US3884553A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical display system with improved spectral efficiency
Assignee: Technical Operations Inc
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Filing: 1974-01-16
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1994-01-16
Abstract
Abstract An optical display system of the Fourier transform type for reconstructing spatial carrier modulated images using an off-axis light source to place a harmonic order diffraction spectrum on the system optical axis, in which the light source is composed of spectral components of differing wavelengths, a component of longer wavelength being displaced further from the axis than a component of shorter wavelength.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Michael Graser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:30
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/42; G02B27/4205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
354 words
In Fourier transform optical apparatus for reconstructing on an optical axis an image from a record of that image located on said axis and which bears spatially periodic modulation with a unique carrier having a unique orientation in the record and relative to said axis, using light source means displaced a fixed distance from said axis at a prescribed azimuthal angle about said axis relative to said orientation to illuminate the record with a beam of light at such a diffraction angle to said axis that n-th order diffracted light from said beam falls on said axis (n being an integer greater than zero), said apparatus including a spatial filter mask with an aperture located on said axis for passing said n-th order diffracted light while substantIally blocking zero-order light and light in diffraction orders other than said n-th order, for forming said image with said n-th order diffracted light, the improvement in light source means which comprises at least a first source of light in a first spectral range and a second source of light in a second spectral range that is different from said first spectral range, means locating said first source a first fixed distance from said axis at said azimuthal angle so as to illuminate the entire record with light in said first spectral range directed toward said axis at a first diffraction angle such that said unique carrier will diffract the light in said first spectral range so that only the n-th order diffracted light will pass through said aperture, means locating said second source a second fixed distance from said axis at said azimuthal angle so as to illuminate the entire record with light in said second spectral range directed toward said axis at a second diffraction angle such that said unique carrier will diffract the light in said second spectral range also so that only the n-th order diffracted light will pass through said aperture, and means to vary the relative intensities of said source or sources of light at the same azimuthal angle about said axis for controlling the effective color of light illuminating said image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
354 words
In Fourier transform optical apparatus for reconstructing on an optical axis an image from a record of that image located on said axis and which bears spatially periodic modulation with a unique carrier having a unique orientation in the record and relative to said axis, using light source means displaced a fixed distance from said axis at a prescribed azimuthal angle about said axis relative to said orientation to illuminate the record with a beam of light at such a diffraction angle to said axis that n-th order diffracted light from said beam falls on said axis (n being an integer greater than zero), said apparatus including a spatial filter mask with an aperture located on said axis for passing said n-th order diffracted light while substantIally blocking zero-order light and light in diffraction orders other than said n-th order, for forming said image with said n-th order diffracted light, the improvement in light source means which comprises at least a first source of light in a first spectral range and a second source of light in a second spectral range that is different from said first spectral range, means locating said first source a first fixed distance from said axis at said azimuthal angle so as to illuminate the entire record with light in said first spectral range directed toward said axis at a first diffraction angle such that said unique carrier will diffract the light in said first spectral range so that only the n-th order diffracted light will pass through said aperture, means locating said second source a second fixed distance from said axis at said azimuthal angle so as to illuminate the entire record with light in said second spectral range directed toward said axis at a second diffraction angle such that said unique carrier will diffract the light in said second spectral range also so that only the n-th order diffracted light will pass through said aperture, and means to vary the relative intensities of said source or sources of light at the same azimuthal angle about said axis for controlling the effective color of light illuminating said image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which each of said light sources has a crosssection that is substantially rectangular with its long sides each tangent to or substantially following an arc centered on said axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including in association with each light source a separately-controlled neutral density variable light attenuator for independently adjusting the intensity of the light that is available from each of said light sources.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including three light sources in which said light sources provide, respectively, red, green and blue light, the source of the red light being furthest from said axis and contiguous to the source of the green light, and the source of the blue light being nearest to said axis and contiguous to the source of the green light.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 including three light sources, in which said light sources provide, respectively, red, green and blue light, the source of red light being furthest from said axis and contiguous to the source of green light, and the source of blue light being nearest to said axis and contiguous to the source of green light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a separate optical light conductor means for each light source, each conductor having an input end for receiving light and an output end located in said apparatus to provide one of said light sources, said conductors being together side-by-side at their output ends, and being separated each from all the others at their input ends, a separate input of light optically coupled to each input end, and means to limit each of said separate inputs to a unique one of said spectral ranges.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 in which said output ends of said conductors are each substantially rectangular in cross section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 including three light sources, in which said light sources provide, respectively, red, green and blue light, the output end of the green-light conductor being located between the output ends of the red-light conductor and the blue-light conductor, said output ends being arrayed on a radius extending from said axis at said azimuthal angle, the output end for blue light being nearest to said axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 including between each of said input ends and its source of light input a separately-controllable neutral density variable light attenuator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means supplying white light, means to divide said white light into spectral components, each component, respectively, being light in one of said spectral rangeS, and means providing the light of one component in the location of the spectrally-corresponding one of said light sources.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 including means supplying white light, means to divide said white light into spectral components of which each component, respectively, is light in one of said spectral ranges, and means to couple each of said components as one of said separate inputs to a unique one of said input ends.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
In an apparatus according to claim 1, a pair of said first sources diametrically-opposed about and equi-distant from said axis, and a pair of said second sources diametrically-opposed about and equidistant from said axis, so as to provide in each spectral range two similar light beams incident to said axis, one at said azimuthal angle and the other 180* therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each of said sources is substantially rectangular with its long sides each tangent to or substantially following an arc centered on said axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
157 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 comprising a separate optical light conductor means for each of said first and second light sources in each of said spectral ranges, each conductor having an input end for receiving light and an output end located in said apparatus to provide one of said light sources, a conductor for each of said light sources in one of said spectral ranges being together side-by-side at its output end with a conductor for each of said light sources in the other of said spectral range or ranges, said conductors for each of said spectral ranges being joined together at their input ends in a bundle that is physically separated from the bundles of input ends of conductors for the other spectral ranges, a separate input of light optically coupled to each of said bundles of input ends, and means to limit each of said separate inputs to a unique one of said spectral ranges.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 including a light monitor, and an additional fiber-optics light conductor extending between each of said bundles and said monitor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 including between each of said bundles and its source of light input a separately-controllable neutral density variable light attenuator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 including means supplying white light, optical means to divide said white light into spectral components, each component, respectively, being light in one of said spectral ranges, and means to couple each of said components as input to a unique one of said bundles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 including a plurality of light channels each composed of a pair of first and second light sources, each pair being located on a line that coincides with an azimuthal angle that is uniquely oriented about said axis, for illuminating a like plurality of periodic modulations in a record, each with light that is separately controllable in color and intensity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
188 words
Apparatus according to claim 18 comprising in each of said pairs of first and second light sources a separate optical light conductor means for each of said light sources, each conductor having an input end for receiving light and an output end located in said apparatus to provide one of said light sources, in each member of each pair in each channel a conductor for each of said light sources in one of said spectral ranges being together side-by-side at its output end with a conductor for each of said light sources in the other of said spectral range or ranges, said conductors for each of said spectral ranges in each channel being joined together at their input ends in a bundle that is physically separated from the bundles of input ends of conductors for the other spectral ranges in that channel and from the bundles of input ends of conductors for all other channels, a separate input of light optically coupled to each bundle of input ends, and means to limit each of said separate inputs in each channel to a unique one of said spectral components.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 including means supplying white light, a separate optical means in each of said channels to receive said white light and to divide the received white light into said spectral components for that channel, and means in each channel to couple each of said components as input to a unique one of said bundles in that channel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including an optical system for providing a plurality of spectrally-unique light components one in each of said respective spectral ranges, from a source of light having spectral bandwidth encompassing all of said components, means to direct light from such a source when present to spectral selection means for deriving said components from said source of light, means to direct each component on a unique path that is spatially separated from the paths of the remaining components, and means to supply the light of each component for use as one of said light sources in said Fourier transform optical apparatus.
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) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |