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US3609706A
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Method and apparatus for generating three-dimensional patterns
Assignee: Battelle Development Corp
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Filing: 1968-12-09
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Granted: 1971-09-28
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Expires: 1988-12-09
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for generating patterns in a threedimensional volume of material having at least two discernible nonradiation emissive states and responsive to a selected level of radiant energy, such as heat or light, to pass between the discernible states. External radiation sources with distinct wavelength ranges are utilized to cause the material to pass from one discernible state to another in preselected regions of the volume.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur W Adamson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:17
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/04; G01S7/06; G01S7/20; G03; G03B; G03B21/00; G03B21/54; G03B21/56; G03B21/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator, comprising; a volume of material having at least two discernibly different nonradiation emissive states and responsive to radiation intensity within at least two distinct wavelength ranges, wherein said material passes from a first to a second of said states upon application of radiation within a first of said distinct wave length ranges, and wherein said material passes from the second to the first of said states upon application of radiation within a second of said distinct wavelength ranges, wherein said second state is defined as an initial state, means including a source of radiation within said first of said distinct wavelength ranges initially to pass the entire volume of material into said second of said states, means for directing a beam of radiation within said first of said distinct wavelength ranges to a preselected location within said volume while in said second state wherein a pattern is desired to be generated, and means for scanning said volume of material with radiation within said second of said distinct wavelength ranges with a radiation intensity appropriate to cause said volume of material to pass to its first state in regions surrounding said preselected location.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator, comprising; a volume of material having at least two discernibly different nonradiation emissive states and responsive to radiation intensity within at least two distinct wavelength ranges, wherein said material passes from a first to a second of said states upon application of radiation within a first of said distinct wave length ranges, and wherein said material passes from the second to the first of said states upon application of radiation within a second of said distinct wavelength ranges, wherein said second state is defined as an initial state, means including a source of radiation within said first of said distinct wavelength ranges initially to pass the entire volume of material into said second of said states, means for directing a beam of radiation within said first of said distinct wavelength ranges to a preselected location within said volume while in said second state wherein a pattern is desired to be generated, and means for scanning said volume of material with radiation within said second of said distinct wavelength ranges with a radiation intensity appropriate to cause said volume of material to pass to its first state in regions surrounding said preselected location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 1 wherein said volume of material is further characterized by radiation absorption of said first wavelength range which is substantially greater in said material''s first state than in said material''s second state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 2 which additionally comprises readout radiation means for illuminating the volume of material to detect the nonradiation emissive state of the preselected location within said volume of material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 3 wherein said means for directing a beam of radiation within said first wavelength range to a preselected location within said volume includes means for bringing radiation within the first wavelength range to a focus at said preselected location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 1 wherein said material having at least two discernibly different states includes material having at least two discernibly different optical states.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 5 wherein said radiation intensity includes electromagnetic radiation intensity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 2 wherein said volume of material having at least two discernibly different states includes a volume of material having at least two discernibly different optical states.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
161 words
A three-diemnsional display system, comprising; a volume of photoreversible photochromic material having at least two discernibly different optical states wherein said material may be caused to pass from a substantially clear optical state to a darkened optical state by application of darkening optical electromagnetic radiation within a first range of wavelengths, and wherein said material may be caused to pass from the darkened optical state to the substantially clear optical state by application of bleaching optical electromagnetic radiation within a second distinct band of wavelengths, means for directing a beam of darkening radiation through regions of material initially in said darkened optical state to a preselected location within said volume wherein said volume is to remain in its darkened state, and means for scanning said volume of material with bleaching radiation in a manner to cause said volume to pass into its substantially clear optical state in regions surrounding said preselected location, whereby a display becomes discernible at said preselected location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
161 words
A three-diemnsional display system, comprising; a volume of photoreversible photochromic material having at least two discernibly different optical states wherein said material may be caused to pass from a substantially clear optical state to a darkened optical state by application of darkening optical electromagnetic radiation within a first range of wavelengths, and wherein said material may be caused to pass from the darkened optical state to the substantially clear optical state by application of bleaching optical electromagnetic radiation within a second distinct band of wavelengths, means for directing a beam of darkening radiation through regions of material initially in said darkened optical state to a preselected location within said volume wherein said volume is to remain in its darkened state, and means for scanning said volume of material with bleaching radiation in a manner to cause said volume to pass into its substantially clear optical state in regions surrounding said preselected location, whereby a display becomes discernible at said preselected location.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 8 which additionally comprises means for flooding said volume with darkening radiation to cause substantially all said material to pass into its darkened state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 8 wherein said material is additionally characterized by absorption to said darkening radiation which is substantially greater in said material''s substantially clear optical state than in said material''s darkened optical state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 8 which additionally include means for scanning said darkening radiation means and said bleaching radiation means through said volume of material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 8 wherein said volume of material has at least one spherical surface and wherein said means for directing a beam of darkening radiation additionally includes means for directing a narrow collimated darkening radiation beam into said volume of material through said spherical surface, said means for directing being rotatable about the spherical surface''s center of curvature.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
172 words
A three-dimensional display system, comprising; a volume of photoreversible photochromic material having at least two discernibly different optical states wherein said material may be caused to pass from a substantially clear optical state to a darkened optical state by application of darkening optical electromagnetic radiation within a first range of wavelengths, and wherein said material may be caused to pass from the darkened optical state to the substantially clear optical state by application of bleaching optical electromagnetic radiation within a second distinct band of wavelengths, means for simultaneously directing at least two beams of darkening radiation through regions of material initially in said darkened optical state to at least two preselected locations within said volume wherein said volume is to remain in its darkened state, and means for scanning said volume of material with bleaching radiation in a manner to cause said volume to pass into its substantially clear optical state in regions surrounding said at least two preselected locations, whereby a display becomes discernible at said at least two preselected locations.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
172 words
A three-dimensional display system, comprising; a volume of photoreversible photochromic material having at least two discernibly different optical states wherein said material may be caused to pass from a substantially clear optical state to a darkened optical state by application of darkening optical electromagnetic radiation within a first range of wavelengths, and wherein said material may be caused to pass from the darkened optical state to the substantially clear optical state by application of bleaching optical electromagnetic radiation within a second distinct band of wavelengths, means for simultaneously directing at least two beams of darkening radiation through regions of material initially in said darkened optical state to at least two preselected locations within said volume wherein said volume is to remain in its darkened state, and means for scanning said volume of material with bleaching radiation in a manner to cause said volume to pass into its substantially clear optical state in regions surrounding said at least two preselected locations, whereby a display becomes discernible at said at least two preselected locations.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of generating a three-dimensional pattern within a volume of photoreversible photochromic material which may be caused to pass from a substantially clear optical state to a darkened optical state upon the application of darkening radiation and also which may be caused to pass from the darkened optical state into the substantially clear optical state by application of bleaching radiation, comprising the steps of: directing darkening radiation through regions of said volume of material in a darkened optical state to preselected locations within said volume wherein said material''s darkened state is to remain, and scanning bleaching radiation throughout said volume of material in a manner to bleach the volume of material into its substantially clear optical state in regions of the volume surrounding said preselected locations.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of generating a three-dimensional pattern within a volume of photoreversible photochromic material which may be caused to pass from a substantially clear optical state to a darkened optical state upon the application of darkening radiation and also which may be caused to pass from the darkened optical state into the substantially clear optical state by application of bleaching radiation, comprising the steps of: directing darkening radiation through regions of said volume of material in a darkened optical state to preselected locations within said volume wherein said material''s darkened state is to remain, and scanning bleaching radiation throughout said volume of material in a manner to bleach the volume of material into its substantially clear optical state in regions of the volume surrounding said preselected locations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method of generating a three-dimensional pattern according to claim 15 wherein the step of directing darkening radiation includes forming a beam of said radiation and directing the bEam into the volume through a surface thereof in a manner so the beam is orthogonal to said surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 10 wherein said means for scanning said volume with bleaching radiation includes at least one radiation source which produces a thin sheet of bleaching radiation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-27 | 1975-03-29 | 1975-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-27 | 1979-03-29 | 1979-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-27 | 1983-03-29 | 1983-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |