Patent US3382532A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3841729A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3841729A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Data retrieval system
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1973-01-18
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1993-01-18
Abstract
Abstract Each piece of information has an address and is recorded in the form of a hologram at a different one of positions arranged in rows and columns on a memory surface. When irradiated with monochromatic light, each hologram emits beams of diffracted light in predetermined directions. The memory surface is disposed to be optically conjugated with an output surface. For those pieces of information fulfilling the requirements determined by a data mask disposed between both surfaces, the associated beams of diffracted light as passed through the data mask do not reach the conjugate positions on the output surface. Such positions have addresses being pursued. The hologram can be formed in the form of a multiple grating by embossing.
Inventors
- 👤 S Ando
- 👤 T Miyazawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:17
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C15/00; G11C13/00; G11C13/04; G11C13/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
342 words
A data retrieval system comprising, in combination: a. a planar recorDing medium having a plurality of diffraction means for diffracting light disposed thereon in a matrix of rows and columns, each of said diffraction means being illuminated in use by monochromatic light, each of said diffraction means representing an n-bit binary numer and each of said diffraction means diffracting siad monochromatic light incident thereon into n rays of monochromatic light wherein each of said n diffracted rays diffracted by each of said diffraction means is representative of one bit of said n-bit binary number; b. a planar opaque mask disposed parallel to said planar recording medium and receptive of said n diffracted rays of light diffracted by each of said diffraction means, each of said diffraction means having means diffracting rays representative of corresponding bit positions of said n-bit binary numbers in directions to strike said opaque mask in one of a pair of positions common to said rays representative of said corresponding bit positions wherein one of said pair of common positions corresponds to binary zero and the other of said common positions corresponds to binary one, said mask being provided with apertures disposed to allow at selected ones of said common positions diffracted rays incident at said apertures to pass through said mask thereby defining information to be retrieved by allowing diffracted rays representative of binary numbers having values defined by the positions of said apertures to pass through said opaque mask; c. optical focusing means focusing diffracted light rays passin through said apertures in said opaque mask to a plane optically conjugate to said planar recording medium, thereby establishing a one-to-one correspondence between said optically conjugate plane and said diffraction means on said planar recording medium; and d. optical readout means disposed in said conjugate plane in a matrix corresponding to said matrix of diffraction means on said recording medium for developing signals in response to diffracted rays of light incident thereon thereby indicating which of said diffraction means represents a binary number having said information to be retrieved.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
342 words
A data retrieval system comprising, in combination: a. a planar recorDing medium having a plurality of diffraction means for diffracting light disposed thereon in a matrix of rows and columns, each of said diffraction means being illuminated in use by monochromatic light, each of said diffraction means representing an n-bit binary numer and each of said diffraction means diffracting siad monochromatic light incident thereon into n rays of monochromatic light wherein each of said n diffracted rays diffracted by each of said diffraction means is representative of one bit of said n-bit binary number; b. a planar opaque mask disposed parallel to said planar recording medium and receptive of said n diffracted rays of light diffracted by each of said diffraction means, each of said diffraction means having means diffracting rays representative of corresponding bit positions of said n-bit binary numbers in directions to strike said opaque mask in one of a pair of positions common to said rays representative of said corresponding bit positions wherein one of said pair of common positions corresponds to binary zero and the other of said common positions corresponds to binary one, said mask being provided with apertures disposed to allow at selected ones of said common positions diffracted rays incident at said apertures to pass through said mask thereby defining information to be retrieved by allowing diffracted rays representative of binary numbers having values defined by the positions of said apertures to pass through said opaque mask; c. optical focusing means focusing diffracted light rays passin through said apertures in said opaque mask to a plane optically conjugate to said planar recording medium, thereby establishing a one-to-one correspondence between said optically conjugate plane and said diffraction means on said planar recording medium; and d. optical readout means disposed in said conjugate plane in a matrix corresponding to said matrix of diffraction means on said recording medium for developing signals in response to diffracted rays of light incident thereon thereby indicating which of said diffraction means represents a binary number having said information to be retrieved.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A data retrieval system according to claim 1 wherein said diffracted light incident on said mask has an amplitude distribution corresponding to a Fourier transformation of said light incident on said diffraction means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A data retrieval system according to claim 1 wherein said diffracted light incident on said mask has an amplitude distribution corresponding to a Fresnel transformation of said light incident on said diffraction means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A data retrieval system according to claim 1 wherein said recording medium comprises a tape, and further comprising means for advancing said tape-recording medium whereby said diffraction means disposed thereon are successively illuminated and the rays diffracted by said successively illuminated diffraction means are successively readout.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A data retrieval system according to claim 1 wherein each of said diffraction means is a hologram.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A data retrieval system according to claim 1 wherein each of said diffraction means comprises a plurality of diffraction gratings, each of said gratings having a unique spatial frequency and spatial orientation.
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) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |