Methods of and apparatus for manipulating electromagnetic phenomenon
OwnerCarl R. Amosinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of and apparatus for manipulating beamed electromagnetic phenomenon comprises a generator (20) of aligned conical or pyramidal elements (21a-21f) each having conical or pyramidal inner and outer surfaces (24a-24f and 23a-23f). When the beamed electromagnetic phenomenon includes a zero-order component the elements (21a-21f) minimize or eliminate the zero-order component allowing for devices such as on-axis holographic displays, demodulators and optical processors for computers.
Claims36
An apparatus for manipulating a beam of electromagnetic energy, said beam having a zero-order component, the apparatus comprising:
- a source for projecting the beam of electromagnetic energy;
- means for receiving the beam of electromagnetic energy;
- and
- at least one truncated pyramidal element having a plurality of aligned outer pyramidal and inner pyramidal surfaces nested one within the other with a at least one of said surfaces being a reflective surface, said truncated pyramidal surfaces being disposed between the source for projecting the beam and means for receiving the beam, the pyramidal surface being constructed and arranged so as to eliminate the zero-order component of the beam.
An apparatus for manipulation of electromagnetic energy in the form of coaxial reference and object beams having a zero-order component, the apparatus comprising:
- means for projecting the beams of electromagnetic energy;
- means for receiving the beams of electromagnetic energy;
- means for eliminating the zero-order component, said means for eliminating the zero-order component comprising a plurality of aligned pyramidal elements having inner and outer pyramidal surfaces at least one of said surfaces being reflective, said surfaces combining to have a shape which satisfies the Dirchlet conditions necessary for representation by a three-dimensional Fourier series.
An apparatus for demultiplexing a multiplexed optical signal transmitted by an optical element, said apparatus comprising:
- means for projecting the multiplexed optical signal from the optical element;
- demultiplexing means aligned with the projecting means, the demultiplexing means comprising a plurality of aligned pyramidal elements having inner and outer pyramidal surfaces, at least one of said surfaces being reflective, said surfaces combining to have a shape which satisfies the Dirchlet conditions necessary for representation by a three-dimensional Fourier series, said demultiplexing means generating a demultiplexed output signal;
- and
- means juxtaposed with the demultiplexing means for receiving and utilizing the demultiplexed output signal.
An optical computer comprising:
- input means providing pulsed optical signals;
- a pyramidal generator means comprising at least one truncated pyramidal element having outer pyramidal and inner pyramidal surfaces with at least one of said surfaces being a reflective surface, said pyramidal generator means being disposed in axial alignment with the input means;
- an acceptor ring axially aligned with the pyramidal generator for collecting the pulsed optical signals;
- counter/memory means for counting and storing the pulsed optical signals and for providing output signals in accordance with the logic therein;
- an optical feedback circuit for looping the output signals of the counter/memory means back through the generator, acceptance ring and counter/memory;
- and
- output means connected to the counter/memory means for utilizing output signals from the counter/memory means.
An apparatus for making a hologram, the apparatus comprising:
- means for generating a reference beam along an axis extending in a first direction;
- means for modulating the reference beam, said modulation means comprising a plurality of axially aligned pyramidal elements having inner and outer pyramidal surfaces, at least one of said surfaces being reflective, said surfaces combining to have a shape which satisfies the Dirchlet conditions necessary for representation by a three-dimensional Fourier series;
- a holographic emulsion having first and second opposed surfaces and being disposed in alignment with the modulating means for receiving the reference beam as modulated by the modulating means on the first surface of the holographic emulsion;
- and
- means for generating an object beam, said object beam generating means positioned to impinge the object beam on the second surface of the holographic emulsion.
A method of manipulating a beam of electromagnetic radiation wherein the beam is comprised of a reference beam and an object beam and wherein the beam includes a zero-order component, the method comprising the step of minimizing the zero-order component by impinging the beam axially on a nested array of aligned pyramidal elements, each having inner and outer pyramidal surfaces, at least one of said surfaces being reflective, said surfaces combining to have a shape which satisfies the Dirchlet conditions necessary for representation by a Fourier series.
An apparatus for demultiplexing a multiplexed optical signal transmitted by an optical element, said apparatus comprising:
- means for projecting the multiplexed optical signal from the optical element;
- demultiplexing means aligned with the projecting means, the demultiplexing means comprising a plurality of aligned optical elements having inner and outer pyramidal surfaces, at least one of said surfaces being reflective, said surfaces combining to have a shape which satisfies the Dirchlet conditions necessary for representation by a three-dimensional Fourier series, said demultiplexing means generating a demultiplexed output signal;
- and
- means juxtaposed with the demultiplexing means for receiving and utilizing the demultiplexed output signal.
An apparatus for making a hologram the apparatus comprising:
- means for generating a reference beam along an axis extending in a first direction;
- means for modulating the reference beam, said modulation means comprising a plurality of axially aligned optical elements having inner and outer optical surfaces, at least one of said surfaces being reflective, said surfaces combining to have a shape which satisfies the Dirchlet conditions necessary for representation by a three-dimensional Fourier series;
- a holographic emulsion having first and second opposed surfaces and being disposed in alignment with the modulating means for receiving the reference beam as modulated by the modulating means on the first surface of the holographic emulsion;
- and
- means for generating an object beam, said object beam generating means positioned to impinge the object beam on the second surface of the holographic emulsion.
A method of manipulating a beam of electromagnetic radiation wherein the beam is comprised of a reference beam and an object beam and wherein the beam includes a zero-order component, the method comprising the step of minimizing the zero-order component by impinging the beam axially on a nested array of aligned optical elements, each having inner and outer surfaces, at least one of said surfaces being reflective, said surfaces combining to have a shape which satisfies the Dirchlet conditions necessary for representation by a Fourier series.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.