Chromatically corrected directional diffusing screen

• US 5,046,793 A
• Filed: 05/26/1989
• Issued: 09/10/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 1294339 Ontario, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Litton Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Pawluczyk, Romauld, Hockley, Bernard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Paul M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RYAN, JAY
• Application Number:
  US07/357,119
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 350/3.61, 350/3.66, 350/3.69, 350/3.7, 350/3.77, 350/3.81, 350/3.86, 350/431
• US Class Current: 359/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/32 Holograms used as optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2236 Details of the viewing window

Abstract

A holographic diffuser provides a high degree of chromatic correction, or color balance, within a selected eyebox and the ability to generate more than one specific eyebox for multiple observer applications. The strength of these gratings can be varied to modify the diffraction efficiency for each color so that the balance of colors can be varied within the eyebox. This balancing of colors can be used, for example, to compensate for color imbalance within the light source or image generator. Illuminating a first holographic medium produces a first real image of a diffusing screen in a define eyebox. A second hologram is recorded in the holographic medium using the real image produced by the first hologram as an object such that when the holographic medium is illuminated, it produces a second real image of a diffusing screen in the define eyebox. A third hologram is recorded in the holographic medium using the second real image as an object. The third hologram is formed by multiple exposures of the holographic medium with a plurality of selected spectral components. The plurality of selected spectral components comprises optical wavelengths that may correspond to the colors red, green and blue, respectively. The third hologram may be formed by exposing the holographic medium with a single optical wavelength with first, second and third angles of incidence being selected for each exposure of the holographic medium to the optical wavelength.

Claims

1. A method for forming a directional chromatically corrected light diffuser, comprising the steps of:

placing a diffusing screen at a selected location;

recording a first hologram on a first holographic medium using the diffusing screen as an object;

illuminating the first hologram to form a first real image of the diffusing screen at a defined eyebox;

recording a second hologram on a second holographic medium using the real image as an object;

illuminating the second hologram to form a second real image of the diffusing screen; and

recording a third hologram on a third holographic medium using the real image reconstructed from the second hologram as an object by a process that includes the steps of;

exposing the third holographic medium with a first selected spectral component;

exposing the third holographic medium with a second selected spectral component; and

exposing the third holographic medium with a third selected spectral component.

2. The method of claim 1 including the steps of selecting the first, second and third spectral components to correspond to the colors red, green and blue, respectively.

6. The method of claims 1 or 5 including repeating the exposure steps to produce multiple exit pupils at individually selected locations.

7. The method of claim 6 including the step of forming the first, second and third holograms to produce a reflective diffusing screen.

8. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 including the step of forming the first, second and third holograms to produce a reflective diffusing screen.

3. A method for forming a directional chromatically corrected light diffuser, comprising the steps of:

placing a diffusing screen at a selected location;

recording a first hologram on a first holographic medium using the diffusing screen as an object;

illuminating the first hologram to form a first real image of the diffusing screen at a defined location;

recording a second hologram on a second holographic medium using the real image as an object; and

illuminating the second hologram to form a second real image of the diffusing screen; and

recording a third hologram on a third holographic medium using the real image reconstructed from the second hologram as an object and exposing the third holographic medium with a single optical wavelength and selecting first, second and third angles of incidence of both the object and reference beams for each exposure of the third holographic medium to the optical wavelength.

4. The method of claim 3 including the step of adjusting the angles of incidence for the reference and object beams to form an exit pupil that is projected into a selected eyebox region.

5. The method of claim 3 including the step of adjusting the angles of incidence for the reference and object beams to project chromatically balanced light into a selected eyebox region.

9. A method for forming a directional chromatically corrected light diffuser, comprising the steps of:

placing a diffusing screen at a selected location;

recording a first hologram on a first holographic medium using the diffusing screen as an object;

illuminating the first hologram to form a first real image of the diffusing screen at a defined location;

recording a second hologram on a second holographic medium using the real image as an object;

illuminating the second hologram to form a second real image of the diffusing screen; and

recording a third hologram on a third holographic medium using the real image reconstructed from the second hologram as an object and illuminating the holographic medium with a diffuse reference beam.

10. A directional chromatically corrected light diffuser, formed by steps comprising:

providing a first holographic medium;

recording a first hologram in the first holographic medium such that when the holographic medium is illuminated with a light beam conjugated to reference, it produces a first real image of a diffusing screen;

recording a second hologram in a second holographic medium using the real image produced by the first hologram as an object such that when the second holographic medium is illuminated, it produces a second real image of a diffusing screen at a selected location defined by the area and position of the first hologram during exposure; and

recording a third hologram in a third holographic medium using the real image reconstructed from the second hologram as an object and by multiple exposures of the third holographic medium with a plurality of selected spectral components.

11. The directional chromatically corrected light diffuser of claim 10 including the step of selecting the plurality of spectral components to comprise optical wavelengths corresponding to the colors red, green and blue, respectively.

12. The directional chromatically corrected light diffuser of claim 10 including the step of forming the third hologram is by exposing the third holographic medium with a single optical wavelength with first, second and third angles of incidence being selected for each exposure of the holographic medium to the optical wavelength.

13. The directional chromatically corrected light diffuser of claim 10, 11 or 12 including the step of illuminating the third hologram to produce images of a diffusing screen at a plurality of individually selected locations.

14. The directional chromatically corrected light diffuser of claim 13 wherein the third hologram is constructed to produce a reflective diffusing screen.

15. The directional chromatically corrected light diffuser of claim 11 or 12 wherein the third hologram is constructed to produce a reflective diffusing screen.

16. A directional chromatically corrected light diffuser, formed by steps comprising:

providing a first holographic medium;

recording a first hologram in the first holographic medium such that when the first holographic medium is illuminated with a light beam conjugated to reference, it produces a first real image of a diffusing screen;

recording a second hologram in a second holographic medium using the real image produced by the first hologram as an object such that when the second holographic medium is illuminated, it produces a second real image of a diffusing screen at a selected location defined by the area and position of the first hologram during exposure; and

recording a third hologram in a third holographic medium using the real image reconstructed from the second hologram as an object to form a reflective hologram.