Patent US5548418A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5548418A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Holographic structured light generator
Assignee: DCS Corp
•
Filing: 1995-09-12
•
Granted: 1996-08-20
•
Expires: 2015-09-12
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a holographic structured light generator (HSLG) for generating an array of an arbitrary number of laser beamlets from a single laser beam using a point laser light source and a hologram. In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, a hologram having an image of four point sources in a common plane is fabricated using four point sources as the object beam, and a reference beam. A reconstruction beam, aligned identically with respect to the hologram as was the reference beam during fabrication of the hologram, is then directed at the hologram, generating the array of laser beamlets from the four point sources in the hologram. In a primary application of the HSLG, it is used to map the surface of an object in three dimensions. The HSLG is used with video cameras, computer image processing equipment and an optical spatial light modulator to yield 3-D data for use with CAD systems.
Inventors
- 👤 Edwin S. Gaynor
- 👤 Michael S. Massimi
- 👤 William P. Blase
- 👤 Abraham Isser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:45
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/32; G03; G03H; G03H1/00; G03H1/04; G03H1/10; G03H1/12; G03H1/02; G03H2001/0208; G03H2001/0224; G03H1/0402; G03H2001/0428; G03H2001/0439; G03H1/22; G03H1/2202; G03H1/2205; G03H2001/2207; G03H2210/00; G03H2210/20; G03H2210/22; G03H2223/00; G03H2223/16; G03H2223/50; G03H2223/53; G03H2223/54; G03H2227/00; G03H2227/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 105
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
An apparatus for generating an array of electromagnetic beamlets comprising: (a) a hologram having an image of three phase-controlled point sources; (b) a reconstruction electromagnetic source producing a reconstruction beam; (c) means for directing the reconstruction beam at the hologram; and (d) means for aligning the reconstruction beam such that three phase-controlled beams are generated from the of the three phase-controlled point sources, said three phase-controlled beams overlapping each other and interfering with each other to produce an ordered array of electromagnetic beamlets, wherein the three point sources are located at the corners of a triangle in a common plane.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
An apparatus for generating an array of electromagnetic beamlets comprising: (a) a hologram having an image of three phase-controlled point sources; (b) a reconstruction electromagnetic source producing a reconstruction beam; (c) means for directing the reconstruction beam at the hologram; and (d) means for aligning the reconstruction beam such that three phase-controlled beams are generated from the of the three phase-controlled point sources, said three phase-controlled beams overlapping each other and interfering with each other to produce an ordered array of electromagnetic beamlets, wherein the three point sources are located at the corners of a triangle in a common plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hologram has been created by directing a reference beam derived from a creation laser source at a holographic medium, deriving three additional non-collimated phase-controlled laser beams from the creation laser source, directing the three additional non-collimated phase-controlled laser beams from a common plane towards the holographic medium, said three additional non-collimated phase controlled laser beams comprising an object beam, said object and reference beams combining at the holographic medium to form an interference pattern, said interference pattern being recorded as said hologram.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein, during creation of the hologram, the reference beam and the three additional non-collimated phase-controlled laser beams are derived from the creation laser source by means comprising at least two beamsplitters and a mirror.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein, during creation of the hologram, the reference beam and the three non-collimated phase-controlled laser beams are derived from the creation laser source by means comprising at least two fiber-optic beamsplitters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wavelength of the reconstruction laser source is the same as the wavelength of the creation laser source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wavelength of the reconstruction laser source is different from the wavelength of the creation laser source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for directing the reconstruction laser beam at the hologram comprises an optical fiber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hologram is generated by a computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the hologram is calculated from the interference of a first beam from a first source having a first wavelength and a second beam from a second source also having the first wavelength, said second beam comprising three phase-controlled beams, and the wavelength of the reconstruction source is the same as the first wavelength.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the hologram is calculated from the interference of a first beam from a first source having a first wavelength and a second beam from a second source also having the first wavelength, said second beam comprising three phase-controlled beams, and the wavelength of the reconstruction source is different from the first wavelength.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a spatial light modulator, said spatial light modulator positioned to modulate the beams in the ordered array of electromagnetic beamlets.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for generating an array of electromagnetic beamlets comprising: (a) directing a reference beam derived from a creation source at a holographic medium, said reference beam having a first orientation with respect to the holographic medium; (b) deriving three additional phase-controlled beams from the creation source; (c) directing the three additional phase-controlled beams towards the holographic medium, said three additional phase-controlled beams comprising an object beam, said object and reference beams combining at the holographic medium to form an interference pattern, said interference pattern being recorded as a hologram; (d) directing a reconstruction beam derived from a reconstruction source at the hologram; and (e) aligning the reconstruction beam such that it has the first orientation with respect to the hologram, thus generating three phase-controlled beams from the hologram, said phase-controlled beams overlapping each other and interfering with each other to produce the array of electromagnetic beams, wherein the three point sources are located at the corners of a triangle in a common plane.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for generating an array of electromagnetic beamlets comprising: (a) directing a reference beam derived from a creation source at a holographic medium, said reference beam having a first orientation with respect to the holographic medium; (b) deriving three additional phase-controlled beams from the creation source; (c) directing the three additional phase-controlled beams towards the holographic medium, said three additional phase-controlled beams comprising an object beam, said object and reference beams combining at the holographic medium to form an interference pattern, said interference pattern being recorded as a hologram; (d) directing a reconstruction beam derived from a reconstruction source at the hologram; and (e) aligning the reconstruction beam such that it has the first orientation with respect to the hologram, thus generating three phase-controlled beams from the hologram, said phase-controlled beams overlapping each other and interfering with each other to produce the array of electromagnetic beams, wherein the three point sources are located at the corners of a triangle in a common plane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the reconstruction beam is a laser beam directed at the hologram using an optical fiber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the reference beam and the three phase-controlled beams are laser beams derived from the creation source using at least one beamsplitter and a mirror.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the reference beam and the three additional phase-controlled beams are laser beams derived from the creation source using at least two fiber-optic beamsplitters.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 12, also comprising selecting the reconstruction source such that the wavelength of the reconstruction source is the same as the wavelength of the creation source.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 12, also comprising selecting the reconstruction source such that the wavelength of the reconstruction source is different from the wavelength of the creation source.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising modulating the array of beamlets using a spatial light modulator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
206 words
A three-dimensional imaging system comprising: (a) a hologram having a virtual image of a plurality of phase-controlled point sources; (b) a laser reconstruction source producing a reconstruction beam; (c) means for directing the reconstruction beam towards the hologram; (d) means for aligning the reconstruction beam with respect to the hologram such that the plurality of phase controlled beams is generated, said beams overlapping each other and interfering with each other produce an array of laser beamlets originating from the at least two sources is formed; (e) means for directing the array of laser beamlets along a first optical axis to a spatial light modulator; (f) means for modulating the laser beamlets in at least one spatial light modulator pattern and for directing the modulated laser beamlets at an object; (g) a video camera directed along a second optical axis at the object, wherein said second optical axis is not parallel to the first optical axis, said video camera recording a sequence of images of the array of laser beamlets reflected by the object ordered according to the sequence of spatial light modulator patterns; and (h) means for calculating a three dimensional image of the object from the sequence of images of the array of laser beamlets.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
206 words
A three-dimensional imaging system comprising: (a) a hologram having a virtual image of a plurality of phase-controlled point sources; (b) a laser reconstruction source producing a reconstruction beam; (c) means for directing the reconstruction beam towards the hologram; (d) means for aligning the reconstruction beam with respect to the hologram such that the plurality of phase controlled beams is generated, said beams overlapping each other and interfering with each other produce an array of laser beamlets originating from the at least two sources is formed; (e) means for directing the array of laser beamlets along a first optical axis to a spatial light modulator; (f) means for modulating the laser beamlets in at least one spatial light modulator pattern and for directing the modulated laser beamlets at an object; (g) a video camera directed along a second optical axis at the object, wherein said second optical axis is not parallel to the first optical axis, said video camera recording a sequence of images of the array of laser beamlets reflected by the object ordered according to the sequence of spatial light modulator patterns; and (h) means for calculating a three dimensional image of the object from the sequence of images of the array of laser beamlets.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The imaging system of claim 19, wherein the means for modulating the laser beamlets comprises means for modulating the laser beamlets in an ordered binary sequence.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
91 words
The imaging system of claim 19, wherein the hologram was created by directing a reference beam derived from a creation laser source at a holographic medium, deriving at least two phase-controlled additional laser beams from the creation laser source, directing the at least two additional phase-controlled laser beams from a common plane at the holographic medium, said at least two additional phase-controlled laser beams comprising an object beam, said object and reference beams combining at the holographic medium to form an interference pattern, said interference pattern being recorded as the hologram.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The imaging system of claim 21, wherein the wavelength of the creation laser source is the same as the wavelength of the reconstruction laser source.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The imaging system of claim 21, wherein the wavelength of the creation laser source is different from the wavelength of the reconstruction laser source.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The imaging system of claim 21, wherein the means for directing the reconstruction laser beam at the hologram comprises a optical fiber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The imaging system of claim 21, wherein the at least two additional phase-controlled laser beams are derived from the creation laser source by means comprising fiber-optic beamsplitters.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The imaging system of claim 21, wherein the at least two additional phase-controlled laser beams are derived from the creation laser source by means comprising optical fibers and beamsplitters.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The imaging system of claim 21, wherein the at least two phase-controlled point sources are three phase-controlled point sources located at the corners of a triangle in the common plane.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The imaging system of claim 19, wherein the at least two phase-controlled point sources are four phase-controlled point sources located at the corners of a rectangle in the common plane.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The imaging system of claim 19, wherein the hologram is generated by a computer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
172 words
A three-dimensional imaging system comprising: (a) a hologram having a virtual image of a plurality of phase-controlled point sources; (b) a reconstruction laser source producing a reconstruction beam; (c) means for directing the reconstruction laser beam at the hologram; (d) means for aligning the reconstruction beam with respect to the hologram such that the plurality of phase controlled beams are produced, said beams overlapping each other and interfering with each other to produce an array of laser beamlets; (e) means for directing the array of laser beamlets along a first optical axis at an object; (f) a video camera directed along a second optical axis at the object, wherein said second optical axis is not parallel to the first optical axis, said video camera comprising means for recording at least one coded image of the array of laser beamlets reflected by the object; and (g) means for calculating a three dimensional image of the object from the at least one coded image of the array of laser beamlets reflected by the object.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
172 words
A three-dimensional imaging system comprising: (a) a hologram having a virtual image of a plurality of phase-controlled point sources; (b) a reconstruction laser source producing a reconstruction beam; (c) means for directing the reconstruction laser beam at the hologram; (d) means for aligning the reconstruction beam with respect to the hologram such that the plurality of phase controlled beams are produced, said beams overlapping each other and interfering with each other to produce an array of laser beamlets; (e) means for directing the array of laser beamlets along a first optical axis at an object; (f) a video camera directed along a second optical axis at the object, wherein said second optical axis is not parallel to the first optical axis, said video camera comprising means for recording at least one coded image of the array of laser beamlets reflected by the object; and (g) means for calculating a three dimensional image of the object from the at least one coded image of the array of laser beamlets reflected by the object.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The three dimensional imaging system of claim 30, wherein the hologram is created using means comprising optical fibers.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
111 words
The three dimensional imaging system of claim 30, wherein the hologram was created by directing a spatially coded reference beam derived from a creation laser source at a holographic medium, deriving the plurality of additional phase-controlled laser beams from the creation laser source, directing the plurality of additional phase-controlled laser beams from a common plane at a coded spatial light modulator and then at the holographic medium, said plurality of additional phase-controlled laser beams comprising an object beam coded by the coded spatial light modulator, said coded object beam and coded reference beam combining at the holographic medium to form an interference pattern, said interference pattern being recorded as the hologram.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The three dimensional imaging system of claim 32, wherein the wavelength of the reconstruction laser source is the same as the wavelength of the creation laser source.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
The three dimensional imaging system of claim 32, wherein the wavelength of the reconstruction laser source is different from the wavelength of the creation laser source.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
The three dimensional imaging system of claim 32, wherein the plurality of additional phase-controlled laser beams are derived from the creation laser source, by means comprising optical fibers.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
31 words
The three dimensional imaging system of claim 30, wherein the hologram comprises a virtual image of three phase-controlled point sources located at the corners of a triangle in the common plane.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
32 words
The three dimensional imaging system of claim 36, wherein the hologram comprises a virtual image of four point phase-controlled point sources located at the corners of a rectangle in the common plane.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
The three dimensional imaging system of claim 30, wherein the hologram is generated by a computer.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
252 words
A method for obtaining a three dimensional image of an object comprising: (a) directing a reference beam derived from a creation laser source at a holographic medium; (b) deriving a first plurality of at least two additional phase-controlled beams from the creation laser source; (c) directing the first plurality of additional phase-controlled beams at the holographic medium from a common plane, said first plurality of additional phase-controlled beams combining with the reference beam at the holographic medium to form a hologram comprising a virtual image of the first plurality of phase-controlled point sources; (d) directing a reconstruction beam from a reconstruction laser source at the hologram comprising a virtual image of the first plurality of phase-controlled point sources, said reconstruction beam having the same orientation relative to the hologram as the reference beam had relative to the holographic medium, thereby generating a first plurality of phase-controlled laser beams, said phase controlled laser beams overlapping with each other and interfering with each other to produce an array of laser beamlets; (e) directing the array of laser beamlets at a spatial light modulator, and then directing the array of laser beamlets along a first optical axis at an object; (f) directing a video camera along a second optical axis at the object, said second optical axis being non-parallel to the first optical axis; (g) recording at least one image of the reflection of the array of laser beamlets; and (h) calculating a three dimensional image of the object from the at least one image.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
252 words
A method for obtaining a three dimensional image of an object comprising: (a) directing a reference beam derived from a creation laser source at a holographic medium; (b) deriving a first plurality of at least two additional phase-controlled beams from the creation laser source; (c) directing the first plurality of additional phase-controlled beams at the holographic medium from a common plane, said first plurality of additional phase-controlled beams combining with the reference beam at the holographic medium to form a hologram comprising a virtual image of the first plurality of phase-controlled point sources; (d) directing a reconstruction beam from a reconstruction laser source at the hologram comprising a virtual image of the first plurality of phase-controlled point sources, said reconstruction beam having the same orientation relative to the hologram as the reference beam had relative to the holographic medium, thereby generating a first plurality of phase-controlled laser beams, said phase controlled laser beams overlapping with each other and interfering with each other to produce an array of laser beamlets; (e) directing the array of laser beamlets at a spatial light modulator, and then directing the array of laser beamlets along a first optical axis at an object; (f) directing a video camera along a second optical axis at the object, said second optical axis being non-parallel to the first optical axis; (g) recording at least one image of the reflection of the array of laser beamlets; and (h) calculating a three dimensional image of the object from the at least one image.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 39, wherein step (e) further comprises spatially modulating the array of laser beamlets to produce a coded array of laser beamlets, and step (g) comprises recording at least one coded image of the reflection of the array of laser beamlets.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 40, wherein the array of laser beamlets is modulated by the spatial light modulator in an ordered binary sequence of spatial light modulator patterns.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 39, wherein the first plurality of at least two additional beams is derived from the creation laser source by means comprising optical fibers.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 39, wherein the first plurality of at least two additional phase-controlled beams is derived from the creation laser source by means comprising optical fiber beamsplitters.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 39, wherein the first plurality is three, and the three additional phase-controlled beams are directed at the holographic medium from the corners of a triangle in the common plane.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 39, wherein the first plurality is four, and the four additional phase-controlled beams are directed at the holographic medium from the corners of a rectangle in the common plane.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 39, wherein the wavelength of the construction laser source is the same wavelength as the wavelength of the creation laser source.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 39, wherein the wavelength of the reconstruction laser source is different from the wavelength of the creation laser source.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
253 words
A method for obtaining a three dimensional image of an object comprising: (a) directing a spatially coded reference beam derived from a creation laser source at a holographic medium; (b) deriving a first plurality of at least two additional phase-controlled beams from the creation laser source; (c) coding the first plurality of at least two additional phase-controlled beams; (d) directing the first plurality of coded additional phase-controlled beams at the holographic medium from a common plane, said first plurality of coded additional phase-controlled beams combining with the coded reference beam at the holographic medium to form a hologram comprising a coded image of the first plurality of point sources; (e) directing a reconstruction beam from a reconstruction laser source at the hologram comprising a coded image of the first plurality of point sources, said reconstruction beam having the same orientation relative to the hologram as the reference beam had relative to the holographic medium, thereby generating the first plurality of phase-controlled_beams, said phase-controlled beams overlapping with and interfering with each other to produce a coded array of laser beamlets; (f) directing the coded array of laser beamlets along a first optical axis at an object; (g) directing a video camera along a second optical axis at the object, said second optical axis being non-parallel to said first optical axis; (h) recording at least one coded image of the reflection of the coded array of laser beamlets; and (i) calculating a three dimensional image of the object from the at least one coded image.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
253 words
A method for obtaining a three dimensional image of an object comprising: (a) directing a spatially coded reference beam derived from a creation laser source at a holographic medium; (b) deriving a first plurality of at least two additional phase-controlled beams from the creation laser source; (c) coding the first plurality of at least two additional phase-controlled beams; (d) directing the first plurality of coded additional phase-controlled beams at the holographic medium from a common plane, said first plurality of coded additional phase-controlled beams combining with the coded reference beam at the holographic medium to form a hologram comprising a coded image of the first plurality of point sources; (e) directing a reconstruction beam from a reconstruction laser source at the hologram comprising a coded image of the first plurality of point sources, said reconstruction beam having the same orientation relative to the hologram as the reference beam had relative to the holographic medium, thereby generating the first plurality of phase-controlled_beams, said phase-controlled beams overlapping with and interfering with each other to produce a coded array of laser beamlets; (f) directing the coded array of laser beamlets along a first optical axis at an object; (g) directing a video camera along a second optical axis at the object, said second optical axis being non-parallel to said first optical axis; (h) recording at least one coded image of the reflection of the coded array of laser beamlets; and (i) calculating a three dimensional image of the object from the at least one coded image.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 48, wherein the reference beam and the first plurality of at least two additional phase-controlled beams are coded in an ordered binary sequence.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 48, wherein the reference beam and the first plurality of at least two additional phase-controlled beams are derived from the creation laser source by means comprising optical fiber beamsplitters.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 48, wherein the reference beam and the first plurality of at least two phase-controlled additional beams are derived from the creation laser source by means comprising optical fibers.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 48, wherein the first plurality is three, and the three additional phase-controlled beams are directed at the holographic medium from the corners of a triangle in the common plane.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 54, wherein the first plurality is four, and the four additional phase-controlled beams are directed at the holographic medium from the corners of a rectangle in the common plane.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 48, wherein the wavelength of the reconstruction laser source is the same wavelength as the wavelength of the creation laser source.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 48, wherein the wavelength of the reconstruction laser source is different from the wavelength of the creation laser source.
Claim 62
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for generating an array of electromagnetic beamlets comprising: (a) calculating a holographic pattern on a computer, said holographic pattern being calculated from the interference of a first source having a first wavelength and a second source also having the first wavelength, said second source consisting of three phase-controlled beams having the first wavelength; (b) fabricating a hologram by exposing a recording medium to the holographic pattern; (c) directing a reconstruction electromagnetic beam derived from a reconstruction source at the hologram; and (d) aligning the reconstruction beam such that it has the first orientation with respect to the hologram, and generating three phase-controlled electromagnetic beams, said phase-controlled electromagnetic beams overlapping with each other and interfering with each other to produce an array of electromagnetic beamlets, wherein the three point sources are located at the corners of a triangle in a common plane.
Claim 63
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for generating an array of electromagnetic beamlets comprising: (a) calculating a holographic pattern on a computer, said holographic pattern being calculated from the interference of a first source having a first wavelength and a second source also having the first wavelength, said second source consisting of three phase-controlled beams having the first wavelength; (b) fabricating a hologram by exposing a recording medium to the holographic pattern; (c) directing a reconstruction electromagnetic beam derived from a reconstruction source at the hologram; and (d) aligning the reconstruction beam such that it has the first orientation with respect to the hologram, and generating three phase-controlled electromagnetic beams, said phase-controlled electromagnetic beams overlapping with each other and interfering with each other to produce an array of electromagnetic beamlets, wherein the three point sources are located at the corners of a triangle in a common plane.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 56, wherein the wavelength of the reconstruction source is different from the first wavelength.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 56, wherein the wavelength of the reconstruction source is the same as the first wavelength.
Claim 66
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for generating an array of electromagnetic beamlets comprising: (a) a hologram having an image of four phase-controlled point sources; (b) a reconstruction electromagnetic source producing a reconstruction beam; (c) means for directing the reconstruction beam at the hologram; and (d) means for aligning the reconstruction beam such that four phase-controlled beams are generated from the virtual image of the four phase-controlled point sources, said first plurality of phase-controlled beams overlapping each other and interfering with each other to produce an ordered array of electromagnetic beamlets, wherein the four point sources are located at the corners of a rectangle in a common plane.
Claim 67
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for generating an array of electromagnetic beamlets comprising: (a) a hologram having an image of four phase-controlled point sources; (b) a reconstruction electromagnetic source producing a reconstruction beam; (c) means for directing the reconstruction beam at the hologram; and (d) means for aligning the reconstruction beam such that four phase-controlled beams are generated from the virtual image of the four phase-controlled point sources, said first plurality of phase-controlled beams overlapping each other and interfering with each other to produce an ordered array of electromagnetic beamlets, wherein the four point sources are located at the corners of a rectangle in a common plane.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus of claim 59, wherein said hologram has been created by directing a reference beam derived from a creation laser source at a holographic medium, deriving four additional non-collimated phase-controlled laser beams from the creation laser source, directing the four additional non-collimated phase-controlled laser beams from a common plane towards the holographic medium, said four additional non-collimated phase-controlled laser beams comprising an object beam, said object and reference beams combining at the holographic medium to form an interference pattern, said interference pattern being recorded as said hologram.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 60, wherein, during creation of the hologram, the reference beam and the four additional non-collimated phase-controlled laser beams are derived from the creation laser source by means comprising at least two beamsplitters and a mirror.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 60, wherein, during creation of the hologram, the reference beam and the four additional non-collimated phase-controlled laser beams are derived from the creation laser source by means comprising at least two fiber-optic beamsplitters.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the wavelength of the reconstruction laser source is the same as the wavelength of the creation laser source.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the wavelength of the reconstruction source is different from the wavelength of the creation laser source.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the means for directing the reconstruction laser beam at the hologram comprises an optical fiber.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the hologram is generated by a computer.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the hologram is calculated from the interference of a first beam from a first source having a first wavelength and a second beam from a second source also having the first wavelength, said second beam comprising four phase-controlled beams, and wherein the wavelength of the reconstruction source is the same as the first wavelength.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the hologram is calculated from the interference of a first beam from a first source having a first wavelength and a second beam from a second source also having the first wavelength, said second beam comprising four phase-controlled beams, and wherein the wavelength of the reconstruction source is different from the first wavelength.
Claim 77
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for generating an array of electromagnetic beamlets comprising: (a) a hologram having an image of a first plurality of at least two phase-controlled point sources; (b) a reconstruction electromagnetic source producing a reconstruction beam; (c) means for directing the reconstruction beam at the hologram; and (d) means for aligning the reconstruction beam such that a first plurality of phase-controlled beams is generated from the virtual image of the first plurality of at least two phase-controlled point sources, said first plurality of phase-controlled beams overlapping each other and interfering with each other to produce an ordered array of electromagnetic beamlets; and (e) a spatial light modulator, said spatial light modulator positioned to modulate the beams in the ordered array of electromagnetic beamlets.
Claim 78
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for generating an array of electromagnetic beamlets comprising: (a) a hologram having an image of a first plurality of at least two phase-controlled point sources; (b) a reconstruction electromagnetic source producing a reconstruction beam; (c) means for directing the reconstruction beam at the hologram; and (d) means for aligning the reconstruction beam such that a first plurality of phase-controlled beams is generated from the virtual image of the first plurality of at least two phase-controlled point sources, said first plurality of phase-controlled beams overlapping each other and interfering with each other to produce an ordered array of electromagnetic beamlets; and (e) a spatial light modulator, said spatial light modulator positioned to modulate the beams in the ordered array of electromagnetic beamlets.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
95 words
The apparatus of claim 69, wherein said hologram has been created by directing a reference beam derived from a creation laser source at a holographic medium, deriving a first plurality of additional non-collimated phase-controlled laser beams from the creation laser source, directing the first plurality of additional non-collimated phase-controlled laser beams from a common plane towards the holographic medium, said first plurality of additional non-collimated phase-controlled laser beams comprising an object beam, said object and reference beams combining at the holographic medium to form an interference pattern, said interference pattern being recorded as said hologram.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 70, wherein, during creation of the hologram, the reference beam and the first plurality of additional non-collimated phase-controlled laser beams are derived from the creation laser source by means comprising at least two beamsplitters and a mirror.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 70, wherein, during creation of the hologram, the reference beam and the first plurality of additional non-collimated phase-controlled laser beams are derived from the creation laser source by means comprising at least two fiber-optic beamsplitters.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the wavelength of the reconstruction laser source is the same as the wavelength of the creation laser source.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the wavelength of the reconstruction laser source is different from the wavelength of the creation laser source.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the means for directing the reconstruction laser beam at the hologram comprises an optical fiber.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the hologram is generated by a computer.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the hologram is calculated from the interference of a first beam from a first source having a first wavelength and a second beam from a second source also having the first wavelength, said second beam comprising a first plurality of at least two phase-controlled beams, and the wavelength of the reconstruction source is the same as the first wavelength.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the hologram is calculated from the interference of a first beam from a first source having a first wavelength and a second beam from a second source also having the first wavelength, said second beam comprising a first plurality of at least two phase-controlled beams, and the wavelength of the reconstruction source is different from the first wavelength.
Claim 88
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for generating an array of electromagnetic beamlets comprising: (a) directing a reference beam derived from a creation source at a holographic medium, said reference beam having a first orientation with respect to the holographic medium; (b) deriving four additional phase-controlled beams from the creation source; (c) directing the four additional phase-controlled beams towards the holographic medium, said four additional phase-controlled beams comprising an object beam, said object and reference beams combining at the holographic medium to form an interference pattern, said interference pattern being recorded as a hologram; (d) directing a reconstruction beam derived from a reconstruction source at the hologram; and (e) aligning the reconstruction beam such that it has the first orientation with respect to the hologram, thus generating four phase-controlled beams from the hologram, said phase-controlled beams overlapping each other and interfering with each other to produce the array of electromagnetic beams, wherein the four additional laser beams originate from the four corners of a rectangle in a common plane.
Claim 89
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for generating an array of electromagnetic beamlets comprising: (a) directing a reference beam derived from a creation source at a holographic medium, said reference beam having a first orientation with respect to the holographic medium; (b) deriving four additional phase-controlled beams from the creation source; (c) directing the four additional phase-controlled beams towards the holographic medium, said four additional phase-controlled beams comprising an object beam, said object and reference beams combining at the holographic medium to form an interference pattern, said interference pattern being recorded as a hologram; (d) directing a reconstruction beam derived from a reconstruction source at the hologram; and (e) aligning the reconstruction beam such that it has the first orientation with respect to the hologram, thus generating four phase-controlled beams from the hologram, said phase-controlled beams overlapping each other and interfering with each other to produce the array of electromagnetic beams, wherein the four additional laser beams originate from the four corners of a rectangle in a common plane.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 79, wherein the reconstruction beam is a laser beam directed at the hologram using an optical fiber.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 79, wherein the reference beam and the four additional phase-controlled beams are laser beams derived from the creation source using at least one beamsplitter and a mirror.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 79, wherein the reference beam and the four additional phase-controlled beams are laser beams derived from the creation source using at least two fiber-optic beamsplitters.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 79, also comprising selecting the reconstruction source such that the wavelength of the reconstruction source is the same as the wavelength of the creation source.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 79, also comprising selecting the reconstruction source such that the wavelength of the reconstruction source is different from the wavelength of the creation source.
Claim 95
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for generating an array of electromagnetic beamlets comprising: (a) directing a reference beam derived from a creation source at a holographic medium, said reference beam having a first orientation with respect to the holographic medium; (b) deriving a first plurality of at least two additional phase-controlled beams from the creation source; (c) directing the first plurality of additional beams phase-controlled towards the holographic medium, said first plurality of additional phase-controlled beams comprising an object beam, said object and reference beams combining at the holographic medium to form an interference pattern, said interference pattern being recorded as a hologram; (d) directing a reconstruction beam derived from a reconstruction source at the hologram; and (e) aligning the reconstruction beam such that it has the first orientation with respect to the hologram, thus generating a first plurality of phase-controlled beams from the hologram, said phase-controlled beams overlapping each other and interfering with each other to produce the array of electromagnetic beams; and (f) modulating the array of beamlets using a spatial light modulator.
Claim 96
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for generating an array of electromagnetic beamlets comprising: (a) directing a reference beam derived from a creation source at a holographic medium, said reference beam having a first orientation with respect to the holographic medium; (b) deriving a first plurality of at least two additional phase-controlled beams from the creation source; (c) directing the first plurality of additional beams phase-controlled towards the holographic medium, said first plurality of additional phase-controlled beams comprising an object beam, said object and reference beams combining at the holographic medium to form an interference pattern, said interference pattern being recorded as a hologram; (d) directing a reconstruction beam derived from a reconstruction source at the hologram; and (e) aligning the reconstruction beam such that it has the first orientation with respect to the hologram, thus generating a first plurality of phase-controlled beams from the hologram, said phase-controlled beams overlapping each other and interfering with each other to produce the array of electromagnetic beams; and (f) modulating the array of beamlets using a spatial light modulator.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 85, wherein the reconstruction beam is a laser beam directed at the hologram using an optical fiber.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 85, wherein the reference beam and the first plurality of additional phase-controlled beams are laser beams derived from the creation source using at least one beamsplitters and a mirror.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 85, wherein the reference beam and the first plurality of additional phase-controlled beams are laser beams derived from the creation source using at least two fiber-optic beamsplitters.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 85, also comprising selecting the reconstruction source such that the wavelength of the reconstruction source is the same as the wavelength of the creation source.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 85, also comprising selecting the reconstruction source such that the wavelength of the reconstruction source is different from the wavelength of the creation source.
Claim 102
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for generating an array of electromagnetic beamlets comprising: (a) calculating a holographic pattern on a computer, said holographic pattern being calculated from the interference of a first source having a first wavelength and a second source also having the first wavelength, said second source consisting of four phase-controlled beams having the first wavelength; (b) fabricating a hologram by exposing a recording medium to the holographic pattern; (c) directing a reconstruction electromagnetic beam derived from a reconstruction source at the hologram; and (d) aligning the reconstruction beam such that it has the first orientation with respect to the hologram, and generating the four phase-controlled electromagnetic beams, said phase-controlled electromagnetic beams overlapping with each other and interfering with each other to produce an array of electromagnetic beamlets, wherein the four point sources are located at the corners of a rectangle in a common plane.
Claim 103
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for generating an array of electromagnetic beamlets comprising: (a) calculating a holographic pattern on a computer, said holographic pattern being calculated from the interference of a first source having a first wavelength and a second source also having the first wavelength, said second source consisting of four phase-controlled beams having the first wavelength; (b) fabricating a hologram by exposing a recording medium to the holographic pattern; (c) directing a reconstruction electromagnetic beam derived from a reconstruction source at the hologram; and (d) aligning the reconstruction beam such that it has the first orientation with respect to the hologram, and generating the four phase-controlled electromagnetic beams, said phase-controlled electromagnetic beams overlapping with each other and interfering with each other to produce an array of electromagnetic beamlets, wherein the four point sources are located at the corners of a rectangle in a common plane.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 91, wherein the wavelength of the reconstruction source is different from the first wavelength.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 91, wherein the wavelength of the reconstruction source is the same as the first wavelength.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3405614A
Cited
US3614191A
Cited
US3609027A
Cited
US3658403A
Cited
US3619023A
Cited
US4018503A
Cited
US4082415A
Cited
US4175862A
Cited
US4310216A
Cited
US4294544A
Cited
JPS57195204A
Cited
US4523809A
Cited
US4669812A
Cited
US4950050A
Cited
US4907847A
Cited
US5016954A
Cited
US4948258A
Cited
US4998787A
Cited
US5093802A
Cited
US5170269A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-08-20 | 2000-02-19 | 2000-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-20 | 2004-02-19 | 2004-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-20 | 2008-02-19 | 2008-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |