Underwater inspection apparatus and method

• US 5,184,230 A
• Filed: 12/31/1990
• Issued: 02/02/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: British Technology Group Ltd. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: British Technology Group Ltd. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Watson, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Lerner, Martin
• Application Number:
  US07/634,120
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 350/3.66, 350/3.67, 350/3.8, 359/9, 359/10, 359/11, 359/27, 359/30, 359/901
• US Class Current: 359/9
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/00 Holographic processes or apparatus using light, infrared or ultraviolet waves for obtaining holograms or for obtaining an image from them; Details peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/10 using modulated reference beam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/901 Acoustic holography

Abstract

A holographic recording and reproducing system for recording holographic images of an object positioned in a first medium and replaying said images in a second medium incorporates means for enhancing the relative sensitivity of the system to radiation capable of producing said holographic images.

Claims

1. A holographic recording and reproducing system comprising:

means for using a beam of radiation from a source for recording holographic images of an object positioned in a first medium and replaying said images in a second medium;

means selectively responsive to the polarization of radiation reflected from said source; and

gating means for selectively limiting an extent, in a direction of propagation of said radiation, of the region from which images are recorded substantially to reduce the effect on a photosensitive medium of radiation other than radiation capable of producing said holographic images, wherein said gating means includes coherence gating means selectively to receive radiation from a predetermined target region.

2. A holographic recording and reproducing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gating means includes range gating means selectively to receive radiation from a predetermined target region.

3. A holographic recording and reproducing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising narrowband filter means selectively to pass radiation from said source to said recording means.

4. A holographic recording and reproducing system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a source of coherent radiation adapted to operate in the green region of the visible spectrum.

5. A holographic recording and reproducing system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the source of coherent radiation is a frequency-doubled Nd-YAG laser.