Optical element system and method for amplifying image forming light rays

Claim 2

In an optical system for projecting amplified images of an object space, a projection lens for transferring light rays received from said object to an image space, light receiving means disposed in at least one image plane in said image space, a cell containing an organic dye for amplifying light received from said projection lens and for transferring said amplified rays into a well-defined position on said light receiving means, said cell being disposed in the path of said rays and adjacent to said lens, means for exciting said dye with light pulses having a duration sufficiently short compared to the build-up of any substantial amount of non-homogeneous effect in said dye during said pulse, said pulse serving to excite said dye to a state whereby each light ray is amplified by stimulated emission as it passes through said cell, said dye having a gain band width encompassing the frequency of said incoming light rays to be amplified and providing an amplified image which is projected onto said light receiving means in said image space.

Claim 3

An optical system as in claim 1 in which said dye cell is positioned substantially at the aperture stop of said projection lens whereby said substantially all rays projected by said lens from an element in object space fill the entire active volume of said dye at said stop.

Claim 4

An optical system as in claim 1 in which said dye cell contains at least two dyes having differing frequency responses for providing broad bandwidth of operation.

Claim 5

An optical system as in claim 3 in which said dyes are uniformly dispersed together in a common carrier.

Claim 6

An optical system as in claim 3 in which said dyes are positioned in mutually exclusive positions substantially within said aperture stop.

Claim 7

An optical system as in claim 1 in which light rays are received from a plurality of planes in object space and are transferred through said projection lens and optical element to a plurality of corresponding planes in image space to thereby create a three-dimensional image.

Claim 8

An optical element as in claim 1 wherein said dye cell includes a transparent walls containing said dye, said cell being constructed to eliminate regenerative reflections therein.

Claim 9

An optical element as in claim 7 wherein said cell in constructed with planar windows through which said rays pass, said windows being misaligned with respect to each other to prevent buildup of self-oscillation in said dye.

Claim 10

An optical element as in claim 1 wherein said dye is excited by laser pulses.

Claim 11

An optical element as in claim 1 wherein said pulses are introduced into said media generally transversely of the light ray bundle being amplified.

Claim 12

An optical system as in claim 1 in which said dye is selected from the group of xanthene dyes consisting of rhodamine 6C, rhodamine B and sodium fluorescein and of coumarin dyes including 4-methyl umbelliferone, dispersed in a liquid carrier solvent.

Claim 13

An optical element as in claim 1 in which liquid carrier solvent is selected from the group of alcohols including methanol, ethanol, propanol and blycerine; of water or deuterated water containing a dye dispersent detergent.

Claim 14

An optical element as in claim 1 in which said dye is dispersed in a gel.

Claim 15

An optical element as in claim 1 in which said dye is dispersed in a clear plastic.

Claim 16

An optical system for amplifying images from an illuminated object in object space, a first projection lens for transferring rays received from said object space into an image space, a second projection lens for receiving light from said first image space and for projecting the same into a second image space, first and second light amplifying cells containing oRganic dye for amplifying light received from each of said projection lenses, said first dye cell for amplifying light being positioned immediately following said first projection lens and said second optical element for amplifying light being positioned immediately following said second projection lens, each of said first and second optical elements for amplifying light comprising an optical element for amplifying light received from said projection lens, and serving to amplify light rays having the predetermined frequency content and for transferring and projecting said ray into a well-defined position in said image space, means for exciting each cell with light pulses having a duration sufficiently short compared to the buildup of any substantial amount of non-homogeneous effects in said media during said pulse, said pulses serving to excite said dye media to a state so that each light ray is amplified by stimulated emission as it passes through said media, said dye having a gain bandwidth encompassing the frequency of said incoming light ray to be amplified, the amplification of said light rays being divided between said amplifying cells while maintaining small active volume and large numerical aperture.

Claim 17

An optical system for amplifying images from an illuminated object in object space, a first projection lens for transferring rays received from said object space into an image space, a second projection lens for receiving light from said first image space and for projecting the same into a second image space, first and second light amplifying cells containing oRganic dye for amplifying light received from each of said projection lenses, said first dye cell for amplifying light being positioned immediately following said first projection lens and said second optical element for amplifying light being positioned immediately following said second projection lens, each of said first and second optical elements for amplifying light comprising an optical element for amplifying light received from said projection lens, and serving to amplify light rays having the predetermined frequency content and for transferring and projecting said ray into a well-defined position in said image space, means for exciting each cell with light pulses having a duration sufficiently short compared to the buildup of any substantial amount of non-homogeneous effects in said media during said pulse, said pulses serving to excite said dye media to a state so that each light ray is amplified by stimulated emission as it passes through said media, said dye having a gain bandwidth encompassing the frequency of said incoming light ray to be amplified, the amplification of said light rays being divided between said amplifying cells while maintaining small active volume and large numerical aperture.

Claim 18

An optical method for amplifying light rays received from an element of object space and having a predetermined color content in the visible, infrared, or ultraviolet portion of the spectrum and for transferring and projecting said ray into a well-defined position in an image space, the steps of passing said rays through an organic dye to amplify the same as it passes therethrough, exciting said dye with light pulses, having a duration short compared to the buildup of any substantial optical non-homogeneous effects, said pulses serving to excite said dye media into a state whereby said light ray is amplified by stimulated emission from said media, said dye having a gain bandwidth encompassing the frequency of said incoming light rays.

Claim 19

An optical method for amplifying light rays received from an element of object space and having a predetermined color content in the visible, infrared, or ultraviolet portion of the spectrum and for transferring and projecting said ray into a well-defined position in an image space, the steps of passing said rays through an organic dye to amplify the same as it passes therethrough, exciting said dye with light pulses, having a duration short compared to the buildup of any substantial optical non-homogeneous effects, said pulses serving to excite said dye media into a state whereby said light ray is amplified by stimulated emission from said media, said dye having a gain bandwidth encompassing the frequency of said incoming light rays.

Claim 20

An optical method as in claim 16 further including the steps of preventing any self-oscillation in said dye media.