Abstract:
Disclosed are a holographic optical element (HOE) and a method of producing the HOE. In one embodiment of the method, a substrate is provided which is capable of recording a hologram or diffraction gratings. This substrate is illuminated with a first pair of light beams and a second pair of light beams. The first pair of light beams intersect within the substrate. The second pair of light beams also intersect within the substrate. Additionally, the first pair of light beams intersect at a region within the substrate where the second pair of light beams intersect. Normally, each of the first pair of light beams comprises light of a first wavelength, and each of the second pair of light beams comprises light of a second wavelength, where the first wavelength is different from the second wavelength.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. application Ser. No. 60/181,628 filed Feb. 10, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Multicolor holographic optical elements (HOEs), whether static or dynamic, can be produced by stacking separate substrates. Each of these separate substrates records a single hologram or set of diffraction gratings that operate on a specific wavelength or wavelength band of incident light while passing or transmitting the remaining wavelengths of incident light with little or no diffraction. The individual substrates can be stacked together between a pair of electrodes to form an electrically switchable holographic optical element (ESHOE). FIG. 1 a  shows a cross section of an exemplary multicolor ESHOE  10  having three substrates  12 R- 12 G positioned between a pair of light transparent electrodes  14  and a pair of light transparent and electrically non-conductive layers  16  (e.g., glass). The three substrates  12 R- 12 G record holograms (i.e., a set of diffraction gratings) that diffract red, blue, and green wavelength light, respectively, when active. FIG. 1 a  shows ESHOE  10  operating in the active state with substrates  12 R- 12 G concurrently diffracting red, blue, and green wavelength components, respectively, of incident light  20  to produce diffracted red, blue, and green wavelength output lights  22 R- 22 G, respectively. It is noted that substrates  12 R- 12 G are wavelength specific, e.g., substrate  12 R diffracts red wavelength light when active while passing the remaining components of incident light  20  with no or little diffraction. Further, substrates  12 R- 12 G operate on s or p-polarized components of incident light when active.  
           [0003]    When voltage of a sufficient magnitude is applied to electrodes  14 , an electric field is simultaneously created in substrates  12 R- 12 G, and ESHOE  10  switches to the inactive mode. FIG. 1 b  shows the ESHOE of FIG. 1 a  operating in the inactive mode. In the inactive mode, all or substantially all of incident light  20  passes through ESHOE  10  with little or no diffraction.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention relates to HOEs and a method of producing the HOEs. The present invention finds application in both static and dynamic or switchable HOEs. In one embodiment of the method, a substrate is provided which is capable of recording a hologram or diffraction gratings. This substrate is illuminated with a first pair of light beams and a second pair of light beams. The first pair of light beams intersect within the substrate. The second pair of light beams also intersect within the substrate. Additionally, the first pair of light beams intersect at a region within the substrate where the second pair of light beams intersect. Normally, each of the first pair of light beams comprises light of a first wavelength, and each of the second pair of light beams comprises light of a second wavelength, where the first wavelength is different from the second wavelength.  
           [0005]    In the embodiment where resulting HOE is switchable, the method further comprises placing the substrate between a pair of electrically conductive and light transparent layers. In this embodiment, the HOE operates between active and inactive states. In the active state, the HOE diffracts light of the first and second wavelengths. In the inactive state HOE transmits light of the first and second and wavelengths without substantial alteration.  
           [0006]    Preferably, the HOE is produced with the substrate concurrently illuminated by the first and second pairs of light beams so that, for example, a point of the substrate is concurrently illuminated with all beams of the first and second pairs of light beams. Alternatively, the HOE could be produced with the substrate illuminated by the second pair of light beams after the first pair of light beams illuminates the substrate.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The present invention may be better understood, and it&#39;s numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference number throughout the figures designates a like or similar element.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 a  shows a cross-sectional view of a multicolor ESHOE operating in the active state;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 b  shows a cross-sectional view of the multicolor ESHOE of FIG. 1 a  operating in the inactive state  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 a  shows a cross-sectional view of an ESHOE;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 b  illustrates operational aspects of recording a hologram within the ESHOE of FIG. 2 a  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 illustrates aspects of creating multiple light interference fringe patterns within the substrate of the ESHOE shown in FIG. 2 b  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating light intensity distribution within the substrate of the ESHOE shown in FIG. 2 a  during the process of recording a hologram in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  illustrate operational aspects of the ESHOE shown in FIG. 2 a  after the hologram is recorded therein in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0015]    While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, it should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 a  shows a cross-sectional view of an ESHOE  30  before a hologram is recorded therein in accordance with the present invention. As will be more fully described below, the hologram recorded within the ESHOE  30  in accordance with the present invention is, in effect, a superimposition or combination of several holograms. The term superimposed hologram as used in this description is understood to mean a hologram which represents a superimposition or combination of separate holograms. The present invention will be described with reference to forming holograms within a substrate of an ESHOE, it being understood that the present invention may find application to forming superimposed holograms in substrates of static or non-switchable HOEs. The superimposed hologram recorded in ESHOE  30  may take form in a Bragg or volume hologram. Thin phase holograms are also contemplated.  
         [0017]    ESHOE  30  includes a substrate layer  32  made of a material for recording holograms. Substrate  32  is sandwiched between a pair of substantially transparent and electrically conductive layers (e.g., electrodes)  34  and a pair of substantially transparent and electrically nonconductive layers  36 . Layers  32 - 36  are aligned on a common optical axis  38 .  
         [0018]    In one embodiment, substrate  32 , prior to hologram formation therein, is formed from a mixture of liquid crystal (LC) and monomer described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,157, issued to Sutherland et al. and incorporated herein by reference. Materials other than that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,157 may be employed in the substrate of the present invention. The material described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,157 is preferred since its use results in ESHOEs having a relatively high diffraction efficiency, relatively fast switching between active and inactive states, low switching voltages, easier hologram recording and processing, etc. The substrate material could be extended to include materials that are individually responsive to the wavelengths of the red, blue, and green visible light. For example, additional components such as photo-initiators, and other monomers and liquid crystal components that have peak responses at red, blue and green wavelengths, could be added to the material described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,157.  
         [0019]    In one embodiment, the substantially transparent and electrically nonconductive layers  36  may be formed from glass, plastic or other transparent materials. Layers  36  are shown to be flat. The present invention should not be limited thereto. Rather, Layers  36  may be curved with curved front and back surfaces. In this alternative embodiment, substrate  32  and electrodes  34  would likewise be curved to fit the curved shape of layers  36 . Substantially transparent and electrically nonconductive layers  36  will hereinafter be referred to as glass layers  36  it being understood that layers  36  may be formed from other rigid or flexible materials. Substantially transparent and electrically conductive layers  34  may be formed from indium tin oxide (ITO). Alternatively, layers  34  may take form in conducting polymer. Substantially transparent and electrically conductive layers  34  will hereinafter be referred to as electrodes  34 . In practice, electrodes  34  may be formed on respective glass layers  36  using, for example, a vapor deposition technique. It is noted that electronic circuitry for switching the ESHOE  30  between active and inactive modes, as more fully described below, may be formed on one or more of layers  34  using standard semiconductor processing techniques. Although not shown, an anti-reflection coating may be applied to selected surfaces of the layers of ESHOE  30 , including surfaces glass layers  36  and electrodes  34 , to improve the overall transmissive efficiency of ESHOE  30  and to reduce stray light.  
         [0020]    Layers  32 - 36  may have substantially thin cross-sectional widths, thereby providing a substantially thin aggregate in cross section. More particularly, substrate layer  32  may have a cross-sectional width of 5-12 microns (the precise width depending on the spectral bandwidth and required diffraction efficiency) while layers  36  may have a cross-sectional width of 0.4-0.8 mm. Layers  36  could be formed from thin plastic foils of thickness less than 0.1 mm. Obviously, electrodes  34  must be substantially thin to be transparent. The aperture of the hologram recorded in substrate  32  could be as small as 5 mm on one side or 25 mm 2  in total surface area. The aperture could be larger for most conventional optical equipment.  
         [0021]    In general, holograms are created in a substrate using a single pair of recording beams of light, i.e., a reference beam and an object beam. In contrast, the present invention creates a hologram in a single substrate using multiple pairs of recording beams. The term single substrate as used in this description is defined to mean a continuously formed holographic recording medium positioned between a pair of electrodes and/or a pair of glass layers.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 b  shows the ESHOE  30  of FIG. 2 a  illuminated by a first pair of recording beams  40 R and  42 R, a second pair of recording beams  40 B and  42 B, and a third pair of recording beams  40 G and  42 G. The present invention may be implemented with ESHOE  30  illuminated by two or more pairs of recording light beams. ESHOE  30  may be illuminated sequentially by the first, second, and third pairs or recording beams. In a preferred embodiment, ESHOE  30  is concurrently illuminated by the first, second, and third pairs of recording beams. The recording beams of light may be beams of coherent light, preferably laser beams. In principle, the recording beams could be consist of light from near-monchromatic sources or filtered broad sources, but such approaches are unlikely to give acceptable holograms. Each recording beam in a pair may result from a single laser beam which is subsequently split by conventional optics. Thus, the first, second, and third pairs of recording beams may originate from first, second, and third laser light sources, respectively.  
         [0023]    The hologram created by the first, second, and third pairs of recording beams can be seen as a superimposition or combination of separate first, second, and third holograms concurrently created within substrate  32 . The first hologram may be created in response to the first pair of recording beams  40 R and  42 R interacting with each other to create a first light interference fringe pattern F 1  (shown in solid lines in FIG. 3) within substrate  32 . The first light interference fringe pattern is dependent on a phase difference between the two recording beams  40 R and  42 R. The first pair of light beams  40 R and  42 R may consist of light of a first wavelength or wavelength band, preferably in the red region of the visible spectrum. The first interference pattern is three-dimensional in nature.  
         [0024]    The second hologram can be created in response to the second pair of recording beams  40 B and  42 B interacting with each other to create a second light interference fringe pattern F 2  (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3) within substrate  32 . The second light interference pattern is dependent on the phase difference between the two recording beams  40 B and  42 B. The second pair of beams  40 B and  42 B may consist of light of a second wavelength or wavelength band that is different from the first wavelength or wavelength band of beams  40 R and  42 R. Preferably, the second pair of beams  40 B and  42 B consist of light within the blue region of the visible spectrum. The second interference pattern is three-dimensional in nature.  
         [0025]    The third hologram can be created in response to the third pair of recording beams  40 G and  42 G interacting with each other to create a third light interference fringe pattern F 3  (shown as broken lines in FIG. 3) within substrate  32 . The third light interference pattern is dependent on the phase difference between the two recording beams  40 G and  42 G. The third pair of beams  40 G and  42 G may consist of light of a third wavelength or wavelength band that is different from the wavelengths or wavelength bands of beams  40 R,  40 B,  42 R, and  42 B. Preferably, the third pair of beams  40 G and  42 G consist of light within the green region of the visible spectrum. The third interference pattern is three-dimensional in nature.  
         [0026]    If interference fringe patterns F 1 , F 2 , and F 3  are created concurrently, F 1 , F 2 , and F 3  in combination may form a superimposed or combined light interference fringe pattern F (not shown in the drawings). FIG. 4 shows how the intensity distributions of the interference fringe patterns F 1 -F 3  may vary with position in substrate layer  30 , with the intensity of F 1  indicated by solid line I 1 , the intensity of F 2  indicated by dotted line I 2 , and the intensity of F 3  being indicated by broken line I 3 . The superimposition or combination of these intensity distributions gives rise to a combined or superimposed intensity distribution indicated by line I, which in this example, represents the overall intensity distribution of the combined or superimposed fringe pattern F. I and I 1 -I 3  are measured along a direction lying in a plane within the substrate  30  perpendicular to the axis  38 . It is noted that if substrate  32  is substantially small, the entire aperture of the substrate  32  can be concurrently illuminated by the first, second, and third pairs of recording beams thus creating the superimposed hologram in a single step. Alternatively, a small region (e.g., region  44 ) of the substrate  32  may be concurrently illuminated by the first, second, and third pairs of recording beams. In this alternative hologram recording process the first, second, and third pairs of recording beams may be stepped across the aperture of the substrate  32  in unison.  
         [0027]    Interaction of recording beams within the substrate  32  causes photo-polymerization. More particularly, photo-polymerization is initiated in the regions of the substrate  32  where the light intensity of distribution I is relatively high. In these high intensity regions, monomers of the substrate material begin linking with one another to form polymer chains. The rate at which photo-polymerization occurs depends upon the light intensity. The monomers tend to diffuse into higher light intensity regions to link up with the rapidly forming polymer chains. Simultaneously, liquid crystal in the substrate material tends to diffuse into regions of the substrate where the intensity of the light distribution I is relatively low. These regions become saturated with the liquid crystal material, with the result that droplets of liquid crystal precipitate and grow in size as the diffusion process continues. Once the diffusion process has reached an appropriate stage, the substrate  32  is flooded with collimated, coherent light of uniform intensity. This causes regions of liquid crystal droplets to be completely surrounded and locked in by regions of polymer. The regions of liquid crystal droplets are clearly interspersed by regions of polymer to form a pattern that mimics the pattern of light intensity I shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0028]    The creation of the superimposed hologram is described in terms of adding the distributions of light I 1 , I 2 , and I 3  created by the first, second, and third pairs of recording beams, respectively. Each of the first, second, and third pairs of recording beams could individually create first, second, and third holograms, respectively according to I 1 , I 2 , and I 3 . Each of the first, second, and third holograms would have a distinct refractive index modulation. The superimposed hologram can be seen as a superimposition of the first, second, and third holograms, the superimposed hologram having a refractive index modulation that represents the combined effect of the first, second, and third refractive index modulations of the first, second, and third holograms, respectively.  
         [0029]    The regions of liquid crystal droplets within the superimposed hologram are interspersed by regions of clear polymer to form diffraction gratings. The diameter of the liquid crystal droplets are typically within the range of 0.1 to 0.2 microns which is considerably less than the wavelength (0.4 microns to 0.7 microns) of the light of interest. As a result, clouds of droplets form homogeneous regions with an average refractive index that is slightly lower than that of the interspersed polymer regions. The resulting diffraction gratings can simulate a range of optical elements ranging from a relatively simple pattern that performs simple optical functions such as light beam deflection, to a complex pattern that corresponds to more complex optical functions such as lensing, where the hologram can replace a considerable number of refractive lenses. The diffraction gratings could also perform the functions of diffusion and filtering. The diffraction gratings could also provide a directly viewable holographic image (as in a conventional pictorial hologram). When a voltage is applied between electrodes  34 , an electric field is established in substrate layer  32 . This electric field causes the natural orientation of molecules inside the liquid crystal droplets to change, which causes the refractive index modulation of the diffraction gratings to reduce and the diffraction efficiency of the superimposed hologram to drop to very low levels, effectively erasing the superimposed hologram. The material used within substrate layer  32  result in diffraction gratings that switch at a high rate (e.g., the material may be switched in tens of microseconds, which is very fast when compared with conventional liquid crystal display materials) and a high diffraction efficiency.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2 b  shows that the angle  44 R between the first pair of beams  40 R and  42 R is equal to the angle between the second pair of beams  40 B and  42 B and the angle between the third pair of beams  40 G and  42 G. FIG. 2 b  also shows that the first, second, and third pairs of beams are angularly separated from each other. Moreover, FIG. 2 b  shows that the angle of separation between the first and second pairs of recording beams is equal to the angle of separation between the second and third pairs of recording beams. The present invention should not be limited thereto. In particular, the angle between the first pair of beams  40 R and  42 R may be different from either the angle between the second pair of beams  40 B and  42 B or the angle between the third pair of beams  40 G and  42 G. This may be true at any given point within the volume of substrate layer  20  where the three pairs of light beams interact. Moreover, angular separation between the first pair of beams and the second pair of beams may be different than the angular separation between the second pair of beams and the third pair of beams at a given point within a volume of substrate  32 . Further, angular separations between the first, second, and third pairs of beams are shown as substantially large in FIG. 2 b . In practice, the angular separations between the first, second, and third pairs of beams may be quite small.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  illustrates operational aspects of the ESHOE  30  shown in FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  after the hologram recording process described above has completed. In one mode of operation, as shown in FIG. 4A, a voltage is applied to electrodes  34  thereby creating an electric field within substrate  32 . ESHOE  30  concurrently receives three incident lights  50 R,  50 B, and  50 G having wavelengths in the red, blue and green regions of the visible spectrum. With the electric field established in substrate  32 , the superimposed hologram recorded therein is essentially erased so that incident lights  50 R,  50 B, and  50 G pass through ESHOE  30  with little or no diffraction or alteration. FIG. 5 b  shows the same ESHOE  30  of FIG. 5 b  after the electric field within substrate  32  has been eliminated. In this mode, incident lights  50 R,  50 B, and  50 G are diffracted within the volume of substrate  32  to produce diffracted output lights  52 R,  52 B, and  52 G, respectively. Diffraction of incident lights  50 R,  50 B, and  50 G may occur concurrently if ESHOE  30  concurrently receives incident lights  50 R,  50 B, and  50 G, or diffraction of incident lights  50 R,  50 B, and  50 G may occur sequentially if ESHOE  30  sequentially receives incident lights  50 R,  50 B, and  50 G.  
         [0032]    In FIG. 5 b , incident beams  50 R,  50 B, and  50 G have substantially the same wavelength or wavelength band as recording beams  40 R,  40 B, and  40 G, respectively. Incident beams  50 R,  50 B, and  50 G are received by ESHOE  30  at incidence angles substantially similar to the incidence angles of recording beams  40 R,  40 B, and  40 G, respectively, measured with respect to axis  38 . Moreover, incident beams  50 R,  50 B, and  50 G are received by the ESHOE  30  at the same region where recording beams  40 R- 40 G and  42 R- 42 G were received. Under these conditions, according to the basic principals of Bragg hologram diffraction, diffracted output lights  52 R- 52 G will emerge from the ESHOE  30  at exit angles which are substantially equal to the incidence angles of recording beams  42 R- 42 G, respectively, measured with respect to axis  38 . The difference in exit angles of diffracted beams  52 R- 52 G can be made small enough that the human eye perceives no exit angle difference between diffracted beams  52 R- 52 G when viewed at a short distance from the ESHOE  30 . The effect of the difference in exit angles can be overcome in different ways depending on the application. If the viewing distance is short the three beams will have sufficient overlap in the region of the eye to provide color mixing. In many applications the invention will be used with additional viewing optics, whether conventional or holographic, that may include lenses, mirrors and diffusers, which could be used to combine and mix the three colors using techniques well known to those skilled in the art. FIG. 5 b  incident beams  50 R- 50 G received by ESHOE  30  with unequal incidence angles. Incident beams  50 R- 50 G may be received by ESHOE  30  with equal incidence angles. In this arrangement, the exit angles of the diffracted beams  52 R- 52 G will not change substantially.  
         [0033]    The ESHOE  32  shown in FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  exhibit very high diffraction efficiencies, and switching between its active and inactive states can be achieved very rapidly, typically in less than 150 microseconds and perhaps, in only a few microseconds. The ESHOE  30  shown in FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  may find application in a wide variety of optical systems including those described in: U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 09/334,286 entitled Three Dimensional Projection Systems Based On Reconfigurable Holographic Optics filed Jun. 6, 1999; U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 09/607,432 entitled Holographic Projection System filed Jun. 30, 1999; U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 09/366,443 entitled Switchable Holographic Optical System filed Aug. 3, 1999; U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 09/478,150 entitled Optical Filter Employing Holographic Optical Elements And Image Generating System Incorporating The Optical Filter filed Jan. 1, 2000; U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 09/418,731 entitled Light Intensity Modulator Based On Electrically Switchable Holograms filed Oct. 15, 1999; U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 09/533,608 entitled Illumination System Using Optical Feedback filed Mar. 23, 2000; U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 09/439,129 entitled Apparatus For Viewing An Image filed Nov. 12, 1999; and U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 09/533,120 entitled Method And Apparatus For Illuminating A Display filed Mar. 23, 2000.  
         [0034]    Although the present invention have been described in connection with several embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be reasonably included with in the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.