US3879989A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic holography
Assignee: Battelle Development Corp
•
Filing: 1966-08-03
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Granted: 1975-04-29
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Expires: 1986-08-03
Abstract
Abstract In a preferred embodiment disclosed, two ultrasonic beams interfere at a detecting surface capable of supporting standing waves, thereby generating an ultrasonic hologram. A reconstructing light illuminating beam is diffracted by the standing wave pattern of the hologram into at least one image carrying beam for viewing in real time or recordation as a permanent hologram for later viewing.
Inventors
- 👤 Byron B Brenden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:53
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; B; B26; B26B; B26B19/00; B26B19/38; B26B19/384; G03; G03H; G03H3/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90; Y10S359/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of producing three-dimensional images with ultrasonic energy comprising the steps of: a. directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy toward the surface of a liquid medium; b. positioning an object between the source of said first beam of ultrasonic energy and said surface; c. directing a second beam ultrasonic energy to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said surface to form an ultrasonic hologram, said first and second beams having substantially the same frequency; and d. reconstructing a three-dimensional image of said object from said ultrasonic hologram by illuminating said ultrasonic hologram with light and blocking off one first order diffracted beam and the zero order beam, said three-dimensional image being viewable in the remaining first order diffracted beam.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of producing three-dimensional images with ultrasonic energy comprising the steps of: a. directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy toward the surface of a liquid medium; b. positioning an object between the source of said first beam of ultrasonic energy and said surface; c. directing a second beam ultrasonic energy to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said surface to form an ultrasonic hologram, said first and second beams having substantially the same frequency; and d. reconstructing a three-dimensional image of said object from said ultrasonic hologram by illuminating said ultrasonic hologram with light and blocking off one first order diffracted beam and the zero order beam, said three-dimensional image being viewable in the remaining first order diffracted beam.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of producing a hologram comprising the steps of: a. directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy toward the surface of a liquid medium; b. positioning an object between the source of said first beam of ultrasonic energy and said surface; c. directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy to interfer with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said surface thereby generating a pattern of standing waves on said surface, said first and second beams having the same frequency; d. illuminating said pattern of standing waves with light; e directing the diffracted first order beams and the zero order beam reflected from said pattern of standing waves to a filter and filtering out the zero order beam; and f. focusing and recording said diffracted first order beams on film producing a hologram transparency.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of producing a hologram comprising the steps of: a. directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy toward the surface of a liquid medium; b. positioning an object between the source of said first beam of ultrasonic energy and said surface; c. directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy to interfer with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said surface thereby generating a pattern of standing waves on said surface, said first and second beams having the same frequency; d. illuminating said pattern of standing waves with light; e directing the diffracted first order beams and the zero order beam reflected from said pattern of standing waves to a filter and filtering out the zero order beam; and f. focusing and recording said diffracted first order beams on film producing a hologram transparency.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of producing three-dimensional images with ultrasonic energy comprising the steps of: a. directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy toward the surface of a liquid medium; b. positioning an object between the source of said first beam of ultrasonic energy and said surface; c. directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said surface thereby generating a pattern of standing waves on said surface, said first and second beams having the same frequency; d. recording said pattern of standing waves on film; and e. reconstructing a three-dimensional image of said object from the recorded pattern of standing waves by illuminating said recorded pattern of standIng waves with light and blocking off one first order diffracted beam and the zero order beam, said three-dimensional image appearing in the remaining first order beam.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of producing three-dimensional images with ultrasonic energy comprising the steps of: a. directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy toward the surface of a liquid medium; b. positioning an object between the source of said first beam of ultrasonic energy and said surface; c. directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said surface thereby generating a pattern of standing waves on said surface, said first and second beams having the same frequency; d. recording said pattern of standing waves on film; and e. reconstructing a three-dimensional image of said object from the recorded pattern of standing waves by illuminating said recorded pattern of standIng waves with light and blocking off one first order diffracted beam and the zero order beam, said three-dimensional image appearing in the remaining first order beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for producing three-dimensional images with ultrasonic energy comprising: a. means for generating ultrasonic energy beneath the surface of a liquid medium to produce a first beam of ultrasonic energy directed toward an object and thence toward the surface of the liquid medium; b. means for generating ultrasonic energy beneath the surface of the liquid medium for producing a second beam of ultrasonic energy directed to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at the surface of the liquid medium to produce a pattern of standing waves, the first and second beams having substantially the same frequency; c. a point light source directed to illuminate said pattern of standing waves; d. a lens positioned to bring the reflected light beams from the illuminated standing wave pattern to a point focus; and e. means for blocking out one focused first order beam and the focused zero order beam to permit observation of the three-dimensional image of the object in the unblocked first order beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for producing three-dimensional images with ultrasonic energy comprising: a. means for generating ultrasonic energy beneath the surface of a liquid medium to produce a first beam of ultrasonic energy directed toward an object and thence toward the surface of the liquid medium; b. means for generating ultrasonic energy beneath the surface of the liquid medium for producing a second beam of ultrasonic energy directed to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at the surface of the liquid medium to produce a pattern of standing waves, the first and second beams having substantially the same frequency; c. a point light source directed to illuminate said pattern of standing waves; d. a lens positioned to bring the reflected light beams from the illuminated standing wave pattern to a point focus; and e. means for blocking out one focused first order beam and the focused zero order beam to permit observation of the three-dimensional image of the object in the unblocked first order beam.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of producing a hologram comprising the steps of : a. directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy toward the interface of a first liquid medium and a second liquid medium, said second liquid medium being less dense and immiscible with said first liquid medium; b. positioning an object between the source of said first beam of ultrasonic energy and said interface; and c. directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said interface generating a standing wave pattern at said interface in the form of a hologram, said first and second beams having substantially the same frequency.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of producing a hologram comprising the steps of : a. directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy toward the interface of a first liquid medium and a second liquid medium, said second liquid medium being less dense and immiscible with said first liquid medium; b. positioning an object between the source of said first beam of ultrasonic energy and said interface; and c. directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said interface generating a standing wave pattern at said interface in the form of a hologram, said first and second beams having substantially the same frequency.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of producing a hologram in accordance with claim 5 wherein the first and second beams of ultrasonic energy are both maintained in said first liquid medium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of producing a hologram in accordance with claim 5 wherein the first and second beams of ultrasonic energy are both maintained in said second liquid medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of producing a hologram in accordance with claim 5 wherein the first and second beams of ultrasonic energy are maintained in different liquid mediums.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of produing a hologram in accordance with claim 5 wherein the first and second beams of ultrasonic energy are in different liquid mediums and the reflection of said first ans second ultrasonic beams from the interface are re-reflected toward the interface with ultrasonic reflectors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for producing ultrasonic holograms comprising: a. means for generating ultrasonic energy beneath the surface of liquid medium to produce a first beam of ultrasonic energy directed toward an object and thence toward the surface of the liquid medium; b. means for generating ultrasonic energy beneath the surface of the liquid medium for producing a second beam of ultrasonic energy directed to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at the surface of the liquid medium, the first and second beams having substantially the same frequency; and c. a detector immersed in the surface of said liquid medium and positioned to receive the interference maxima and minima of said two beams of ultrasonic energy producing a pattern of standing waves.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for producing ultrasonic holograms comprising: a. means for generating ultrasonic energy beneath the surface of liquid medium to produce a first beam of ultrasonic energy directed toward an object and thence toward the surface of the liquid medium; b. means for generating ultrasonic energy beneath the surface of the liquid medium for producing a second beam of ultrasonic energy directed to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at the surface of the liquid medium, the first and second beams having substantially the same frequency; and c. a detector immersed in the surface of said liquid medium and positioned to receive the interference maxima and minima of said two beams of ultrasonic energy producing a pattern of standing waves.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus for producing an ultrasonic hologram comprising: a. a liquid medium; b. a detector immersed in the surface of said liquid medium, said detector including a distortable liquid layer; c. a first transducer in said liquid medium positioned to direct a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object and thence to said distortable liquid layer; d. a second transducer in said liquid medium positioned to direct a second beam of ultrasonic energy to intersect said first beam at said distortAble liquid layer at an angle with respect to said first beam, said first and second beams having substantially the same frequency whereby the interference of said first beam of ultrasonic energy and said second beam of ultrasonic energy produces an ultrasonic interference pattern in said distortable liquid layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus for producing an ultrasonic hologram comprising: a. a liquid medium; b. a detector immersed in the surface of said liquid medium, said detector including a distortable liquid layer; c. a first transducer in said liquid medium positioned to direct a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object and thence to said distortable liquid layer; d. a second transducer in said liquid medium positioned to direct a second beam of ultrasonic energy to intersect said first beam at said distortAble liquid layer at an angle with respect to said first beam, said first and second beams having substantially the same frequency whereby the interference of said first beam of ultrasonic energy and said second beam of ultrasonic energy produces an ultrasonic interference pattern in said distortable liquid layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus for producing a hologram in accordance with claim 11 wherein said distortable liquid layer is a thin film of oil.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus for producing a hologram in accordance with claim 11 wherein said distortable liquid layer is a liquid crystal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus for producing a hologram in accordance with claim 11 wherein said distortable liquid layer is a thin film of liquid entrapped in part between a glass plate and a thin membrane.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of producing a hologram of an object with ultrasonic energy comprising the steps of: a. directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object and thence through a coupling medium to a hologram detecting plane responsive to ultrasonic energy; and b. directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy through a coupling medium to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said hologram detecting plane to form an ultrasonic hologram, said first and second beams having substantially the same frequency.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of producing a hologram of an object with ultrasonic energy comprising the steps of: a. directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object and thence through a coupling medium to a hologram detecting plane responsive to ultrasonic energy; and b. directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy through a coupling medium to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said hologram detecting plane to form an ultrasonic hologram, said first and second beams having substantially the same frequency.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of producing a hologram of an object with ultrasonic energy comprising the steps of: a. directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object positioned within a liquid medium, said beam then passing from the object to the surface of the liquid medium; and b. directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy to said surface of said liquid medium to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said surface to form an ultrasonic hologram, said first and second beams having substantially the same frequency;
Claim 25
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of producing a hologram of an object with ultrasonic energy comprising the steps of: a. directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object positioned within a liquid medium, said beam then passing from the object to the surface of the liquid medium; and b. directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy to said surface of said liquid medium to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said surface to form an ultrasonic hologram, said first and second beams having substantially the same frequency;
Claim 26
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of producing an ultrasonic hologram comprising the steps of: a. directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object and thence through a coupling medium to a hologram detectng surface; b. directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy through a coupling medium to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said hologram detecting surface thereby generating a pattern of standing waves on said detecting surface in the form of an ultrasonic hologram, said first and second beams having the same frequency; and c. recording said pattern of said standing waves.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of producing an ultrasonic hologram comprising the steps of: a. directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object and thence through a coupling medium to a hologram detectng surface; b. directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy through a coupling medium to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said hologram detecting surface thereby generating a pattern of standing waves on said detecting surface in the form of an ultrasonic hologram, said first and second beams having the same frequency; and c. recording said pattern of said standing waves.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of producing an ultrasonic hologram comprising the steps of: a. directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object positioned within a liquid medium, said beam then passing from the object to the surface of the liquid medium; b. directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy to said surface of said liquid medium to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said surface thereby generating a pattern of standing waves to form an ultrasonic hologram, said first and second beams having the same frequency; and c. recording said pattern of standing waves.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of producing an ultrasonic hologram comprising the steps of: a. directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object positioned within a liquid medium, said beam then passing from the object to the surface of the liquid medium; b. directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy to said surface of said liquid medium to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said surface thereby generating a pattern of standing waves to form an ultrasonic hologram, said first and second beams having the same frequency; and c. recording said pattern of standing waves.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of producing an ultrasonic hologram comprising the steps of: a. directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object positioned within a coupling medium; b. directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy through said coupling medium to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at an ultrasonic detecting plane after said first beam leaves said object to generate at said plane an interference pattern in the form of an ultrasonic hologram, said first and second beams having the same frequency; and c. recording said pattern.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of producing an ultrasonic hologram comprising the steps of: a. directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object positioned within a coupling medium; b. directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy through said coupling medium to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at an ultrasonic detecting plane after said first beam leaves said object to generate at said plane an interference pattern in the form of an ultrasonic hologram, said first and second beams having the same frequency; and c. recording said pattern.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of producing an image of an object with ultrasonic energy, comprising the steps of: directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object and thence through a coupling medium to a hologram detecting surface capable of supporting a standing wave; directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy through the coupling medium to Interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said hologram detecting surface to form a standing wave ultrasonic hologram, said first and second beams having substantially the same frequency; and concurrently illuminating the standing wave with light in a manner to produce various diffrated and undiffracted light beams including a desired image carrying diffracted beam.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of producing an image of an object with ultrasonic energy, comprising the steps of: directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object and thence through a coupling medium to a hologram detecting surface capable of supporting a standing wave; directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy through the coupling medium to Interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said hologram detecting surface to form a standing wave ultrasonic hologram, said first and second beams having substantially the same frequency; and concurrently illuminating the standing wave with light in a manner to produce various diffrated and undiffracted light beams including a desired image carrying diffracted beam.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 20 wherein the step of directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object includes passing said ultrasonic energy through said object and thence to a hologram detecting surface capable of supporting a standing wave.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 20 wherein the steps of directing first and second beams of ultrasonic energy include pulsing the generation of said beams.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 20 which comprises the additional step of separating said desired image carrying diffracted beam from the other of said various diffracted and undiffracted light beams.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 23 which comprises the additional steps of placing viewing optics in said desired image carrying diffracted beam and focusing said optics upon a three-dimensional image of said object.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 23 wherein the step of separating said desired image carrying beam from said various diffracted and undiffracted light beams includes bringing said diffracted and undiffracted light beams to focus at various points, and further includes blocking undesired diffracted and undiffracted light beams at their respective focal points while allowing said desired image carrying diffracted beam to pass.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 20 which comprises the additional step of blocking all light beams diffracted and undiffracted by the standing wave except for said desired image carrying diffracted beam.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of producing an optical image of an object as seen by ultrasonic energy, comprising the steps of: directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object within a coupling medium for modification thereby into an object-bearing beam; directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy through the coupling medium to intersect said object-bearing beam at an angle at an ultrasonic detecting surface, thereby generating an ultrasonic energy maxima and minima interference pattern across said surface common to both the object bearing and second ultrasonic beams, said first and second beams having substantially the same frequency; detecting the ultrasonic energy maxima and minima interference pattern; modulating reconstructing light with said detected pattern to produce various diffracted and undiffracted light beams including at least one desired image carrying beam; and separating said at least one desired image carrying beam from said various diffracted and undiffracted light beams.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of producing an optical image of an object as seen by ultrasonic energy, comprising the steps of: directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object within a coupling medium for modification thereby into an object-bearing beam; directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy through the coupling medium to intersect said object-bearing beam at an angle at an ultrasonic detecting surface, thereby generating an ultrasonic energy maxima and minima interference pattern across said surface common to both the object bearing and second ultrasonic beams, said first and second beams having substantially the same frequency; detecting the ultrasonic energy maxima and minima interference pattern; modulating reconstructing light with said detected pattern to produce various diffracted and undiffracted light beams including at least one desired image carrying beam; and separating said at least one desired image carrying beam from said various diffracted and undiffracted light beams.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 27 wherein the step of separating said at least one desired image carrying beam from said various diffracted and undiffracted light beams includes blocking all diffracted and undiffracted light beams except for said at least one desired image carrying beam.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of periodically producing an ultrasonic hologram, comprising the steps of: directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object within a coupling medium and thence to a hologram detecting surface capable of supporting a standing wave; directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy through the coupling medium to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said hologram detecting surface to form a standing wave ultrasonic hologram, said first and second beams having substantially the same frequency; and pulsing the generation of said first and second beams of ultrasonic energy with a time lapse between pulses short enough to make it appear to the human eye that the hologram is persistent.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of periodically producing an ultrasonic hologram, comprising the steps of: directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy to an object within a coupling medium and thence to a hologram detecting surface capable of supporting a standing wave; directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy through the coupling medium to interfere with said first beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle at said hologram detecting surface to form a standing wave ultrasonic hologram, said first and second beams having substantially the same frequency; and pulsing the generation of said first and second beams of ultrasonic energy with a time lapse between pulses short enough to make it appear to the human eye that the hologram is persistent.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of producing a hologram of an object, immersed in a liquid coupling medium, with ultrasonic energy comprising the steps of: directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy through the coupling medium to the object and thence through the coupling medium to a hologram detecting surface responsive to the ultrasonic energy, and directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy coherent with said first beam through the coupling medium to intersect said first beam at said hologram detecting surface at an angle with respect to said first beam, said second beam interfering with said first beam at said surface to form an ultrasonic hologram.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of producing a hologram of an object, immersed in a liquid coupling medium, with ultrasonic energy comprising the steps of: directing a first beam of ultrasonic energy through the coupling medium to the object and thence through the coupling medium to a hologram detecting surface responsive to the ultrasonic energy, and directing a second beam of ultrasonic energy coherent with said first beam through the coupling medium to intersect said first beam at said hologram detecting surface at an angle with respect to said first beam, said second beam interfering with said first beam at said surface to form an ultrasonic hologram.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of producing a hologram of an object according to claim 30 including the additional step of reconstructing an image of said object from said ultrasonic hologram.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of producing a hologram of an object according to claim 30 including the additional step of recording said ultrasonic hologram.
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) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |