Image recording apparatus and image recording method as well as recording medium

• US 6,597,475 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2000
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shirakura, Akira, Kihara, Nobuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, AUDREY Y
• Application Number:
  US09/527,852
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 359/12, 359/13, 359/34, 359/1, 359/15, 359/30, 359/35
• US Class Current: 359/12
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0408 Total internal reflection [TIR] holograms, e.g. edge lit or substrate mode holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/202 Contact copy when the reconstruction beam for the master H1 also serves as reference beam for the copy H2
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/268 Holographic stereogram
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2227/04 Production line for mass production

Abstract

An image recording apparatus and an image recording method can be suitably used for preparing a large number of edge-lit type holograms or holographic stereograms in a simple manner by copying. A hologram recording medium 11 is applied onto a principal surface 10a of a light-introducing block for copying 10 and held in contact with a master 15. Then, reference light L equivalent to reproducing light for reproducing the image of the master 15 is introduced into the light-introducing block for copying 10 through an end face thereof 10b.

Claims

1. An image recording apparatus for copying image information recorded on a master comprising a holographic stereogram that carries the image information thereon, said image recording apparatus comprising:

an exposure processing section directing a reference light to strike an end face of a light-transmitting block-shaped optical member, a recording material being laid on said master, said master and said recording material being optically held in contact with said optical member, wherein

said master is an edge-lit type holographic stereogram;

said reference light enters said optical member with an angle of incidence that generates a reflected light for reproducing the image information of said master in an edge-lit arrangement;

said recording material records an edge-lit type holographic stereogram when said reflected light interferes with said reference light; and

said optical member has the same profile as that of an optical member on which the recording material is to be attached after the image information is recorded thereon.

2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical member is a light-transmitting block having a rectangular profile, and said recording material, on which the image information is recorded, is to be attached onto another light-transmitting block having the same rectangular profile, said another light-transmitting block allowing light to said recording material attached thereon for reproducing the image information recorded in said recording medium.

3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical member has a cylindrical profile, and said recording material, on which the image information is recorded, is to be attached onto a light-transmitting block having the same cylindrical profile, wherein another light-transmitting block allowing light to enter said recording material is attached thereon for reproducing the image information recorded in said recording material.

4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said master comprises a layer of holographic material on which a holographic image is recorded and at least one of a base layer and a protection layer.

5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording material comprises a layer of holographic material on which a holographic image is recorded and at least one of a base layer and a protection layer.

6. An image recording method for copying image information recorded on a master comprising a holographic stereogram that carries the image information thereon, said image recording method comprising the steps of:

directing a reference light from an exposure processing section to strike an end face of a light-transmitting block-shaped optical member, a recording material being laid on said master, said master and said recording material being optically held in contact with said optical member;

wherein

said master is an edge-lit type holographic stereogram,

reproducing the image information of said master in an edge-lit arrangement by causing said reference light to enter said optical member at an angle of incidence that generates a reflected reproducing light,

recording an edge-lit type holographic stereogram on said recording material when said reflected reproducing light interferes with said reference light, and

wherein said optical member has the same profile as that of an optical member on which the recording material is to be attached after the image information is recorded thereon.

7. An apparatus for copying image information recorded on a master comprising a holographic stereogram that carries the image information thereon to a recording material, said apparatus comprising:

a supply section supplying said recording material; and

an exposure processing section performing exposure processing on said recording material to produce an edge-lit type holographic stereogram;

wherein

said exposure processing section comprises;

an arrangement part bringing said recording material that is supplied and said master optically in contact with each other, and bringing them into optical contact with a light-transmitting block-shaped optical member, and

an optical system directing a reference light to strike an end face of said optical member;

wherein

said master is an edge-lit type holographic stereogram;

said reference light enters said optical member at an angle of incidence that generates a reflected light for reproducing the image information of said master in an edge-lit arrangement;

said recording material records an edge-lit type holographic stereogram when said reflected light interferes with said reference light; and

said optical member has the same profile as that of an optical member on which the recording material is to be attached after the image information is recorded thereon.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said recording material is a film type;

and

said supply section comprises

a storing part storing said recording material; and

a transfer part transferring said recording material from said storing part to said arrangement part.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

said arrangement part comprises

a first arrangement part bringing said optical member into optical contact with said recording material that is transferred by said transfer part;

and

a second arrangement part bringing said master into optical contact with said recording material.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

said recording material comprises a first layer made of material including a photopolymer, and a second layer protecting said first layer;

and

said transfer part comprises a second layer removing part removing said second layer during transferring of said recording material.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said arrangement part brings said master and said optical member into optical contact with each other, and brings said recording material and said master into optical contact with each other.