Illumination systems and methods employing diffractive holographic optical elements

• US 20030067774A1
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi VIA Mechanics Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nanovia, L.P.
• Inventors: Lizotte, Todd E.
• Application Number:
  US10/262,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20030067774A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/236
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/002 using microoptical elements for redirecting or diffusing light
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/40 Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8806 Specially adapted optical and illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/32 Holograms used as optical elements

Abstract

In one aspect, an illumination device for illuminating a desired portion of a target object includes a light source and one or more diffractive, holographic optical elements disposed in an optical path between said light source and the target for forming a discrete illumination field on the target. In a further aspect, a method for illuminating a desired portion of a target object to be illuminated includes providing a source of light and arranging a diffractive, holographic and diffractive optical element in an optical path between said source of light and said target. The optical element is configured to deliver a selected pattern of light to an illumination field at a selected working distance away from the combined holographic and diffractive optical element. A target object to be illuminated is positioned in the optical axis at a distance approximately equal to said working distance.

Claims

1. An illumination device for illuminating a desired portion of a target object, comprising:

a light source;

one or more diffractive, holographic optical elements disposed in an optical path between said light source and the target for forming a discrete illumination field on the target.

2. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light sources radially spaced about a viewing axis passing through said target.

3. The illumination device of claim 2, further comprising:

a housing supporting said plurality of light sources and the one or more diffractive, holographic optical elements.

4. The illumination device of claim 3, wherein the housing comprises an opening axially aligned with said viewing axis.

5. The illumination device of claim 4, further comprising:

viewing optics for receiving light from the target passing through said opening in said housing.

6. The illumination device of claim 3, wherein said one or more diffractive, holographic optical elements are integrally formed with a portion said housing.

7. The illumination device of claim 3, wherein said one or more diffractive, holographic optical elements are removably attached to said housing.

8. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the one or more diffractive, holographic optical elements shape light received from the light source into an illumination field having a pattern selected from a circle, ring, rectangle, and a discontinuous pattern.

9. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of an optical fiber, laser, diode laser, light-emitting diode, organic light-emitting diode, and incandescent lamp, or combinations thereof.

10. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the light source is an ultraviolet light source.

11. The illumination device of claim 1, further comprising:

a gripper movable under preprogrammed control for positioning an object within said illumination field.

12. The illumination device of claim 1, further comprising:

a beam splitter optically coupled to said one or more diffractive, holographic optical elements for folding light delivered to said target.

13. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said one or more diffractive, holographic optical elements comprise a diffractive pattern formed on a first surface of a transmissive material a hologram pattern formed on a second surface of the transmissive material opposite the first surface.

14. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said one or more diffractive, holographic optical elements comprise a diffractive pattern and a holographic pattern combined on a single surface of an optical material.

15. The illumination device of claim 14, wherein the optical material is a transmissive optical material.

16. The illumination device of claim 14, wherein the optical material is a reflective optical material.

17. The illumination device of claim 1, further comprising:

a sleeve retaining a one of said one or more diffractive, holographic optical elements at a first end thereof and adapted to receive said light source at a second end thereof opposite the first end.

18. The illumination device of claim 1, further comprising:

a computer-based information handling system for receiving image representations of the target object and a second object to be positioned relative to said target object;

a positioner coupled to the information handling system for moving the second object to a desired position relative to said target object based on said image representations.

19. A method for illuminating a desired portion of a target object to be illuminated, comprising:

providing a source of light;

arranging a diffractive, holographic optical element in an optical path between said source of light and said target;

said optical element configured to deliver a selected pattern of light to an illumination field at a selected working distance away from the combined holographic and diffractive optical element; and

positioning said target object in said illumination field at a distance approximately equal to said working distance.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

positioning a second object to be positioned relative to the target object in said illumination field;

storing image representations of the target object and the second object in a computer-based information handling system;

repeating said positioning and storing until the second object achieves a desired position relative to said target object.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

applying a photobonding material to one or both of the target and second objects;

photobonding the second object to the target objects after the second object achieves said desired position.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein light providing illumination for said positioning has the same wavelength as light used for said photobonding.