Directional light filter and holographic projector system for its production
First Claim
1. A holographic projector system for exposing a photosensitive substrate, comprising:
- a laser light source providing a relatively narrow beam of substantially collimated light;
means for expanding and distributing the intensity profile of said narrow beam to provide an expanded beam of substantially collimated light having a selected energy level distribution;
means for separating said expanded beam into a plurality of at least three substantially collimated beams which diverge with respect to each other, said beam separating means comprising a holographic diffraction grating; and
means for converging said plurality of beams toward each other thereby effecting their subsequent divergence from each other in order to result in crossing of their paths to produce a three-dimensional standing wave interference pattern for incidence upon the substrate, whereby said interference pattern produces a lattice of diverging intensity maxima in the photosensitive substrate, and whereby said converging means comprises a consecutive series of lens elements aligned along a common axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A photosensitive optical body is exposed by a diverging three-dimensional standing wave interference pattern generated by a holographic projector system. The projector system, using binary optics, creates a diverging lattice of hexagonal or square rod-like intensity maxima extending through the optical body. After the standing wave image is recorded and fixed, the optical body will contain a honeycomb-like grid or pattern that will cause either an absorption or a refractive index modulation effect on light that differs in incidence to the direction of normal propagation through the created channels to a focus or convergence point. This produces either a volume-absorption hologram or a volume-phase hologram (transmittance function modulated by the permittivity [index of refraction]) with such properties as depth of focus, high resolution, and a one-way (directional perspective) and anti-glare effect with reduced diffraction. Unique photosensitive aromatic diazo compounds which possess high thermal stability and soluble in non-polar solvents are provided. In the volume-absorption hologram, the compounds react with couplers within the optical body during development to form azo dye in the areas corresponding to destructive interference during exposure. While chiefly intended for use in eyeglass lenses, the optical body may also find use in telescopes, detectors, film and video cameras, and various other optical devices. The holographic projector system also affords a production method of writing highly-corrected peripheral as well as center-field mesh patterns on planar or non-planar surfaces.
29 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A holographic projector system for exposing a photosensitive substrate, comprising:
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a laser light source providing a relatively narrow beam of substantially collimated light; means for expanding and distributing the intensity profile of said narrow beam to provide an expanded beam of substantially collimated light having a selected energy level distribution; means for separating said expanded beam into a plurality of at least three substantially collimated beams which diverge with respect to each other, said beam separating means comprising a holographic diffraction grating; and means for converging said plurality of beams toward each other thereby effecting their subsequent divergence from each other in order to result in crossing of their paths to produce a three-dimensional standing wave interference pattern for incidence upon the substrate, whereby said interference pattern produces a lattice of diverging intensity maxima in the photosensitive substrate, and whereby said converging means comprises a consecutive series of lens elements aligned along a common axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of producing a lattice of diverging intensity maxima in a photosensitive substrate, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a substantially collimated beam of light having a selected energy profile; separating the beam with a single optical element comprising a holographic diffraction grating into a plurality of at least three substantially collimated beams which diverge with respect to each other; converging said plurality of beams toward each other through a consecutive series of lens elements aligned on a common axis, thereby to result in crossing of their paths and subsequent diverging of said beams from each other to produce a three-dimensional standing wave interference pattern to produce the lattice of diverging intensity maxima therein. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification