Holographic analogue indicating means
First Claim
1. Analogue indicating means comprising two relatively movable components (FIGS. 1-3:
- 26/28 and
12) respectively having associated therewith a reference marker (30/32), and a scale portion (46) bearing a series of scale markings (48) spaced apart along the scale portion (46), the position of the reference marker (30/32) relative to said scale markings (48) being indicative to an observer of the relative positions of the two components (26/28 and
12), wherein at least one (26/28 or
12) of said two components comprises a hologram which, when illuminated by a source of a predetermined reference light, (33) portrays to the observer a holographic image of said reference marker (30/32) or holographic images of said scale markings (48), as appropriate to the said one component, for comparison with, respectively, the said scale markings (48) or the said reference marker (30/32) of the other (12 or 30/32) of said two components when the two components lie in cooperating positions, said hologram being arranged so as to project the said holographic image or images into a plane disposed near or at the plane of the scale markings (48) or reference marker (30/32) respectively of the said other (12 or 26/28) of said two components, so as to diminish parallax errors when determining the position of said reference mark relative to said scale markings.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an analogue indicating device (e.g. a clock) in which the relative positions of two relatively movable components (FIGS. 1-3; 26/28 and 12) is judged by the position of a reference marker (30/32) on one of the components (26/28) in relation to an adjacent scale (48) on the other component (12), the scale is constituted by a hologram (in 12) which when illuminated by a predetermined reference light (33) portrays a desired image of the scale (48) against which the reference marker (26/28) is seen. That image may also portray an environment (34) (e.g. a clock case) in which the scale (48) appears to be contained. The reference marker (26/28) may also be constituted by a hologram for portraying a holographic image of the reference marker. Alternatively, a holographically portrayed reference marker may cooperate with a real scale. The holographically produced image is preferably coplanar with the other image, whether the latter image be real or holographically produced, so as to elliminate parallax errors. Any suitable form of hologram may be used. The use of the invention in relation to time-keeping devices (FIGS. 1-3), electrical indicating instruments (FIGS. 4-5), dimension measuring devices (FIGS. 16-21 and 28-31), and operating mode adjusters (FIGS. 14, 15, 22, 23) and selectors (FIGS. 24-27) is described.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. Analogue indicating means comprising two relatively movable components (FIGS. 1-3:
- 26/28 and
12) respectively having associated therewith a reference marker (30/32), and a scale portion (46) bearing a series of scale markings (48) spaced apart along the scale portion (46), the position of the reference marker (30/32) relative to said scale markings (48) being indicative to an observer of the relative positions of the two components (26/28 and
12), wherein at least one (26/28 or
12) of said two components comprises a hologram which, when illuminated by a source of a predetermined reference light, (33) portrays to the observer a holographic image of said reference marker (30/32) or holographic images of said scale markings (48), as appropriate to the said one component, for comparison with, respectively, the said scale markings (48) or the said reference marker (30/32) of the other (12 or 30/32) of said two components when the two components lie in cooperating positions, said hologram being arranged so as to project the said holographic image or images into a plane disposed near or at the plane of the scale markings (48) or reference marker (30/32) respectively of the said other (12 or 26/28) of said two components, so as to diminish parallax errors when determining the position of said reference mark relative to said scale markings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- 26/28 and
-
17. Analogue indicating means comprising two relatively movable components (FIGS. 1-3:
- 26/28 and
12) respectively having associated therewith a reference marker (30/32), and a scale portion (46) bearing a series of scale markings (48) spaced apart along the scale portion (46), the position of the reference marker (30/32) relative to said scale markings (48) being indicative to an observer of the relative positions of the two components (26/28 and
12), wherein at least one (26/28 or
12) of said two components comprises a hologram which, when illuminated by a source of a predetermined reference light (33), portrays to the observer a holographic image of said reference marker (30/32) or holographic images of said scale markings (48), as appropriate to the said one component, for comparison with respectively the said scale markings (48) or the said reference marker (30/32) of the other (12 or 30/32) of said two components when the two components lie in cooperating positions, said hologram being arranged so as to project the said holographic image or images into a plane disposed near or at the plane of the scale markings (48) or reference marker (30/32) respectively of the said other (12 or 26/28) of said two components, so as to diminish parallax errors when determining the position of said reference mark relative to said scale markings, wherein said component bearing a reference marker comprises a workpiece or specimen (FIG. 16;
90;
FIG. 18;
124) having as said reference marker a selected feature (112;
126) whose position relative to a predetermined datum (86, 88;
118) is to be measured when said workpiece is introduced temporarily into a measuring position adjacent said component (92, 107;
116) bearing said scale markings, and wherein said component bearing said scale marking includes a hologram which when illuminated by a source of said reference light (33) portrays holographic images of said scale markings (102-107;
120), which holographic images appear to a said observer as lying in a measurement plane (108;
122) which intersects said reference marker feature (112;
126) on said workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- 26/28 and
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25. Analogue indicating means comprising two relatively movable components (FIGS. 1-3:
- 26/28 and
12) respectively having associated therewith a reference marker (30/32), and a scale portion (46) bearing a series of scale markings (48) spaced apart along the scale portion (46), the position of the reference marker (30/32) relative to said scale markings (48) being indicative to an observer of the relative positions of the two components (26/28) and
12), wherein at leat one (26/28 or
12) of said two components comprises a hologram which, when illuminated by a source of a predetermined reference light (33), portrays to the observer a holographic image of said reference marker (30/32) or holographic images of said scale markings (48), as appropriate to the said one component, for comparison with, respectively, the said scale markings (48) or the said reference marker (30/32) of the other (12 or 30/32) of said two components, said hologram being arranged to as to project the said holographic image or images into the plane of the scale markings (48) or reference marker (30/32), respectively, of the said other (12 or 26/28) of said two components, said component bearing a reference marker comprising a workpiece or specimen (FIG. 16;
90;
FIG. 18;
124) having as said reference marker a selected feature (112;
126) having a position relative to a predetermined datum (86, 88;
118) to be measured when said workpiece is introduced temporarily into a measuring position adjacent said component (92-107;
116) bearing said scale markings, and wherein said component bearing said scale markings includes a hologram which, when illuminated by a source of said reference light (33), portrays holographic images of said scale markings (102- 107;
120), which holographic images appear to a said observer as lying in a measurement plane (108;
122) which intersects said reference marker feature (112;
126) on said workpiece.
- 26/28 and
-
26. Analogue indicating means comprising two relatively movable components (FIGS. 1-3:
- 26/28 and
12) respectively having associated therewith a reference marker (30/32), and a scale portion (46) bearing a series of scale markings (48) spaced apart along the scale portion (46), the position of the reference marker (30/32) relative to said scale markings (48) being indicative to an observer of the relative positions of the two components (26/28 and
12), wherein at least one (26/28 or
12) of said two components comprises a hologram which, when illuminated by a source of a predetermined reference light (33), portrays to the observer a holographic image of said reference marker (30/32) or holographic images of said scale markings (48), as appropriate to the said one component, for comparison with, respectively, the said scale markings (48) or the said reference marker (30/32) of the other (12 or 30/32) of said two components when the two components lie in cooperating positions, said hologram being arranged so as to project the entire holographic image or images into the same plane as a plane containing the scale markings (48) or reference marker (30/32), respectively, of said two components.
- 26/28 and
Specification