Apparatus for reading a hologram

• US 7,911,666 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: tesa scribos GmbH (Leonhard KURZ Stiftung & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: tesa scribos GmbH (Leonhard KURZ Stiftung & Company KG)
• Inventors: Scheibenstock, Steffen, Dietrich, Christoph
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavarias; Arnel C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chwasz; Jade R
• Application Number:
  US11/597,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20080068687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,923 Days
• Field of Search: 359/9, 359/15
• US Class Current: 359/9
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/00 Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/025 and magnifying means
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/22 Processes or apparatus for obtaining an optical image from holograms G03H1/26 - G03H1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/2205 using downstream optical component
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/2249 Holobject properties
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/221 Element having optical power, e.g. field lens
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2231 Reflection reconstruction
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2234 Transmission reconstruction
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2247 for testing the hologram or holobject
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2210/20 2D object
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2227/06 Support including light source

Abstract

An apparatus for reading a hologram, in particular a computer-generated hologram, that includes a radiation source for irradiation of the hologram with a read beam composed of electromagnetic radiation, and an outlet opening for receiving an image that is produced from the hologram. The apparatus may allow both greater variability and greater convenience in use with a simple design. The apparatus further includes optics having at least two lenses in which a focal point of the first lens and a focal point of the second lens are each arranged essentially on one plane, and in which the hologram is arranged in front of the second lens as viewed along the beam direction.

Claims

1. An apparatus for reading a computer-generated hologram contained in a storage medium, the apparatus comprising:

a radiation source for irradiation of the hologram contained in the storage medium with a read beam composed of electromagnetic radiation;

an outlet opening for receiving an image that is produced from the hologram;

optics including at least a first lens and a second lens; and

a holding section for holding the apparatus with one hand;

wherein the apparatus is configured to be placed on the storage medium that contains the hologram;

wherein a focal point of the first lens and a focal point of the second lens are each arranged essentially on one plane;

wherein the optics are configured such that the first lens is positioned between the hologram and the outlet opening and such that the second lens is positioned between the first lens and the outlet opening; and

wherein the optics are configured to produce a reconstruction of the hologram on a retina of a human eye.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first lens and the second lens are convex.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the first lens and the second lens is convex, and the other of the first lens and the second lens is concave.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the focal length of the first lens is different than the focal length of the second lens.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or both of the first lens and the second lens are configured to be moved axially along the beam path.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a device for movement configured to move one of the first lens or the second lens out of a beam path and into the beam path.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein an illumination device is provided for illumination of the hologram.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the device for movement and the illumination device are coupled to one another.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the device for movement and the radiation source are coupled to one another.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the movement device is configured to pivot either the first lens or the second lens out of the beam path and into the beam path.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the read beam is a laser beam.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a shutter for shadowing of the read beam that is reflected or transmitted by the hologram.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet opening includes a hood matched to a human eye for shadowing of interference light.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one positioning device for positioning of the apparatus with respect to the hologram.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a device for adjustment of a size of an area of the hologram that is irradiated by the read beam.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a device for positioning of an area of the hologram that is irradiated by the read beam.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a device for adjustment of a beam power of the read beam.