Means employing a multiple lens array for reading from a high density optical memory storage

• US 3,899,778 A
• Filed: 01/04/1974
• Issued: 08/12/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald L. Roberts
• Original Assignee: Donald L. Roberts
• Inventors: Roberts, Donald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hecker, Stuart N.
• Application Number:
  US05/430,932
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 340/173LM,173LS,173LT 350/178,230,231,233,234
• US Class Current: 365/235
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/005 arranged along a single direction only, e.g. lenticular sheets G02B3/0043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0062 Stacked lens arrays, i.e. refractive surfaces arranged in at least two planes, without structurally separate optical elements in-between
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/04 using optical elements ; using other beam accessed elements, e.g. electron or ion beam

Abstract

In order to read information densely recorded on a mask in a page-by-page grid pattern, the mask is disposed between an illumination array and a multiple lens array. Each page of stored information is aligned with an element of the illumination array and a lenslet of the multiple lens array. Upon energization of a selected illumination element, the light issued therefrom passes through the aligned information page and lenslet from which the information-bearing beam diverges. A detector array intercepts the beam from which the information is extracted. Exemplary illumination arrays include a cathode ray tube and a light emitting diode array. Exemplary detector arrays include a television camera and a photosensitive diode array.

Claims

1. A system for retrieving information stored page-by page on a mask comprising:

A. illuminaTion means, said illumination means including a plurality of discrete light emitting areas and means for selectively enabling said discrete areas for light emission;

B. a multiple lens array comprising first and second substrates each having parallel corrugations on a face thereof, said faces brought together with the parallel corrugations of said first substrate perpendicular to the parallel corrugations of said second substrate, said corrugations forming at each intersection thereof one of a plurality of lenslets, said multiple lens array being disposed proximate said illumination means such that each of said lenslets is aligned with one of said discrete light emitting areas; and

C. photosensitive detector means, said photosensitive detector means including a plurality of light sensitive areas, said photosensitive detector means being disposed to intercept light issued from a light emitting discrete area of said illumination means and passed through a corresponding lenslet of said multiple lens array;

whereby an information bearing area of a mask positioned intermediate said illumination means and said multiple lens array is illuminated by a selected light emitting area, and the resultant information encoded beam passes through the corresponding one of said lenslets and impinges on said photosensitive detector means.

2. The information retrieval system of claim 1 in which said illumination means comprises a cathode ray tube.

3. The information retrieval system of claim 1 in which said photosensitive detector means comprises a camera tube.

4. The information retrieval system of claim 1 in which said photosensitive detector means comprises a plurality of photosensitive diodes disposed in an array.

5. The information retrieval system of claim 1 which further includes a correction lens disposed between said multiple lens array and said photosensitive detector means.

6. The information retrieval system of claim 1 which further includes a fiberoptic plate juxtaposed with said illumination means and disposed between said illumination means and said multiple lens array.

7. The information retrieval system of claim 6 in which said fiberoptic plate disposed between said illumination means and said multiple lens array comprises a plurality of tapered fiberoptic bundles.

8. The information retrieval system of claim 1 which further includes light amplification means disposed between said multiple lens array and said photosensitive detector means.

9. The information retrieval system of claim 8 which further include a fiberoptic plate disposed between said light amplification means and said photosensitive detector means.

10. The information retrieval system of claim 9 said fiberoptic plate disposed between said light amplification means and said photosensitive detector means comprises a plurality of tapered fiberoptic bundles.

11. The information retrieval system of claim 1 in which said illumination means comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed in an array.

12. The information retrieval system of claim 11 in which said photosensitive detector means comprises a plurality of photosensitive diodes disposed in an array.

13. The information retrieval system of claim 11 in which said light emitting diodes emit light in the infrared portion of the spectrum.

14. The information retrieval system of claim 13 which further includes converter means disposed between said light emitting diode array and said photosensitive detector means.