Freeform holographic imaging apparatus and method
AssigneeHazen Paper Company
InventorsJohn Hazen, Larry Hoague
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A freeform holographic imaging apparatus includes an imaging table for supporting a substrate, an imaging beam positioned adjacent to the imaging table; and a controller operatively connected to the imaging beam and configured to control a position of the imaging beam with respect to the imaging table. The controller is configured to control the imaging beam to image first and second holographic optical elements on the substrate, wherein each of the first and second holographic optical elements are a single pixel. The first holographic optical element is imaged according to a first parameter set and the second holographic optical element is imaged according to a second parameter set.
Claims15
A freeform holographic recording apparatus, comprising:
- a recording table for supporting a tangible substrate;
- a single recording laser positioned adjacent to said recording table;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to said single recording laser and configured to control a position of said recording laser with respect to said recording table;
- wherein said controller is configured to receive an input including a holographic pattern to be recorded, said holographic pattern having at least first and second holographic optical elemqents;
- wherein said input further includes non-holographic patterns having an associated non-holographic parameter set;
- wherein said controller determines a first parameter set corresponding to said first holographic optical element and a second parameter set corresponding to said second holographic element;
- wherein said controller is configured to determine a recording sequence for said holographic pattern and said non-holographic patterns in dependence upon the determined parameter sets for each holographic optical element of said pattern, and said non-holographic parameter set;
- wherein said controller is configured to control said single recording laser to permanently record said holographic pattern including said first and said second holographic optical elements on said tangible substrate, said imaging laser also permanently recording said non-holographic patterns on said tangible substrate, such that said holographic patterns and said non-holographic patterns are recorded during a common imaging process;
- and
- wherein said controller is configured to control said single recording laser to create diffraction gratings on a surface of said tangible substrate to record said first and second holographic optical elements, and said non-holographic patterns, during said common recording process without manually manipulating said recording table, said substrate or said single recording laser;
- wherein said common recording process causes the deformation of the surface of said tangible substrate.
A method of recording an integrated holographic pattern having a plurality of optical elements, said method comprising the steps of:
- arranging a single recording beam adjacent to a tangible substrate;
- preloading a holographic pattern into a controller, said holographic pattern including a plurality of holographic optical elements including at least a first optical element and a second optical element, said first optical element having a first holographic parameter set and said second optical element having a second holographic parameter set;
- preloading a non-holographic pattern into said controller, said non-holographic pattern having a non-holographic parameter set;
- determining a recording sequence for said holographic pattern and said non-holographic pattern in dependence upon said first and said second parameter sets for each optical element of said pattern, and said non-holographic parameter set, said first and second parameter sets and said non-holographic parameter set forming an integrated recording parameter set;
- and
- controlling said single recording beam to create diffraction gratings on a surface of said tangible substrate to permanently record said integrated recording parameter set in a single imaging session without manually manipulating elements of a recording apparatus between recording of said first optical element and said second optical element,
- wherein said single imaging session causes the deformation of the surface of said tangible substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.