US3609707A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for generating three-dimensional patterns
Assignee: Battelle Development Corp
•
Filing: 1968-12-09
•
Granted: 1971-09-28
•
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. According to one aspect of the invention, 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. According to another aspect of the invention, materials used have a sharp threshold between their two discernible states wherein a single external radiation source of one range of wavelengths may have its intensity focused in preselected regions of the volume.
Inventors
- 👤 Jordan D Lewis
- 👤 Albert H Adelman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:16
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: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator, comprising: A volume of material having at least two discernibly different non-radiation 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 wavelength 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, and pattern generation means cooperatively associated with said volume of material for simultaneously applying controlled levels of radiation intensity within the first and second of said distinct wavelength ranges to generate a discernible spot at a preselected location within said volume of material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator, comprising: A volume of material having at least two discernibly different non-radiation 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 wavelength 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, and pattern generation means cooperatively associated with said volume of material for simultaneously applying controlled levels of radiation intensity within the first and second of said distinct wavelength ranges to generate a discernible spot at a preselected location within said volume of material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 1 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 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 2 wherein said pattern generation means includes means for bringing radiation within said first wavelength range to a focus at said preselected location within said volume of material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 3 wherein the pattern generation means additionally includes means for flooding with radiation of said second distinct wavelength range at least regions within the volume of material through which said radiation beam of the first wavelength range passes before reaching said preselected location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A pattern generator according to claim 4 wherein the pattern generation means additionally includes means for scanning said radiation of first and second wavelength ranges throughout the volume of material to form a succession of discernible spots.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 1 wherein said pattern generation means includes means to form and direct a beam of radiation within said first wavelength range to said preselected location within said volume of material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 6 wherein said beam within said first wavelength range is focused to its maximum intensity aT said preselected location within said volume of material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 6 wherein said pattern generation means additionally includes means for flooding with radiation of said second wavelength range at least portions of said volume of material through which said beam within said first wavelength range passes before reaching said predetermined location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 8 wherein said volume of material is further characterized by radiation absorption of said first wavelength range, which absorption is substantially greater in said material''s second state than in said material''s first state.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 8 wherein said volume of material is further characterized by radiation absorption of said first wavelength range, which absorption is substantially the same in said material''s second state as in said material''s first state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 1 wherein said material has at least two discernibly different states, said states being at least two discernibly different optical states.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 11 wherein said radiation intensity includes electromagnetic radiation intensity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 4 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 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 8 wherein said volume of material has at least two discernibly different states said states being at least two discernible optical states.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 1 wherein said volume of material includes a volume of photoreversible photochromic material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 15 wherein said first state is substantially optically clear.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
121 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 a darkened optical state to a substantially clear optical state by application of bleaching optical electromagnetic radiation within a second distinct band of wavelengths, and display means cooperatively associated with said volume of material for simultaneously applying to said volume radiation intensity of both darkening and bleaching radiation to generate a darkened spot at a preselected location within said volume.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
121 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 a darkened optical state to a substantially clear optical state by application of bleaching optical electromagnetic radiation within a second distinct band of wavelengths, and display means cooperatively associated with said volume of material for simultaneously applying to said volume radiation intensity of both darkening and bleaching radiation to generate a darkened spot at a preselected location within said volume.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 17 wherein said display means includes means to form and direct said darkening radiation in a beam to said preselected location within said volume of material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 18 wherein said display means additionally includes means to bring said beam of darkening radiation to a focus of maximum intensity at said preselected location.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 18 wherein said display means additionally includes means for flooding with bleaching radiation at least that portion of the volume of material through which said beam of darkening radiation passes prior to reaching said preselected location.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 20 wherein said volume of material exhibits greater absorption of the darkening radiation in said material''s darkened optical state than in said material''s clear optical state.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
60 words
A three-dimensional display system according to clam 20 wherein said display means additionally includes means to bring said beAm of darkening radiation to a focus of maximum intensity at said perselected location, and wherein said volume of material exhibits substantially the same radiation absorption to the darkening radiation in the material''s darkened optical state and the material''s clear optical state.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
60 words
A three-dimensional display system according to clam 20 wherein said display means additionally includes means to bring said beAm of darkening radiation to a focus of maximum intensity at said perselected location, and wherein said volume of material exhibits substantially the same radiation absorption to the darkening radiation in the material''s darkened optical state and the material''s clear optical state.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 20 wherein said display means includes additional means for flooding with bleaching radiation in regions beyond said preselected location through which said beam of darkening radiation passes.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 20 wherein said volume of material exhibits at least twice the absorption of darkening radiation in said material''s darkened optical state than in said material''s clear optical state.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 21 wherein said volume of material additionally exhibits to bleaching radiation substantially greater absorption in said material''s darkened optical state than in said material''s substantially clear optical state.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
85 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 17 wherein said display means includes means to focus said darkening radiation at said preselected location in a beam whose cross section is less in one direction than another direction approximately orthogonal thereto, and which further includes means for directing said bleaching radiation in the portions of said volume of material through which said darkening beam passes prior to reaching said preselected location in a manner to pass through said darkening radiation beam in said less cross-sectional dimension.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 17 wherein said volume is shaped with at least one curved surface oriented in a manner that the display to be viewed by an observer is presented through this curved surface.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
47 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 20 wherein said volume of material is substantially thinner in one dimension than in the other two dimensions and wherein said display means directs darkening radiation into the volume along a line passing through the thin dimension of said volume.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
98 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 17 wherein said display means includes; means for flooding bleaching radiation through something less than the full volume of material in a beam with sharp intensity cut off on at least one surface thereof, and means for directing a beam of darkening radiation through that portion of the volume of material flooded by said bleaching radiation flooding means to intersect with a surface of said bleaching radiation beam at which there is a sharp intensity cut off from within to without the beam, thereby forming a darkened spot at said intersection.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
42 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 29 which additionally comprises means for scanning said bleaching radiation beam and said darkening radiation beam cooperatively through the volume of material to form a series of darkened spots at a series of preselected locations.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 30 wherein said volume of photochromic material exhibits greater radiation absorption of said darkening radiation in said material''s darkened optical state than in said material''s clear optical state.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
63 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 18 wherein said volume of material has at least one spherical surface and wherein said means to form and direct said 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 36
Dependent Claim
47 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 18 wherein said means to form and direct said darkening radiation includes means for restricting the entry to said radiation into said volume through a surface thereof in A manner so that the beam''s axis is orthogonal with said surface.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
37 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 20 wherein said display means additionally includes means for flooding the entire volume with bleaching radiation of an intensity sufficient to bleach any prior display before forming a new display.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
122 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 a darkened optical state to a substantially clear optical state by application of bleaching optical electromagnetic radiation within a second distinct band of wavelengths, and display means cooperatively associated with said volume of material for simultaneously applying to said volume radiation intensity of both darkening and bleaching radiation to generate darkened spots in at least two preselected locations within said volume.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
122 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 a darkened optical state to a substantially clear optical state by application of bleaching optical electromagnetic radiation within a second distinct band of wavelengths, and display means cooperatively associated with said volume of material for simultaneously applying to said volume radiation intensity of both darkening and bleaching radiation to generate darkened spots in at least two preselected locations within said volume.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
39 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 35 wherein said display means includes means to form and direct simultaneously said darkening radiation in at least two beams to said at least two preselected locations within said volume of material.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
46 words
A three-dimensional display system according to claim 35 wherein said display means additionally includes means for flooding with bleaching radiation at least those portions of the volume of material through which said at least two beams of darkening radiation pass prior to reaching said preselected locations.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
141 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 a substantially clear optical state by application of bleaching radiation, comprising the steps of: scanning a bleaching radiation beam having a sharp intensity cut off at its trailing edge through at least a portion of said volume of material, and passing a darkening radiation beam through the volume of material flooded with the bleaching radiation beam to the trailing edge thereof, whereby darkened spots may be successively formed in various preselected locations within said volume where the darkening radiation beam intersects with the trailing edge of the bleaching radiation beam.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
141 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 a substantially clear optical state by application of bleaching radiation, comprising the steps of: scanning a bleaching radiation beam having a sharp intensity cut off at its trailing edge through at least a portion of said volume of material, and passing a darkening radiation beam through the volume of material flooded with the bleaching radiation beam to the trailing edge thereof, whereby darkened spots may be successively formed in various preselected locations within said volume where the darkening radiation beam intersects with the trailing edge of the bleaching radiation beam.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 38 wherein the step of passing a darkening radiation beam includes passing a narrow collimated darkening radiation beam through the volume of material flooded with the bleaching radiation beam to the trailing edge thereof.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 38 wherein the step of passing a darkening radiation beam includes the step of passing a darkening radiation beam which is focused to its maximum intensity at the intersection with the trailing edge of said bleaching radiation beam.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
74 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator, comprising; a volume of thermochromic material optically responsive to a rise in temperature and characterized by substantial optical clarity below a threshold temperature of said material, and means for raising said material''s temperature above said threshold level to cause a discernible optical change at a spot, including means for focusing a beam of electromagnetic radiation at said spot to an intensity that is a maximum within said volume of material.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
74 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator, comprising; a volume of thermochromic material optically responsive to a rise in temperature and characterized by substantial optical clarity below a threshold temperature of said material, and means for raising said material''s temperature above said threshold level to cause a discernible optical change at a spot, including means for focusing a beam of electromagnetic radiation at said spot to an intensity that is a maximum within said volume of material.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
32 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 41 wherein said thermochromic material exhibits a change in phase at said spot when said spot is raised from below to above said threshold temperature.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
35 words
A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 41 wherein saiD thermochromic material is additionally responsive to the lowering of temperature to return to its substantially clear state at a temperature lower than said threshold temperature.
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 |