Method and apparatus for generating a visible image with an infrared transmissive window
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising an element having a surface and structure, the structure comprising a holographic fringe pattern embossed in the surface of the element, the structure operable to cooperate with visible light rays to generate an image which is visible at a location spaced from said element, wherein infrared radiation passes through said element and said structure thereof without significant change.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle (10) includes an infrared imaging system (11). The system includes an infrared camera (12) positioned in the center of the front grille of the vehicle. The infrared camera includes a window (13) that has a holographic fringe pattern (14) which cooperates with visible light rays (27, 47, 52, 57) to generate an image (29) that is visible at a location spaced from the vehicle. The visible image may, for example, be a trademark or other symbol identifying the manufacturer of the vehicle. Infrared radiation (31) passes through the element and the structure thereof without significant change, and is detected by an infrared detector (33). A visible image corresponding to the infrared radiation is ultimately displayed by a head up display (19) on a portion (16) of the vehicle windshield (17).
83 Citations
21 Claims
- 1. An apparatus comprising an element having a surface and structure, the structure comprising a holographic fringe pattern embossed in the surface of the element, the structure operable to cooperate with visible light rays to generate an image which is visible at a location spaced from said element, wherein infrared radiation passes through said element and said structure thereof without significant change.
- 4. An apparatus comprising an element having a surface and an image-generating structure, the structure comprising a holographic fringe pattern embossed in the surface of the element, the structure operable to cooperate with visible light rays to generate an image which is visible at a location spaced from said element by being configured so that at least a portion of visible radiation arriving at said element on a first side thereof is influenced by said structure and thereafter travels away from said element on said first side thereof and represents a elected image which is different from an image of said element and which is visible to a naked eye at a location spaced from said element on said first side thereof, and said structure being further configured so that infrared radiation arriving at said element on said first side thereof passes through said element and said structure to a second side of said element in a manner free of any significant influence by said structure.
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17. A method comprising the steps of:
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generating a visible image by causing at least a portion of visible radiation arriving at an element on a first side thereof to be influenced by structure of said element and to thereafter travel away from said element on said first side thereof while representing a selected image which is different from an image of said element and which is visible to a naked eye at a location spaced from said element on said first side thereof, the element having a surface, the structure comprising a holographic fringe pattern embossed in the surface of the element; and
passing infrared radiation which arrives at said element on said first side thereof through said element and said structure to a second side of said element in a manner free of any significant influence by said structure. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification