US3873181A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Infrared correlation method using thermochromics having a hysteresis property
Assignee: Advanced Technology Center Inc
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Filing: 1971-01-08
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1991-01-08
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are methods and apparatus for recording and reproducing optical information in thermochromic materials; exemplary materials are the ternary halides, ternary chalcogenides, and certain transition metal oxides. Also disclosed are optical data processing apparatus using long wavelength radiation, and devices utilizing techniques for quality control of semi-conductor device fabrication. Relatively compact optical correlators using infrared radiation and adapted to sort mail are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay S Chivian
- 👤 Dayton D Eden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:50
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06E; G06E3/00; G06E3/001; B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/28; B41M5/282; B41M5/283; G03; G03H; G03H1/00; G03H1/02; G03H1/0005; G03H2001/0066; G03H2222/00; G03H2222/10; G03H2222/16; G03H2224/00; G03H2224/06; G03H2240/00; G03H2240/20; G03H2240/21; G03H2240/22; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/90; Y10S430/00; Y10S430/165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
IN THE PROCESS OF COMPRISING OPTICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRST AND SECOND OBJECTS, THE STEPS OF: A. IN A THERMOCHROMIC FILM HAVING A REFLECTANCE HYSTERESIS LOOP ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE OVER A CERTAIN RANGE, ESTABLISHING SAID THERMOCHROMIC FILM AT A BIS TEMPERATURE IN THE HYSTERESIS LOOP, B. WITH INFRARED RADIATION, PRODUCING A HOLOGRAPHIC FRINGE PATTERN OF SAID FIRST OBJECT ON THE SURFACE OF THE THERMOCHROMIC FILM, THE WAVELENGTH BEING BOUNDED BY AN UPPER LIMIT WHICH IS NOT SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE SMALLEST SPATIAL DETAIL OF SAID OBJECT, AND BEING BOUNDED BY A LOWER LIMIT WHICH DOES NOT EXCEES TWO ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE LESS THAN THE SIZE OF SAID SMALLEST SPATIAL DETAIL, THE POWER OF SAID INFRARED RADIATION PRODUCING SAID HOLOGRAPHIC FRINGE PATTERN BEING ADEQUATE TO PERMIT ABSORPTION OF SUFFICIENT ENERGY TO CAUSE LOCALIZED TRANSITION IN THE FILM FROM ONE REFLECTANCE TO ABOTHER IN A PERIOD OF TIME THAT IS NOT APPRECIABLY GREATER THAN THE RATIO OF THE SQUARE OF A GIVEN DIFFUSION LENGTH AND THE FILM''S THERMAL DIFFUSIVILY, WHEREIN THE DIFFFUSION LENGTH IS ESTABLISHED BY THE RESOLUTION REQUIRED TO RECORD SAID HOLOGRAPHIC FRINGE PATTERN,
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
IN THE PROCESS OF COMPRISING OPTICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRST AND SECOND OBJECTS, THE STEPS OF: A. IN A THERMOCHROMIC FILM HAVING A REFLECTANCE HYSTERESIS LOOP ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE OVER A CERTAIN RANGE, ESTABLISHING SAID THERMOCHROMIC FILM AT A BIS TEMPERATURE IN THE HYSTERESIS LOOP, B. WITH INFRARED RADIATION, PRODUCING A HOLOGRAPHIC FRINGE PATTERN OF SAID FIRST OBJECT ON THE SURFACE OF THE THERMOCHROMIC FILM, THE WAVELENGTH BEING BOUNDED BY AN UPPER LIMIT WHICH IS NOT SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE SMALLEST SPATIAL DETAIL OF SAID OBJECT, AND BEING BOUNDED BY A LOWER LIMIT WHICH DOES NOT EXCEES TWO ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE LESS THAN THE SIZE OF SAID SMALLEST SPATIAL DETAIL, THE POWER OF SAID INFRARED RADIATION PRODUCING SAID HOLOGRAPHIC FRINGE PATTERN BEING ADEQUATE TO PERMIT ABSORPTION OF SUFFICIENT ENERGY TO CAUSE LOCALIZED TRANSITION IN THE FILM FROM ONE REFLECTANCE TO ABOTHER IN A PERIOD OF TIME THAT IS NOT APPRECIABLY GREATER THAN THE RATIO OF THE SQUARE OF A GIVEN DIFFUSION LENGTH AND THE FILM''S THERMAL DIFFUSIVILY, WHEREIN THE DIFFFUSION LENGTH IS ESTABLISHED BY THE RESOLUTION REQUIRED TO RECORD SAID HOLOGRAPHIC FRINGE PATTERN,
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the wavelength of the infrared radiation is between the range of about 4 to 6 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the first object comprises hard copy having smallest spatial details on the order of 30 microns, and the wavelength of the radiation used to produce the holographic fringe pattern is about 5 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the first object comprises semi-conductor material having smallest spatial details of interest which are on the order of ten microns, and the wavelength of the radiation used to produce the holographic fringe pattern is about 2 microns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
The process defined in claim 1 wherein said thermochromic film consists essentially of material selected from the group consisting of: a. material having the general formula M2M''X4 where M is Ag1 , Cu1 or Tl1 M'' is Hg2 or Cd2 , and X is a halide; b. material having the general formula MM''2X4 where M is zinc, cadmium or mercury, M'' is aluminum, gallium or indium, and X is sulphur, selenium or tellurium; and c. the vanadium oxides.
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) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |