Ideal distribution CHMSL hologram with double exposure technique

• US 5,106,174 A
• Filed: 04/16/1990
• Issued: 04/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Ronald T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/510,318
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 350/3.7, 350/3.72, 350/3.73, 350/3.77, 350/3.75
• US Class Current: 359/19
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/32 Holograms used as optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0248 Volume holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0408 Total internal reflection [TIR] holograms, e.g. edge lit or substrate mode holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/2202 Reconstruction geometries or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/28 superimposed holograms only
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2239 Enlarging the viewing window
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/90 Methods

Abstract

A hologram that diffracts playback illumination over a wide angular range made pursuant to a technique that includes the steps of first exposing a volume hologram recording medium to record a first image which upon playback will diffract light over a first angular coverage, and then exposing the volume hologram recording medium to record a second image which upon playback will diffract light over a second angular coverage.

Claims

1. A process for recording a hologram comprising the steps of:

first exposing a volume hologram recording medium with a first exposure intensity to record a first image which, upon playback, will diffract light over a first angular region of coverage such that the diffracted light has a first predetermined luminous intensity distribution over the first angular region of coverage; and

secondly exposing the volume hologram recording medium with a second exposure intensity to record a second image which upon playback will diffract light over a second angular region of coverage such that the light diffracted by the second image has a second predetermined luminous intensity distribution over the second angular region of coverage, wherein the second luminous intensity distribution is different from the first luminous intensity distribution.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein said step of first exposing includes the step of providing an object beam that is the output of a first lenticular lens array, and wherein the step of secondly exposing includes the step of providing an object beam that is the output of a second lenticular lens array.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein said step of first exposing further includes the step of providing a reference beam at an angle to allow for playback with an incidence angle relative to normal that will provide for total internal reflection within a substrate that supports the hologram.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein said step of secondly exposing further includes the step of providing a reference beam at an angle to allow for playback with an incidence angle relative to normal that will provide for total internal reflection within a substrate that supports the hologram.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the first angular region of coverage is within the second angular region of coverage, and wherein the luminous intensities in the first luminous intensity distribution are greater that the luminous intensities in the second luminous intensity distribution.

6. A hologram made pursuant to a process comprising the steps of:

first exposing a volume hologram recording medium with a first exposure intensity to record a first image which, upon playback, will diffract light over a first angular region of coverage such that the diffracted light has a first predetermined luminous intensity distribution over the first angular coverage; and

secondly exposing the volume hologram recording medium with a second exposure intensity to record a second image which upon playback will diffract light over a second angular region of coverage that is greater than and encompasses the first angular region coverage such that the light diffracted by the second image has a second predetermined luminous intensity distribution over the portion of the second angular region of coverage that is beyond the first angular region of coverage, wherein the second luminous intensity distribution is different from the first luminous intensity distribution.

7. The hologram of claim 6 wherein the first image recorded is the output of a first lenticular lens array, and wherein the second image recorded is the output of a second lenticular lens array.

8. The hologram of claim 6 wherein the first angular region of coverage is within the second angular region of coverage, and wherein the luminous intensities in the first luminous intensity distribution are greater that the luminous intensities in the second luminous intensity distribution.

9. A hologram comprising:

a first recorded image which, upon playback, provides diffracted light having a first predetermined luminous intensity distribution over a first angular region of coverage; and

a second recorded image which, upon playback, provides diffracted light having a second predetermined luminous intensity distribution, different from said first predetermined luminous intensity distribution, over a second angular region of coverage.

10. The hologram of claim 9 wherein the first angular region of coverage is within the second angular region of coverage, and wherein the luminous intensities in the first luminous intensity distribution are greater than the luminous intensities in the second luminous intensity distribution.