging reference beam.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of reconstructing a hologram onto the original object plane from which said hologram was constructed, comprising the steps of: placing said hologram in the original position occupied by the photosensitive surface which upon development became said hologram; illuminating the front face of said hologram with a reference beam identical to the original convergent reference beam used in exposing the photosensitive surface which upon development became said hologram; and placing a convex spherical mirror opposite the backface of said hologram, said mirror having the property of and being so aligned that the radius of curvature of said mirror is coincident with the focal point of said convergent reference beam so to reflect said reference beam back upon itself and thus back through said hologram as a conjugate beam; whereby said hologram is reconstructed upon the original object plane from which hologram was constructed.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of reconstructing a hologram onto the original object plane from which said hologram was constructed, comprising the steps of: placing said hologram in the original position occupied by the photosensitive surface which upon development became said hologram; illuminating the front face of said hologram with a reference beam identical to the original convergent reference beam used in exposing the photosensitive surface which upon development became said hologram; and placing a convex spherical mirror opposite the backface of said hologram, said mirror having the property of and being so aligned that the radius of curvature of said mirror is coincident with the focal point of said convergent reference beam so to reflect said reference beam back upon itself and thus back through said hologram as a conjugate beam; whereby said hologram is reconstructed upon the original object plane from which hologram was constructed.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of reconstructing a holographic image comprising: illuminating the front face of a hologram constructed with a first convergent reference beam with a second reference beam; placing a reflecting means opposite the backface of said hologram, wherein said reflecting means is a convex spherical mirror having the property of and being so aligned that the radius of curvature of said mirror is coincident with the focal point of said convergent reference beam so as to reflect said second reference beam back upon itself and thus back through said hologram as a conjugate beam; whereby said second reference beam is reflected from said reflecting means back through said hologram, reconstructing the image from which said hologram was constructed.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of reconstructing a holographic image comprising: illuminating the front face of a hologram constructed with a first convergent reference beam with a second reference beam; placing a reflecting means opposite the backface of said hologram, wherein said reflecting means is a convex spherical mirror having the property of and being so aligned that the radius of curvature of said mirror is coincident with the focal point of said convergent reference beam so as to reflect said second reference beam back upon itself and thus back through said hologram as a conjugate beam; whereby said second reference beam is reflected from said reflecting means back through said hologram, reconstructing the image from which said hologram was constructed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3514176A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-13 | 1975-03-15 | 1975-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-13 | 1979-03-15 | 1979-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-13 | 1983-03-15 | 1983-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |