Patent US5227897A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5227897A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reproduction of holograms
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-05-04
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Granted: 1993-07-13
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Expires: 2010-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A multidimensional, visually readable, diffractive surface grating such as a hologram is reproduced by providing a master grating, generating a negative image plate from the master grating for insertion into a forming device, and replicating the master grating in plasticizable material in the forming device so as to provide a directly visually readable grating.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott R. Fohrman
- 👤 Steven L. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:12
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03H; G03H1/00; G03H1/02; G03H1/0276; G03H2001/0284
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A method for reproducing a multidimensional, diffractive surface grating, comprising: providing a master grating; generating an image plate from said master grating for insertion of said plate into a means for forming a flowing, settable material into a part so that the part incorporates a distortion free replication of structural characteristics of said master grating, said image plate including a negative image replication of said master grating and a support plate portion being generated directly on, and integral with a rear surface of said negative image replication for preserving the structure of said negative image replication to maintain the optical characteristics of said master grating replicated therein, said image plate being of sufficient thickness to withstand pressures of the nature exerted by an injection molding press without physically or optically distorting said negative image prior to and during replication in said means for forming the part, the part incorporating a replicate of said master grating for performing a specified optical function by virtue of the optical characteristics of the replicate grating; and injecting a flowing material into said means for forming which will flow over said image plate and subsequently set so as to provide a part incorporating a directly visually readable grating which is a reproduction of said master grating and which performs a specified optical function by virtue of optical characteristics of said reproduced grating.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
227 words
A method for reproducing a multidimensional, diffractive surface grating, comprising: providing a master grating; generating an image plate from said master grating for insertion of said plate into a means for forming a flowing, settable material into a part so that the part incorporates a distortion free replication of structural characteristics of said master grating, said image plate including a negative image replication of said master grating and a support plate portion being generated directly on, and integral with a rear surface of said negative image replication for preserving the structure of said negative image replication to maintain the optical characteristics of said master grating replicated therein, said image plate being of sufficient thickness to withstand pressures of the nature exerted by an injection molding press without physically or optically distorting said negative image prior to and during replication in said means for forming the part, the part incorporating a replicate of said master grating for performing a specified optical function by virtue of the optical characteristics of the replicate grating; and injecting a flowing material into said means for forming which will flow over said image plate and subsequently set so as to provide a part incorporating a directly visually readable grating which is a reproduction of said master grating and which performs a specified optical function by virtue of optical characteristics of said reproduced grating.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as defined in claim 1 further including providing a hologram for the master grating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as defined in claim 1 further including generating said plate by an electroless nickel process.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said negative image replication comprises liquid metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as defined in claim 1 further including employing an injection molding die for said forming means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as defined in claim 5 further including replicating said master grating by injection molding.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said part optically interacts with said readable grating to perform said specified optical function.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
267 words
A method for reproducing a multidimensional, diffractive surface grating, comprising: providing a holographic master grating on sheet material; coating said master grating with a layer of liquified metal; generating a plate on a rear surface of said coating to produce a negative image plate bearing a negative image of said master grating, said negative image plate including a negative image replication of said master grating and a support plate portion being generated directly on, and integral with a rear surface of said negative image replication, for preserving the structure of said negative image replication to maintain the optical characteristics of said master grating replicated therein, said plate being of sufficient thickness to withstand pressures of the nature exerted by an injection molding press without physically or optically distorting said image plate prior to and during replication in a means for forming a flowing, settable material into a part, the part incorporating a replicate of said master grating for performing a specified optical function by virtue of the optical characteristics of the replicate grating; separating said master grating from said plate; inserting said plate into said means for forming a flowing, settable material into a part so that the part incorporates a distortion free replication of structural characteristics of said master grating; and injecting a flowing material into said means for forming which will flow upon said image plate and subsequently set so as to provide a part incorporating a directly visually readable grating which is a reproduction of said master grating and which performs an optical, lens-like function by virtue of optical characteristics of said reproduced grating.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
267 words
A method for reproducing a multidimensional, diffractive surface grating, comprising: providing a holographic master grating on sheet material; coating said master grating with a layer of liquified metal; generating a plate on a rear surface of said coating to produce a negative image plate bearing a negative image of said master grating, said negative image plate including a negative image replication of said master grating and a support plate portion being generated directly on, and integral with a rear surface of said negative image replication, for preserving the structure of said negative image replication to maintain the optical characteristics of said master grating replicated therein, said plate being of sufficient thickness to withstand pressures of the nature exerted by an injection molding press without physically or optically distorting said image plate prior to and during replication in a means for forming a flowing, settable material into a part, the part incorporating a replicate of said master grating for performing a specified optical function by virtue of the optical characteristics of the replicate grating; separating said master grating from said plate; inserting said plate into said means for forming a flowing, settable material into a part so that the part incorporates a distortion free replication of structural characteristics of said master grating; and injecting a flowing material into said means for forming which will flow upon said image plate and subsequently set so as to provide a part incorporating a directly visually readable grating which is a reproduction of said master grating and which performs an optical, lens-like function by virtue of optical characteristics of said reproduced grating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
213 words
A multidimensional, diffractive surface grating produced by generating a negative image plate from a master grating for insertion into a means for forming a flowing, settable material into a part so that the part incorporates a distortion free replication of structural characteristics of said master grating, said negative image plate including a negative image replication of said master grating and a support plate portion being generated directly on, and integral with a rear surface of said negative image replication, for preserving the structure of said negative image replication to maintain the optical characteristics of said master grating replicated therein, said plate being of sufficient thickness to withstand pressures of the nature exerted by an injection molding press without physically or optically distorting said negative image prior to and during replication in said means for forming the part, the part incorporating a replicate of said master grating for performing a specified optical function by virtue of the optical characteristics of the replicate grating, and injecting a plasticizable material into said means for forming to flow upon said image plate so that when said material sets, said image is incorporated into a part produced simultaneously with said surface grating and which performs a specified optical function by virtue of the characteristics of said surface grating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
213 words
A multidimensional, diffractive surface grating produced by generating a negative image plate from a master grating for insertion into a means for forming a flowing, settable material into a part so that the part incorporates a distortion free replication of structural characteristics of said master grating, said negative image plate including a negative image replication of said master grating and a support plate portion being generated directly on, and integral with a rear surface of said negative image replication, for preserving the structure of said negative image replication to maintain the optical characteristics of said master grating replicated therein, said plate being of sufficient thickness to withstand pressures of the nature exerted by an injection molding press without physically or optically distorting said negative image prior to and during replication in said means for forming the part, the part incorporating a replicate of said master grating for performing a specified optical function by virtue of the optical characteristics of the replicate grating, and injecting a plasticizable material into said means for forming to flow upon said image plate so that when said material sets, said image is incorporated into a part produced simultaneously with said surface grating and which performs a specified optical function by virtue of the characteristics of said surface grating.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The surface grating as defined in claim 9 wherein said master grating is a hologram.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The diffractive surface grating as defined in claim 9 wherein said part optically interacts with said grating to perform said specified optical function.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
220 words
A method for reproducing a multidimensional, holographic optical element having a diffractive surface structure, comprising: providing a master surface relief holographic optical element; generating a negative image plate from said master element for insertion into a means for forming a flowing, settable material into a part so that the part incorporates a distortion free replication of structural characteristics of said master element, said negative image plate including a negative image replication of said master element and a support plate portion being generated directly on, and integral with a rear surface of said negative image plate, said plate being of sufficient thickness to withstand pressures of the nature exerted by an injection molding press without physically or optically distorting said holographic optical element prior to and during replication in said means for forming the part, the part incorporating a replicate of said master element for performing a specified optical function by virtue of the optical characteristics of the replicate grating; and injecting a plasticizable material into said means for forming which will flow upon said image plate and set so as to provide a directly visually readable, replicate holographic optical element in said part which replicates optical properties of said master surface relief holographic optical element for manipulating in a specified manner light which interacts with said replicate holographic optical element.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
220 words
A method for reproducing a multidimensional, holographic optical element having a diffractive surface structure, comprising: providing a master surface relief holographic optical element; generating a negative image plate from said master element for insertion into a means for forming a flowing, settable material into a part so that the part incorporates a distortion free replication of structural characteristics of said master element, said negative image plate including a negative image replication of said master element and a support plate portion being generated directly on, and integral with a rear surface of said negative image plate, said plate being of sufficient thickness to withstand pressures of the nature exerted by an injection molding press without physically or optically distorting said holographic optical element prior to and during replication in said means for forming the part, the part incorporating a replicate of said master element for performing a specified optical function by virtue of the optical characteristics of the replicate grating; and injecting a plasticizable material into said means for forming which will flow upon said image plate and set so as to provide a directly visually readable, replicate holographic optical element in said part which replicates optical properties of said master surface relief holographic optical element for manipulating in a specified manner light which interacts with said replicate holographic optical element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as defined in claim 12 wherein said holographic optical element is of the transmissive type.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as defined in claim 12 wherein said holographic optical element is provided with a reflective coating on a surface thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as defined in claim 12 wherein a plurality of multidimensional, visually readable, holographic optical elements are integrally replicated on a single base member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as defined in claim 12 wherein said part optically interacts with said readable grating to perform said specified optical function.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
215 words
A multidimensional, diffractive holographic optical element produced by generating a negative image plate from at least one master element for insertion into a means for forming a flowing, settable material into a part so that the part incorporates a distortion free replication of structural characteristics of said master element, said negative image plate including a negative image replication of said master element and a support plate portion being generated directly on, and integral with a rear surface of said negative image, for preserving the structure of said negative image replication to maintain the optical characteristics of said master element replicated therein, said plate being of sufficient thickness to withstand pressures of the nature exerted by an injection molding press without physically or optically distorting said negative image prior to and during replication in said means for forming the part, the part incorporating a replicate of said master element for performing a specified optical function by virtue of the optical characteristics of the replicate grating, and injecting a flowing plasticizable material into said means for forming which will flow upon said image plate and set to provide said part including a directly visually readable, replicate holographic optical element which replicates optical properties of said at least one master element for manipulating light in a specified manner.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
215 words
A multidimensional, diffractive holographic optical element produced by generating a negative image plate from at least one master element for insertion into a means for forming a flowing, settable material into a part so that the part incorporates a distortion free replication of structural characteristics of said master element, said negative image plate including a negative image replication of said master element and a support plate portion being generated directly on, and integral with a rear surface of said negative image, for preserving the structure of said negative image replication to maintain the optical characteristics of said master element replicated therein, said plate being of sufficient thickness to withstand pressures of the nature exerted by an injection molding press without physically or optically distorting said negative image prior to and during replication in said means for forming the part, the part incorporating a replicate of said master element for performing a specified optical function by virtue of the optical characteristics of the replicate grating, and injecting a flowing plasticizable material into said means for forming which will flow upon said image plate and set to provide said part including a directly visually readable, replicate holographic optical element which replicates optical properties of said at least one master element for manipulating light in a specified manner.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The element is defined in claim 17 wherein said replicate holographic optical element is of the transmissive type.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The element as defined in claim 17 wherein said replicate holographic optical element is provided with a reflective coating on a surface thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The element as defined in claim 17 wherein at least one of said replicated holographic optical elements is selectively provided with a reflective coating on a surface thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The element as defined in claim 17 wherein said part is configured to optically interact with said replicate holographic optical element to manipulate light in said specified manner.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-07-12 | 1997-01-11 | 1997-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-07-12 | 2001-01-11 | 2001-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-07-12 | 2005-01-11 | 2005-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |