US4879167A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Real time holographic filter using nonlinear optical materials
Assignee: Kaiser Optical Systems Inc
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Filing: 1987-08-25
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Granted: 1989-11-07
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Expires: 2007-08-25
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is an adaptive laser protection device which adaptively forms a reflection holographic optical element to reflect away incident laser radiation. The laser protection device includes a layer of a nonlinear optical material which has an index of refraction varying with light intensity, a transparent layer having a depth greater than the coherence length of the expected ambient illumination and less than the coherence length of the expected laser radiation, and a partially reflecting layer on the far surface of the transparent layer. Laser radiation incident on the laser protection device forms an interference pattern in the nonlinear optical material between directly incident light and light reflected from the partially reflecting layer. This interference pattern within the nonlinear optical material causes the formation of a holographic optical element due to varying indices of refractions. The geometry of the holographic optical element substantially reflects away the incident laser radiation protecting the user. The preferred embodiment includes a transparent substitute for supporting the device and an optical filter to limit incident light to a predetermined band.
Inventors
- 👤 Byung J. Chang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:23
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/20; G02B5/203; G02B5/32; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24942; Y10T428/2495; Y10T428/24967; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31551; Y10T428/31645; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/31935
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A laser protection device for protection against laser illumination having a coherence length exceeding a minimum expected coherence length, said laser protection device comprising: a layer of a nonlinear optical material having an index of refraction dependent upon light intensity; a layer of transparent optical material having a first surface disposed adjacent to said layer of nonlinear optical material and a second opposed surface, and having a thickness greater than the coherence length of the expected ambient light but less than the minimum expected coherence length of the laser illumination; and a partially reflecting layer disposed on said second surface of said layer of transparent optical material for partially reflecting and partially transmitting incident light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A laser protection device for protection against laser illumination having a coherence length exceeding a minimum expected coherence length, said laser protection device comprising: a layer of a nonlinear optical material having an index of refraction dependent upon light intensity; a layer of transparent optical material having a first surface disposed adjacent to said layer of nonlinear optical material and a second opposed surface, and having a thickness greater than the coherence length of the expected ambient light but less than the minimum expected coherence length of the laser illumination; and a partially reflecting layer disposed on said second surface of said layer of transparent optical material for partially reflecting and partially transmitting incident light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The laser protection device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a transparent substrate for supporting said layer of nonlinear optical material, said laser of transparent optical material and said partially reflecting layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The laser protection device as claimed in at least one optical filter layer disposed in a manner supported by said transparent substrate for blocking incident radiation outside a predetermined pass band.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The laser protection device as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said predetermined pass band of said optical filter layer includes wavelengths from approximately 400 nm to approximately 700 nm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The laser protection device as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said optical filter layer further includes at least one attenuation filter for blocking incident radiation within band of wavelengths around a corresponding center wavelength, said center wavelength and said band of wavelengths corresponding to the center wavelength and bandwidth of expected laser illumination.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The laser protection device as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said transparent substrate includes first and second opposed surfaces; said at least one optical filter layer includes a single optical filter layer disposed on said first surface of said transparent substrate; and said layer of nonlinear optical material is disposed on said second surface of said transparent substrate for support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The laser protection device as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said at least one optical filter layer includes a single optical filter layer having a first surface disposed on said first surface of said transparent substrate and a second opposed surface; and said layer of nonlinear optical material is disposed on said second surface of said optical filter layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
The laser protection device as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said transparent substrate includes a first surface; said layer of nonlinear optical material is disposed on said first surface of said transparent substrate; said partially reflecting layer includes a first surface disposed adjacent to said second surface of said layer of transparent optical material and a second opposed surface; and said at least one optical filter layer includes a single optical filter layer disposed on said second surface of said partially reflecting layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser protection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said layer of nonlinear optical material includes polydiacetylenes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
120 words
A laser protection device for protection against laser illumination having a coherence length exceeding a minimum coherence length, said laser protection device comprising: a layer of nonlinear optical material having an index of refraction dependent upon light intensity; an optical filter layer having a first surface disposed adjacent to said layer of nonlinear optical material and a second opposed surface, and having a thickness greater than the coherence length of the expected ambient light but less than the minimum expected coherence length of the laser illumination, for blocking incident radiation outside a predetermined pass band; and a partially reflecting layer disposed on said second surface of said layer of transparent optical material for partially reflecting and partially transmitting incident light.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
120 words
A laser protection device for protection against laser illumination having a coherence length exceeding a minimum coherence length, said laser protection device comprising: a layer of nonlinear optical material having an index of refraction dependent upon light intensity; an optical filter layer having a first surface disposed adjacent to said layer of nonlinear optical material and a second opposed surface, and having a thickness greater than the coherence length of the expected ambient light but less than the minimum expected coherence length of the laser illumination, for blocking incident radiation outside a predetermined pass band; and a partially reflecting layer disposed on said second surface of said layer of transparent optical material for partially reflecting and partially transmitting incident light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The laser protection device as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said predetermined pass band of said optical filter layer includes wavelengths from approximately 400 nm to approximately 700 nm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
132 words
A laser protection device for protection against laser illumination having a coherence length exceeding a minimum expected coherence length, said laser protection device comprising: a layer of transparent optical material having a first surface disposed adjacent to said layer of nonlinear optical material and a second opposed surface, and having a thickness greater than the coherence length of the expected ambient light but less than the minimum expected coherence length of the laser illumination; a partially reflecting layer disposed on said second surface of said layer of transparent optical material for partially reflecting and partially transmitting incident light; and a supporting optical filter layer for supporting said layer of nonlinear optical material, said layer of transparent optical material and said partially reflecting layer, for blocking incident radiation outside a predetermined pass band.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
132 words
A laser protection device for protection against laser illumination having a coherence length exceeding a minimum expected coherence length, said laser protection device comprising: a layer of transparent optical material having a first surface disposed adjacent to said layer of nonlinear optical material and a second opposed surface, and having a thickness greater than the coherence length of the expected ambient light but less than the minimum expected coherence length of the laser illumination; a partially reflecting layer disposed on said second surface of said layer of transparent optical material for partially reflecting and partially transmitting incident light; and a supporting optical filter layer for supporting said layer of nonlinear optical material, said layer of transparent optical material and said partially reflecting layer, for blocking incident radiation outside a predetermined pass band.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The laser protection device as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said predetermined pass band of said supporting optical filter layer includes wavelengths from approximately 400 nm to approximately 700 nm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4531809A
Cited
US4741962A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-11-06 | 1993-05-08 | 1993-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-06 | 1997-05-08 | 1997-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-06 | 2001-05-08 | 2001-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |