Multiple format holographic CHMSLS

• US 5,495,227 A
• Filed: 02/23/1995
• Issued: 02/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Virgadamo, Michael J., Smith, Ronald T., Wreede, John E., Upper, Richard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US08/392,672
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 340/479, 340/980, 345/7, 345/8, 345/9, 359/14
• US Class Current: 340/479
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/32 Holograms used as optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0248 Volume holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/2202 Reconstruction geometries or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/30 discrete holograms only
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/0439 for recording Holographic Optical Element [HOE] HOE per se G02B5/32
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/0482 Interference based printer
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2615 in physical contact, i.e. layered holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2227/06 Support including light source

Abstract

A hologram structure for use in a holographic center high mounted stoplight system for a vehicle. The hologram structure includes first and second hologram layers laminarly secured to each other, each having a plurality of holographic lenses formed therein, each holographic lens being configured to diffract light into a predetermined solid angular region.

Claims

1. A holographic center high mounted stoplight system for a vehicle, comprising:

a light source for providing a reconstruction beam;

a first array of non-overlapping transmission holographic lenses, each of said holographic lenses being configured to diffract a portion of the reconstruction beam into a first predetermined angular field that extends rearwardly relative to the vehicle, said first predetermined angular field comprising a central angular region having vertical and horizontal extent; and

a second array of non-overlapping transmission holographic lenses superimposed with said first array of non-overlapping transmission holographic lenses, each of said holographic lenses in said second holographic layer configured to diffract a portion of said reconstruction beam into a second predetermined angular field that extends rearwardly relative to the vehicle, said second predetermined angular field comprising first and second peripheral angular regions on either side of said central angular region;

whereby said portions of said reconstruction beam that are diffracted by said holographic lenses of said first and second holograms form stoplight illumination.

2. The holographic center high mounted stoplight system of claim 1 wherein said first array of transmission holographic lenses is formed in a first hologram layer, and wherein said second array of transmission holographic lenses is formed in a second hologram layer, said first and second hologram layers being laminarly attached to each other.

3. The holographic center high mounted stoplight system of claim 2 wherein each of said transmission holographic lenses of said first array produces an image of a point source, and wherein each of said transmission holographic lenses of said second array produces an image of a line source.

4. The holographic center high mounted stoplight system of claim 3 wherein said image of a point source and said image of a line source are displaced away from one side of said hologram layers.

5. The holographic center high mounted stoplight system of claim 3 wherein said image of a point source is displaced away from one side of said hologram layers, and wherein said image of a line source is displaced from another side of said hologram layers.

6. The holographic center high mounted stoplight system of claim 1 wherein said first array of transmission holographic lenses and said second array of transmission holographic lenses are formed in a single hologram layer.

7. The holographic center high mounted stoplight system of claim 6 wherein each of said transmission holographic lenses of said first array produces an image of a point source, and wherein each of said transmission holographic lenses of said second array produces an image of a line source.

8. The holographic center high mounted stoplight system of claim 7 wherein said image of a point source and said image of a line source are displaced away from one side of said single hologram layer.

9. The holographic center high mounted stoplight system of claim 7 wherein said image of a point source is displaced away from one side of said single hologram layer, and wherein said image of a line source is displaced from another side of said single hologram layer.

10. The holographic center high mounted stoplight system of claim 1 wherein said transmission holographic lenses of said first array and said transmission holographic lenses of said second array are substantially identical in shape and arrangement.

11. The holographic center high mounted stoplight system of claim 10 wherein said first array of transmission holographic lenses is formed in a first hologram layer, and wherein said second array of transmission holographic lenses is formed in a second hologram layer, said first and second hologram layers being laminarly attached to each other.

12. The holographic center high mounted stoplight system of claim 11 wherein each of said transmission holographic lenses of said first array produces an image of a point source, and wherein each of said transmission holographic lenses of said second array produces an image of a line source.

13. The holographic center high mounted stoplight system of claim 10 wherein said first array of transmission holographic lenses and said second array of transmission holographic lenses are formed in a single hologram layer.

14. The holographic center high mounted stoplight system of claim 13 wherein each of said transmission holographic lenses of said first array produces an image of a point source, and wherein each of said transmission holographic lenses of said second array produces an image of a line source.

15. A hologram exposure system comprising:

an array of holographic optical elements each configured to produce a beam having a predetermined angular field;

a reconstruction beam for illuminating said array of holographic optical elements;

a plurality of masks respectively disposed on respective ones of said holographic optical elements for masking said holographic optical elements such that each holographic optical element produces an output that includes a plurality of beams;

a construction beam; and

a hologram recording layer illuminated by the output beams of said holographic optical elements and said construction beam for recording a hologram therein.