Method and apparatus for making wide exit pupil viewable holograms

A method of recording a holographic image of an object on photographic medium including the steps of

• splitting a beam of coherent light into a reference beam and an image beam,
• directing said image beam toward the object;
• focusing the image of the object in the vertical plane onto a dispersive element;
• focusing the image of the dispersive element in the vertical plane onto or near the plane of said medium;
• focusing the image from said object in a horizontal plane onto horizontal exit pupil forming optics and directing the light therefrom onto said medium;
• and
• simultaneously illuminating said medium with said reference beam at a predetermined angle in the vertical plane.

Apparatus for recording a holographic image of an object on photosensitive medium including:

• means for generating a coherent beam of light;
• means for splitting said beam of light into a reference beam and an image beam;
• means for directing said image beam toward the object to be recorded;
• a diffuse screen;
• means for focusing the image of said object in both the vertical and the horizontal planes onto said diffuse screen;
• means for focusing the image on said diffuse screen in said vertical plane onto or near the plane of said medium while the light from said diffuse screen in the horizontal plane is incident on said medium without being focused thereon;
• and
• means for simultaneously directing said reference beam onto said medium at a predetermined angle in the vertical plane.

Apparatus for recording a holographic image of an object on photosensitive medium including:

• means for generating a coherent beam of light;
• means for splitting said beam of light into a reference beam and an image beam;
• means for directing said image beam toward the object to be recorded;
• first directional dispersion means for dispersing light in the vertical plane;
• means for focusing the image of said object in the vertical plane onto said vertical dispersion means;
• means for focusing the image on said dispersion element in said vertical plane onto or near the plane of said medium;
• second directional dispersion means for dispersing light in the horizontal plane;
• means for focusing the image of said object in the horizontal plane onto said horizontal dispersion means whereby the light from said horizontal dispersion means is directed onto said medium;
• and
• means for simultaneously directing said reference beam onto said medium at a predetermined angle in the vertical plane.

Apparatus for recording a holographic image of an object on photosensitive medium including:

• means for generating a coherent beam of light;
• means for splitting said beam of light into a reference beam and an image beam;
• means for directing said image beam toward an object to be recorded;
• first directional dispersion means for dispersing light in the vertical plane;
• lens means for focusing the image of said object in the vertical plane onto said vertical dispersion means;
• lens means for focusing the image on said dispersion element in said vertical plane onto or near the plane of said medium;
• second directional dispersion means for dispersing light in the horizontal plane;
• means for focusing the image of said object in the horizontal plane onto said horizontal dispersion means;
• an anamorphic horizontal exit pupil forming lens;
• a mask including means forming a vertical slit therein, said mask being positioned near the minimum focal band of said horizontal exit pupil forming lens;
• means for positioning said medium near said mask;
• and
• means for simultaneously directing said reference beam onto said medium at a predetermined angle in the vertical plane.

Apparatus for recording a holographic image of an object on photosensitive medium including:

• means for generating a coherent beam of light;
• means for splitting said beam of light into a reference beam and an image beam;
• means for directing said image beam toward the object to be recorded;
• first directional dispersion means for dispersing light in the vertical plane;
• lens means for focusing the image of said object in the vertical plane onto said vertical dispersion means;
• lens means for focusing the image on said dispersion element in said vertical plane onto or near the plane of said medium;
• lens means for directing the image of said object in the horizontal plane onto horizontal exit pupil means including
• an anamorphic horizontal exit pupil forming lens;
• a mask including means forming a vertical slit therein, said mask being positioned near the minimum focal band of said horizontal exit pupil forming lens,
• means for positioning said photosensitive medium adjacent said mask, and
• means for simultaneously directing said reference beam onto said medium at a predetermined angle in the vertical plane.

Apparatus for recording a holographic image of an object on photosensitive medium including:

• means for generating a coherent beam of light;
• means for splitting said beam of light into a reference beam and an image beam;
• means for directing said image beam toward the object to be recorded;
• first directional dispersion means for dispersing light in the vertical plane;
• lens means for focusing the image of said object in the vertical plane onto said vertical dispersion means;
• lens means for focusing the image on said dispersion element in said vertical plane onto or near the plane of said medium;
• lens means for focusing the image of said object in the horizontal plane onto horizontal exit pupil means including
• a horizontal dispersion element, and
• a mask including means forming a vertically arranged slit,
• wherein the dispersive power of said horizontal dispersion element is sufficient to direct rays through the slit from all parts of the dispersion element in the horizontal plane,
• means for supporting said medium adjacent said mask, and
• means for simultaneously directing said reference beam onto said medium at a predetermined angle in the vertical plane.

Apparatus for recording a full color holographic image on photosensitive medium which is capable of being viewed from a wide vertical viewing angle when illuminated by incoherent light, said apparatus including

• means for generating a plurality of coherent beams of light at different colors,
• means for splitting said beam of light into reference beams and image beams,
• means for directing each image beam toward an object to be recorded,
• means for dispersing light in the vertical plane,
• means for focusing the image of the object in the vertical plane onto said dispersing means,
• means for focusing the image formed on said dispersing means in the vertical plane onto or near the plane of the medium,
• a horizontal dispersion element,
• means for focusing the image of the object in the horizontal plane onto said horizontal dispersion element,
• anamorphic lens means for gathering the light from said horizontal dispersion element and directing it toward said medium, and
• a mask, including means forming a vertical slit therein, positioned near the minimum focal band of said anamorphic lens and adjacent said medium,
• means for advancing said medium horizontally by an amount at least equal to the width of the image formed on said medium as it is exposed through said mask prior to each successive exposure, and
• means for simultaneously directing said reference beams onto said medium at separate predetermined angles in the vertical plane.

Apparatus for recording a holographic image of an object on photosensitive medium including:

• means for generatig a coherent beam of light;
• means for splitting said beam of light into a reference beam and an image beam;
• means for directing said image beam toward the object to be recorded;
• first directional dispersion means for dispersing light in the vertical plane;
• lens means for focusing the image of said object in the vertical plane onto said vertical dispersion means;
• lens means for focusing the image on said dispersion element in said vertical plane onto or near the plane of said medium;
• lens means for focusing the image of said object in the horizontal plane onto horizontal exit pupil means including a horizontal dispersion element having dispersive power sufficient to direct rays from all parts of the dispersion element in the horizontal plane onto said medium;
• means for supporting said film to receive the dispersed light from said horizontal dispersion element;
• and
• means for simultaneously directing said reference beam onto said medium at a predetermined angle in the vertical plane.