US3729249A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for large object interference pattern recording
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1968-07-12
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Granted: 1973-04-24
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Expires: 1988-07-12
Abstract
Abstract Interference pattern recording of large objects or scenes having dimensions exceeding the coherence lengths of available light sources is accomplished. The recording is performed by illuminating the storage medium with a plurality of reference beams all of which are collinear and the scattered radiation from the object. A path length difference not exceeding and preferably slightly less than the coherence length of the radiation sources is introduced into each successive reference beam.
Inventors
- 👤 M Habegger
- 👤 G Sincerbox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:27
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03H; G03H1/00; G03H1/04; G03H1/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of recording information as interference patterns in a storage medium, comprising interfering in the medium an information bearing beam of radiation from an object whose dimensions are greater than the coherence length of the radiation with more than two collinear and coextensive reference beams of radiation coherent with the information bearing beam, to form the patterns, each of the reference beams traversing differing optical path lengths so as to be relatively delayed with respect to one another to interfere in time sequence with different portions of the same information bearing beam.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of recording information as interference patterns in a storage medium, comprising interfering in the medium an information bearing beam of radiation from an object whose dimensions are greater than the coherence length of the radiation with more than two collinear and coextensive reference beams of radiation coherent with the information bearing beam, to form the patterns, each of the reference beams traversing differing optical path lengths so as to be relatively delayed with respect to one another to interfere in time sequence with different portions of the same information bearing beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the path length difference between each two successive reference beams is not greater than the coherence length of the radiation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the information bearing beam of radiation and the plurality of reference beams of radiation interfere from the same side of the recording medium to form holograms as the patterns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the information bearing beam of radiation and the plurality of reference beams of radiation interfere from opposite sides of the recording medium to form Lippmann holograms as the patterns.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of recording information as holograms in a storage medium, comprising interfering in the medium scattered radiation from an object whose dimensions are greater than the coherence length of the radiation with more than two collinear and coextensive reference beams of radiation coherent with the information bearing beam to form the holograms, each of the reference beams traversing differing optical path lengths so as to be relatively delayed with respect to one another to interfere in time sequence with different portions of the same scattered radiation.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of recording information as holograms in a storage medium, comprising interfering in the medium scattered radiation from an object whose dimensions are greater than the coherence length of the radiation with more than two collinear and coextensive reference beams of radiation coherent with the information bearing beam to form the holograms, each of the reference beams traversing differing optical path lengths so as to be relatively delayed with respect to one another to interfere in time sequence with different portions of the same scattered radiation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the path length difference between each two successive reference beams is not greater than the coherence length of the radiation, such that a hologram is formed by the interference of a reference beam and a portion of the scattered radiation, the interfering portion being scattered from a part of the object having dimensions substantially equal to the coherence length of the radiation.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of storing and reading out information stored as holograms in a storage medium, comprising directing a beam of coherent light at an object having dimensions greater than the coherence length of the light to form scattered radiation carrying information indicative of the dimensions of the object, forming more than two coextensive reference beams of coherent light collinear with respect to one another and having an optical path length difference between each two successive beams which does not exceed the coherence length of the light, effecting the time sequenced interference in the medium of each reference beam with a different portion of the same scattered light to form the holograms, each portion of the scattered light carrying information representing a part of the object having dimensions not exceeding the coherence length of the light, and directing a beam of light at the medium after processing it along an axis collinear with the axis of the reference beams to form an image of the entire object.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of storing and reading out information stored as holograms in a storage medium, comprising directing a beam of coherent light at an object having dimensions greater than the coherence length of the light to form scattered radiation carrying information indicative of the dimensions of the object, forming more than two coextensive reference beams of coherent light collinear with respect to one another and having an optical path length difference between each two successive beams which does not exceed the coherence length of the light, effecting the time sequenced interference in the medium of each reference beam with a different portion of the same scattered light to form the holograms, each portion of the scattered light carrying information representing a part of the object having dimensions not exceeding the coherence length of the light, and directing a beam of light at the medium after processing it along an axis collinear with the axis of the reference beams to form an image of the entire object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
116 words
Apparatus for storing information in the form of interference patterns in a stoRage medium, comprising a source of coherent radiation, means for directing a portion of the source radiation from said source at an object having dimensions greater than the coherence length of the radiation to provide scattered radiation carrying information indicative of the object at said medium, means for forming a plurality of collinear reference beams of coherent radiation from another portion of the source radiation for interference in time sequence at said medium with the scattered radiation to form the interference patterns, each successive two of said reference beams having a path length difference not greater than the coherence length of the source radiation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
Apparatus for storing information in the form of interference patterns in a stoRage medium, comprising a source of coherent radiation, means for directing a portion of the source radiation from said source at an object having dimensions greater than the coherence length of the radiation to provide scattered radiation carrying information indicative of the object at said medium, means for forming a plurality of collinear reference beams of coherent radiation from another portion of the source radiation for interference in time sequence at said medium with the scattered radiation to form the interference patterns, each successive two of said reference beams having a path length difference not greater than the coherence length of the source radiation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the forming means comprises means for accepting the other portion of the source radiation to form the plurality of reference beams and imparting differing predetermined delays to the beams, and means for collineating the delayed reference beams for interference with different portions of the scattered radiation from a common axis at the medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for accepting the other portion of source radiation and imparting differing delays comprises a Fabry-Perot cavity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for forming a hologram of an object comprising a source of a coherent light beam having an effective coherence length which is less than a dimension of said object; means for dividing said beam into a first section and a second section; means for projecting the first section of the beam onto said object; means for dividing the second section of the beam into a pair of components; means for recombining the pair of components of the second beam in a collinear relationship after they have passed through different path lengths; a photographic medium positioned to receive illumination reflected from said object; and means for projecting the second recombined section onto the photographic medium, whereby the first and second sections coherently interfere with each other at the photographic medium over a depth of field corresponding to points on the object separated by a distance greater than said coherence length.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for forming a hologram of an object comprising a source of a coherent light beam having an effective coherence length which is less than a dimension of said object; means for dividing said beam into a first section and a second section; means for projecting the first section of the beam onto said object; means for dividing the second section of the beam into a pair of components; means for recombining the pair of components of the second beam in a collinear relationship after they have passed through different path lengths; a photographic medium positioned to receive illumination reflected from said object; and means for projecting the second recombined section onto the photographic medium, whereby the first and second sections coherently interfere with each other at the photographic medium over a depth of field corresponding to points on the object separated by a distance greater than said coherence length.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the means for projecting the recombined second section of the beam onto the photographic medium comprises a lens.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
155 words
The method of forming a hologram of an object having a dimension which is greater than the effective coherence length of the light source, the method comprising simultaneously exposing a photographic plate to an object beam reflected from an object illuminated by a coherent light source and a reference beam from said coherent light source, said reference beam having a plurality of components each of which has traveled through a different path length from the coherent light source to the photographic plate and which are collinear with each other and have the same radius of curvature at the photographic plate, the components of the reference beam being passed through a lens which projects them on the photographic plate, whereby said beams coherently interfere with each other at the plate over a depth of field corresponding to points on the object separated by a distance greater than said coherence length, and developing the resultant photographic plate.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
155 words
The method of forming a hologram of an object having a dimension which is greater than the effective coherence length of the light source, the method comprising simultaneously exposing a photographic plate to an object beam reflected from an object illuminated by a coherent light source and a reference beam from said coherent light source, said reference beam having a plurality of components each of which has traveled through a different path length from the coherent light source to the photographic plate and which are collinear with each other and have the same radius of curvature at the photographic plate, the components of the reference beam being passed through a lens which projects them on the photographic plate, whereby said beams coherently interfere with each other at the plate over a depth of field corresponding to points on the object separated by a distance greater than said coherence length, and developing the resultant photographic plate.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
150 words
The method of forming a hologram of an object having a dimension which is greater than the effective coherence length of the light source, the method comprising simultaneously exposing a photographic plate to an object beam reflected from an object illuminated by a coherent light source and a reference beam from said coherent light source, said reference beam having two components each of which has traveled through a different path length from the coherent light source to the photographic plate and which are collinear with each other and have the same radius of curvature at the photographic plate, the difference between the path lengths being approximately the coherence length of the cohereNt light source, whereby said beams coherently interfere with each other at the plate over a depth of field corresponding to points on the object separated by a distance approximating said coherence length, and developing the resultant photographic plate.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
150 words
The method of forming a hologram of an object having a dimension which is greater than the effective coherence length of the light source, the method comprising simultaneously exposing a photographic plate to an object beam reflected from an object illuminated by a coherent light source and a reference beam from said coherent light source, said reference beam having two components each of which has traveled through a different path length from the coherent light source to the photographic plate and which are collinear with each other and have the same radius of curvature at the photographic plate, the difference between the path lengths being approximately the coherence length of the cohereNt light source, whereby said beams coherently interfere with each other at the plate over a depth of field corresponding to points on the object separated by a distance approximating said coherence length, and developing the resultant photographic plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3282148A
Cited
US3383460A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-23 | 1976-10-23 | 1977-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-23 | 1980-10-23 | 1981-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-23 | 1984-10-23 | 1985-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |