Method and Device For Reading Information Optically

• US 20080041955A1
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayer Innovation GmbH (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Innovation GmbH (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Volkening, Stephan, Hupe, Torsten
• Granted Patent: US 8,534,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/457
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/16 using Fourier transform G03H1/10, G03H1/12, G03H1/14 take precedence; analogue computers G06G, e.g. G06G7/19
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2231 Reflection reconstruction
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/306 Tiled identical sub-holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/16 the marking being a hologram or diffraction grating
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/042 using information stored in the form of interference pattern

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel type of information carrier, onto which information is stored in the form of diffraction structures. An information carrier according to the present invention can be read by being drawn manually through a reading device. The present invention also relates to a device with which an information carrier according to the invention can be read.

Claims

1. An information carrier comprising at least one Fourier hologram that is capable of storing data.

2. An information carrier according to claim 1, wherein the information carrier is a flat plastic card.

3. An information carrier according to claim 1, comprising at least two Fourier holograms to be read separately, arranged in line in said information carrier.

4. An information carrier according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of identical Fourier holograms combined to form a further hologram.

5. An information carrier according to claim 1, wherein the Fourier hologram is larger than a read spot for reading holograms.

6. An information carrier according to claim 1, further compromising markings applied to the information carrier which are capable of triggering a signal for a read beam and/or a detector.

7. A device for reading an information carrier according to claim 1, said device comprising a light source for producing a read beam, Fourier optics, a photodetector, and a guide, wherein said guide restricts movement of the information carrier in two spatial dimensions when the information carrier is being moved in a third spatial direction relative to the read beam and to the photodetector.

9. A method for authentication or for access control comprising utilizing a system according to claim 7.

14. A method of claim 9, wherein a read spot produced by said read beam is smaller than said Fourier hologram.

15. A method of claim 14, wherein said read spot is 0.9 to 0.1 times as large as the hologram.

8. A system for data transmission comprising:

at least one flat information carrier, which is capable of containing data stored in the form of at least one Fourier hologram, and

at least one reading device comprising a light source for producing a read beam, Fourier optics, a photodetector and a guide, said guide being capable of aligning the information carrier relative to the read beam and to the photodetector during the movement during a reading operation, said information carrier as is drawn manually through the device.

12. A system of claim 8, wherein a read spot produced by said read beam is smaller than said Fourier hologram.

13. A system of claim 12, wherein said read spot is 0.9 to 0.1 times as large as the hologram.

10. A method for data transmission comprising:

storing data in the form of at least one Fourier hologram on a flat information carrier, and/or on a plastic card, and

moving the information carrier or card through a device comprising Fourier optics, a photodetector and a guide, said guide being capable of aligning the information carrier relative to a read beam and to a photodetector during the movement of said carrier or card through the device, and

reading data stored on said carrier or card.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein movement of the information carrier or card through the device is accomplished by manually drawing said carrier or card through said device.

16. A method of claim 10, wherein a read spot produced by said read beam is smaller than said Fourier hologram.

17. A method of claim 11, wherein a read spot produced by said read beam is smaller than said Fourier hologram.

18. A method of claim 17, wherein said read spot is 0.9 to 0.1 times as large as the hologram.

19. An information carrier comprising at least two Fourier holograms having the same storage content are included and are placed on each other to form a larger hologram.

20. An information carrier of claim 19, comprising from 2-9 Fourier holograms.