Hologram Imaging Techniques And Holograms

A method of imaging a volume reflection hologram on a surface, said surface bearing said volume reflection hologram and printing, said hologram and said printing being at least partially co-incident, the method comprising:

• illuminating said surface at a first angle, said first angle being selected such that a first image stored in said volume reflection hologram is replayed;
• capturing a first image of said illuminated surface, said first image comprising an image of said printing and of said first stored image;
• illuminating said surface at a second angle, said second angle being selected such that substantially no image is replayed by said volume reflection hologram;
• capturing a second image of said illuminated surface, said second image comprising an image of said printing substantially without an image stored in said hologram;
• and
• generating an image of said first image stored in said hologram from said first captured image and said second captured image.

Apparatus for imaging a volume reflection hologram on a surface, said surface bearing said volume reflection hologram and printing, said hologram and said printing being at least partially co-incident, the apparatus comprising:

• means for illuminating said surface at a first angle, said first angle being selected such that a first image stored in said volume reflection hologram is replayed;
• means for capturing a first image of said illuminated surface, said first image comprising an image of said printing and of said first stored image;
• means for illuminating said surface at a second angle, said second angle being selected such that substantially no image is replayed by said volume reflection hologram;
• means for capturing a second image of said illuminated surface, said second image comprising an image of said printing substantially without an image stored in said hologram;
• and
• means for outputting said first and second image for generating an image of said first image stored in said hologram from said first captured image and said second captured image.

A hologram reader for reading a volume reflection hologram on a surface also bearing printing, the reader comprising:

• at least one light source;
• an optical system coupled to said at least one light source for illuminating said surface at first and second angles, said first angle being different to said second angle;
• and
• an image capture device for capturing first and second images of said surface when illuminated at said first and second angles respectively.

A method of imaging a hologram on a surface, said surface bearing said hologram and printing, said hologram and said printing being at least partially co-incident, the method comprising:

• illuminating said surface at a first angle to replay an image stored in said hologram;
• capturing a first image of said illuminated surface, said first image comprising an image of said printing and of said stored image;
• illuminating said surface at a second angle to replay said stored image, said second angle being selected such that corresponding portions of said stored image replayed at said first and second angles have different colours;
• capturing a second image of said illuminated surface, said second image comprising an image of said printing and of said differently coloured stored image;
• and
• generating an image of said image stored in said hologram from said first captured image and said second captured image.

Apparatus for imaging a hologram on a surface, said surface bearing said hologram and printing, said hologram and said printing being at least partially co-incident, the apparatus comprising:

• means for illuminating said surface at a first angle to replay an image stored in said hologram;
• means for capturing a first image of said illuminated surface, said first image comprising an image of said printing and of said stored image;
• means for illuminating said surface at a second angle to replay said stored image, said second angle being selected such that corresponding portions of said stored image replayed at said first and second angles have different colours;
• means for capturing a second image of said illuminated surface, said second image comprising an image of said printing and of said differently coloured stored image;
• and
• means for generating an image of said image stored in said hologram from said first captured image and said second captured image.