US3680943A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Holographic imaging having improved resolution and intensity by synthetically enlarging the aperture
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1970-12-22
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Granted: 1972-08-01
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Expires: 1990-12-22
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for constructing holograms in which reflective or refractive materials are used to recover normally lost object radiation to thereby produce higher spatial frequencies in the reconstructed image, enlarge the effective numeric aperture at relatively long object-to-hologram distances, and improve image resolution. Image intensity is also improved.
Inventors
- 👤 George D Ogden
- 👤 Albert D Tencza
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:17
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03H; G03H1/00; G03H1/04; G03H1/0402; G03H1/0404; G03H1/02; G03H1/041; G03H2001/0208; G03H2001/0216; G03H2223/00; G03H2223/24; G03H2227/00; G03H2227/05; G03H2240/00; G03H2240/50; G03H2240/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
Optical apparatus for constructing holograms of an object comprising: means for recording the impingement of incident radiation; means for directing a beam of radiation at said object to produce information-bearing rays of said object, certain of said rays propogating in a direction of incidence on said recording means and others of said rays propogating in a direction away from said recording means; means for directing a beam of reference radiation at said recording means having coherence with said object radiation for forming an interference pattern in conjunction with said incident information-bearing rays, said reference radiation being substantially parallel with said beam directed at said object; and means interposed between said object and said recording means for redirecting at least a portion of said others of said information-bearing rays toward said recording means for interference thereat with said reference beam, said redirecting means including a reflective member entirely surrounding said reference beam in planes normal to the direction of propogation of said reference beam and surrounding said information-bearing rays passing beyond said object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
Optical apparatus for constructing holograms of an object comprising: means for recording the impingement of incident radiation; means for directing a beam of radiation at said object to produce information-bearing rays of said object, certain of said rays propogating in a direction of incidence on said recording means and others of said rays propogating in a direction away from said recording means; means for directing a beam of reference radiation at said recording means having coherence with said object radiation for forming an interference pattern in conjunction with said incident information-bearing rays, said reference radiation being substantially parallel with said beam directed at said object; and means interposed between said object and said recording means for redirecting at least a portion of said others of said information-bearing rays toward said recording means for interference thereat with said reference beam, said redirecting means including a reflective member entirely surrounding said reference beam in planes normal to the direction of propogation of said reference beam and surrounding said information-bearing rays passing beyond said object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 further; including radiation diffusing means interposed between said object and the source of said radiation to randomly disperse the radiation prior to impingement on said object; and wherein said reflective member also redirects at least a portion of said others of said information-bearing rays by refraction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said recording means is attached to said member for establishing a fixed relationship therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said reflective surface of said member is curved to optimize the quantity of radiation redirected to said recording means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said redirecting means includes a member of homogenous material operable to redirect said nonimpinging information-bearing rays by both reflection and refraction.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
168 words
The method of constructing one or more images of an object comprising the steps of: directing a beam of radiant energy through a diffuser onto an object to produce information-bearing rays of said radiant energy proceeding in random directions; positioning a recording medium sensitive to said radiant energy in the path of a portion of said information-bearing rays for impingement thereby; directing reference radiation having coherence with said information-bearing rays for impingement therewith on said recording medium to produce a pattern with said reference beam being substantially parallel with said radiation directed at said diffuser; redirecting certain of said information-bearing rays for impingement on said medium which would otherwise not impinge, said redirection being done by encompassing said certain rays as a group with a reflective surface which also entirely surrounds said reference radiation in planes normal to the direction of propogation of said reference radiation, and illuminating said pattern of interference fringes with a beam of said reference radiation to holographically reconstruct an image of said object.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
168 words
The method of constructing one or more images of an object comprising the steps of: directing a beam of radiant energy through a diffuser onto an object to produce information-bearing rays of said radiant energy proceeding in random directions; positioning a recording medium sensitive to said radiant energy in the path of a portion of said information-bearing rays for impingement thereby; directing reference radiation having coherence with said information-bearing rays for impingement therewith on said recording medium to produce a pattern with said reference beam being substantially parallel with said radiation directed at said diffuser; redirecting certain of said information-bearing rays for impingement on said medium which would otherwise not impinge, said redirection being done by encompassing said certain rays as a group with a reflective surface which also entirely surrounds said reference radiation in planes normal to the direction of propogation of said reference radiation, and illuminating said pattern of interference fringes with a beam of said reference radiation to holographically reconstruct an image of said object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as described in claim 6 wherein said redirection of said certain rays is done by a combination of reflection and refraction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |