Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6111670?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=6031454
Timestamp: 2014-04-18 19:53:17
Document Index: 317659784

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 30', 'art 20', 'art 20', 'art 20', 'art 20', 'art 20', 'art 20', 'art 20']

Patent US6111670 - Hologram device and method for producing the same - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA hologram of an increased size using a single color laser, capable of executing a full color regeneration in a desired view angle and a method for producing the hologram. A plurality of photo-sensitive members are independently exposed to obtain respective holograms, which are connected by using an...http://www.google.com/patents/US6111670?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6111670 - Hologram device and method for producing the sameAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6111670 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/994,361Publication dateAug 29, 2000Filing dateDec 19, 1997Priority dateDec 20, 1996Fee statusLapsedAlso published asEP0849649A2, EP0849649A3, US6330087Publication number08994361, 994361, US 6111670 A, US 6111670A, US-A-6111670, US6111670 A, US6111670AInventorsHidekazu Hattori, Tomoyuki Kanda, Tooru Matsumoto, Katsuyoshi Nishii, Kenichiro TakadaOriginal AssigneeDenso CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (18), Non-Patent Citations (1), Referenced by (12), Classifications (20), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetHologram device and method for producing the sameUS 6111670 AAbstract A hologram of an increased size using a single color laser, capable of executing a full color regeneration in a desired view angle and a method for producing the hologram. A plurality of photo-sensitive members are independently exposed to obtain respective holograms, which are connected by using an adhesive layer 80 constructing a connecting means, in order to obtain an integrated hologram expanded in two-dimensional direction. The holograms are obtained by an interference of a reference light 22 and an object light passed through a light diffusing body 24 in order to cause the light diffusing body 24 to be recorded on the photo-sensitive member. The size of the light diffusing body 24 is such that the spectral characteristic of the diffused light from the hologram can attain a desired efficiency at least over the entire wavelength range of the visible light.
What is claimed is: 1. A method for producing a hologram comprising:generating a reference light; generating an object light passed through a light diffusing body; and exposing a photo-sensitive member by the reference light and the object and the object light so that interference occurs so that a diffraction grating corresponding to the light diffusing body is recorded on the photo-sensitive member; the size of the light diffusing body being such that the hologram has a spectral characteristic of a diffused light from the hologram such that, in at least the wavelength range of visible light, a desired efficiency is obtained; wherein the desired size of the light diffusing body which allows the hologram to have a spectral characteristic of a diffused light is of such a size that a difference m between the length S of a side of the light diffusing body and the length M of a side of the photo-sensitive member satisfies the following equation: m=S-M=S.sub.1 +S.sub.2 ; S.sub.1 &#8807;L &#952;c) and S.sub.2 &#8807;L &#952;c) Where: θr is an incident angle of the reference light to the photo-sensitive member; θ.sub.0 is an incident angle of the object light from the light diffusing body introduced into the photo-sensitive member; θc is an incident angle of the regenerating light introduced into the hologram as produced; θ.sub.I is an exit angle of the diffraction light from the hologram λ.sub.0 is a wavelength of the laser beam during the recording; λc is a wavelength in the diffracted direction θ.sub.i, where λc is in a range λ.sub.c1 to λ.sub.c2 and λ.sub.c1 is 380 nm and λ.sub.c2 is 780 nm; L is a distance between the light diffusing body and photo-sensitive member during a recording to the photo-sensitive member; S.sub.1 is a difference in length between the light diffusing body and the photo-sensitive member on the side adjacent the inlet side of the reference beam; S.sub.2 is a difference in length between the light diffusing body and the photo-sensitive member on the side opposite the inlet side of the reference beam; M.sub.1 is a distance between an end of the photo-sensitive member adjacent the inlet side of the reference light and a point A on one of the photo-sensitive member and the hologram where the reference light is introduced, and; M.sub.2 is a distance between an end of the photo-sensitive member opposite to the inlet side of the reference light and the point A. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of holograms on which the light diffusing body is recorded are integrally arranged in a two dimensional area.
3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising;partially overlapping the holograms which are adjacent to each other; and cutting the overlapped portions, so that the holograms are integrated. 4. A method for producing a hologram comprising:generating a reference light; generating an object light passed through a light diffusing body; and exposing a photo-sensitive member by the reference light and the object light so that interference occurs so that a diffraction grating corresponding to the light diffusing body is recorded on the photo-sensitive member; wherein the exposure of the photo-sensitive member is done by rotating, in a system for exposing the photo-sensitive member, the photo-sensitive member and the light diffusing body about an axis transverse to and passed through the center of the photo-sensitive member by the same angle in such a manner that the optical system for an exposure of the photo-sensitive member is kept horizontal. 5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the rotating movement of the photo-sensitive member and the light diffusing body is done independently about the each of three axes which are orthogonal to each other and which are transverse to and passed through the center of the photo-sensitive member.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of holograms on which the light diffusing body is recorded are integrally arranged in a two dimensional area.
7. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:partially overlapping the holograms which are adjacent to each other; and cutting the overlapped portions, so that the holograms are integrated. 8. A method according to claim 4, wherein an exposure of the photo-sensitive member is done in such a manner that an unnecessary part of at least the light diffusing body is made to be opaque.
9. A method according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of holograms on which the light diffusing body is recorded are integrally arranged in a two dimensional area.
10. A method according to claim 4, further comprising:partially overlapping the holograms which are adjacent to each other; and cutting the overlapped portions, so that the holograms are integrated. Description
Now, embodiments of the present invention overcoming the above mentioned difficulty will be explained. FIG. 4 shows an optical system for an exposure according to present invention, which includes a laser beam generator 50 for generation of a laser beam 51 which is directed to the beam splitter 52, whereat the laser beam 51 is divided to two beams, a first beam 53 and a second beam 54. The first beam 53 is directed via a first mirror 55 and a second mirror 56 to a first object lens 57 by which an expanded beam 58 is created. This expanded beam 58 is directed to an off-center parabolic surface concave mirror 59 so that a horizontal parallel beam 60 is obtained, which passes through a light diffusing body 24. The passage of the parallel beam through the light diffusing body 24 causes an object light 26 to be generated, which illuminates a photo-sensitive member 20.
A relationship between sizes of the photo-sensitive member 120 and the light diffusing body 116 for generating a desired view area (view angle) was already explained, with reference to FIG. 55, by a single shot exposure process in the prior art. In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5 of the present invention, the hologram is divided to an upper and lower portions. However, it is necessary that each of the divided portions has a desired value of view angle (range).
A size of the diffusing body 24, by which the necessary view angle is obtained, is determined as follows. Namely, referreng to FIG. 5 the size of the light diffusing body 24 for satisfying the view angle of the upper, divided hologram 30 after it is subjected to a division is one which extends between a point where a line a connecting the lower end 125b of the view range 125 with the upper end 30a of the hologram 30 intersects with a vertical plane P of the light diffusing body 24 and a point where a line b connecting the upper end 125a of the view range 125 with the lower end 30b of the hologram 30 intersects with a vertical plane P of the light diffusing body 24. In other words, the optical system in FIG. 4 is such that a positional relationship between the photo-sensitive member 20 and the light diffusing body 24 which exactly corresponds to the relationship between the hologram 30 and the light diffusing body 24 as shown in FIG. 5 is obtained.
For the lower divided part 30b of the hologram at the lower side, an arrangement between the photo-sensitive member 20 in FIG. 4 and the light diffusing body 24 in FIG. 4 provides an arrangement of the hologram 30 in FIG. 5 and the light diffusing body 24 in FIG. 5 which is symmetrical with respect to the axis 70 connecting the central point B of the view area 125.
According to the exposure system where a division of the hologram to the upper and lower parts as explained with reference to FIG. 5, the size of the light diffusing body is reduced to the a length shown by a dotted line 24A in FIG. 5. Thus, an increase in an intensity of the reference light 22 and the object light 26 in FIG. 4 is obtained, which makes the exposure of the photo-sensitive member 20 easy.
Now, a relationship between the incident angle and an incident distance will be explained with reference to FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, the photo-sensitive member 20 is in a condition prior to the division. A diverging point of the reference light 22 is designated by a point 22b. The photo-sensitive member 20 is divided along a line X to an upper part 20a and a lower part 20b. The upper part 20a has a central point C1, while the lower part 20b has a central point C2. An incident distance of the reference light 22 to the upper portion 20a is a distance between the diversion point 22b and the central point C1 along the axis 229 which connects the point 22b and the center C1. Furthermore, an incident angle of the reference light 22 to the hologram upper part 20a is designated by θ.sub.1. In a similar way, the incident distance of the reference light 22 to the lower part 20b of the photo-sensitive member 20 is a distance between the central point C2 and the diverging point 22b along the axis 22c connecting points C2 and 22b. Furthermore, the incident angle of the reference light 22 to the hologram lower part 20b is designated by θ.sub.2.
In short, a production of the divided type hologram is possible by an the optical system as shown in FIG. 4, while keeping an arrangement between the diverging point 22b of the reference light 22 and the positions of the upper part and lower part holograms 20a and 20b, i.e., keeping the incident distance and the incident angle.
θ.sub.0 is an incident angle of the object light 26 from the light diffusing body 24 introduced into the photo-sensitive member 20;
θ.sub.i is an exit angle of the diffraction light 34 from the hologram 30;
S.sub.1 is a difference in the lengths of the light diffusing body 24 and the photo-sensitive member 20 on the side adjacent the inlet side of the reference beam 22;
S.sub.2 is a difference in the lengths of the light diffusing body 24 and the photo-sensitive member 20 on the side opposite the inlet side of the reference beam 22;
M.sub.1 is a distance between an end of the photo-sensitive member 20 adjacent the inlet side of the reference light 22 and the point A of the photo-sensitive member 20 where the reference light 22 is introduced; and
M.sub.2 is a distance between an end of the photo-sensitive member 20 opposite the inlet side of the reference light 22 and the point.
m is a difference between the side length of the diffusing body 24 and the side length of the photo-sensitive member (m=S-M=S.sub.1 +S.sub.2).
S.sub.1 &#8807;L &#952;c))
S.sub.2 &#8807;L &#952;c))
λ.sub.0 is a wave length of the laser beam during the recording;
λc is a wave length in the diffracted direction λ.sub.1, where ?c is in a range λ.sub.c1 to λ.sub.c2 and λ.sub.c1 is 380 nm and λ.sub.c2 is 780 nm.
In working the present invention, the incident angle θr of the reference light to the photo-sensitive member is 35 angle θ.sub.0 of the object light into the photo-sensitive member is in a range between -31.3 to 27.3.degree.; the incident angle of the regeneration light to the hologram θc is 35 angle θ.sub.i of the regenerating light by the hologram λ.sub.i is .+-.10.degree.; the laser beam wave length λ.sub.0) is 514.5 nm for the recording; the wave length λc for regeneration is in a range between 380 to 780 nm; the distance L between the diffusing body and the photo-sensitive member during the recording is 780 mm; and the length M of a side of the photo-sensitive member is 300 mm. In this case, from the above equations, a side length S of the light diffusing body 24 of a value of 790 mm is determined.
FIG. 7 shows a hologram device 30 which is constructed by the upper and the lower holograms 310 and 320 as constructed above, which are arranged without any gap at a seam. The holograms 310 and 320 are applied to a base plate 73 such as a resin plate or a resin sheet (cover film) is applied to via an adhesive layer 72 as connecting means, thereby completing the production of a single hologram of an increased size having a desired view range, which can be used for an application for a display purpose at, for example, a show window. A method for production of a hologram device covered by such cover films will be explained by reference to FIGS. 8 to 13, which illustrate steps for realizing the method.
As well known, the photo-sensitive member during the exposure process by means of an optical system in FIG. 4 for a formation of a hologram is, by means of an adhesive, held between a bottom glass plate and a top transparent film so that the photo-sensitive member is protected from being damaged. Thus, at the first step as shown in FIG. 8, the hologram 310 and 320 together with the top protection films 76 and 77 are stripped from the glass base plates 74 and 75. Then, the upper hologram 310 and the lower hologram 320 to be connected are carefully placed under a side by side relationship, so that no gap is left at a seamed portion, while the holograms 310 and 320 are located above the transparent films 76 and 77. Furthermore, the base plate 72 is located above the holograms 310 and 320, which are under end-to-end contacted condition, while the adhesive layer 72 is located above the adhesive layer 73.
The adhesive layer 73 is formed from at least one kind of hot melt material selected from ionomer resin, ethylene resin, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer resin and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin. Furthermore, the adhesive layer 73 is made from a material such as a polyethylene terephthalate (pet).
According to the present invention, it is necessary that, in order to obtain an integrated assembly 30, the holograms 310 and 320 are arranged carefully so that a gap is not created in the seam between the holograms 310 and 320. Now, a method according to present invention for arranging holograms without generating any gap between the holograms 310 and 320, which are adjacent with each other, will be explained, with reference to FIGS. 14a and 14b to FIGS. 16a and 16b.
In the first step of the process, the hologram 310 as produced by the method as explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13 is stripped from the glass plate 74 as shown in FIGS. 14a and 14b. Similarly, the hologram 320 is also stripped from the glass plate 75. Then, the hologram sections 310 and 320 are arranged so that side edges of the hologram sections, which are adjacent with each other, are slightly overlapped as shown, in particular, in FIG. 15b. Then, a cut is made along seam lines A--A and B--B located along the overlapped portion as shown in FIG. 15a by using a cutting tool, so that overlapped portions are removed as shown in FIGS. 16a and 16b. Then, an application of the adhesive layer 73 via the adhesive layer 72 is done, which is followed by the similar process for obtaining a hologram assembly 30, which is similar to that as already explained with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13.
The hot laminate was done by a hot laminator having hot rolls 90 and 91 in FIG. 9 having a diameter of 150 mm and an air cylinder for pressing having a diameter of 63 mm. The temperature of the roll is in a range between 100 to 130 between 1 to 4.5 kg/cm.sup.2.
__________________________________________________________________________       Result of Evaluation of Reliability       Ratio of              Ratio of                   Ratio of                           Non-Thickness of Thickness of       Change in              Change in                   Change in                           VisibilityRosin Film Hotmelt       Wave Length              Efficiency                   Half Band Width                           of Ends of(&#956;m) (&#956;m)       (%)    (%)  (%)     Hologram                                Workability__________________________________________________________________________ 12   30    -0.9           &#8728;              -2.3                 &#8728;                   -1.8                       &#8728;                           &#8728;                                &#8728; 50    +0.7           &#8728;              -1.9                 &#8728;                   -2.2                       &#8728;                           &#8728;                                &#8728; 25   30    -1.2           &#8728;              +1.6                 &#8728;                   -3.0                       &#8728;                           &#8728;                                &#8728; 50    +1.1           &#8728;              -1.5                 &#8728;                   -1.2                       &#8728;                           &#8728;                                &#8728; 50   30    -2.5           &#8728;              -2.2                 &#8728;                   -1.5                       &#8728;                           &#8728;                                &#8728; 50    +0.2           &#8728;              -2.2                 &#8728;                   +2.1                       &#8728;                           &#8728;                                &#8728;100   30    +1.8           &#8728;              +1.9                 &#8728;                   +0.5                       &#8728;                           &#8728;                                &#916; 50    -2.9           &#8728;              -1.5                 &#8728;                   -3.0                       &#8728;                           &#8728;                                &#916; 75    -1.4           &#8728;              -1.2                 &#8728;                   -2.3                       &#8728;                           &#8728;                                &#916;188   50    +2.2           &#8728;              +1.8                 &#8728;                   -2.3                       &#8728;                           &#8728;                                &#916; 75    +0.8           &#8728;              -1.2                 &#8728;                   -2.1                       &#8728;                           &#8728;                                &#916;250   50    -2.6           &#8728;              -1.9                 &#8728;                   -2.3                       &#8728;                           &#8728;                                x 75    -1.9           &#8728;              -1.3                 &#8728;                   -0.9                       &#8728;                           &#8728;                                x__________________________________________________________________________ &#8728;: Good &#916;: Medium x: Bad
The present invention is also related to a method for the exposure of divided hologram sections of a desired number such as 2 length and width, as shown in FIG. 16a which are combined so as to construct a single hologram assembly. An optical system is shown in FIG. 17, which is a rotated view of the exposure system of a section 20a of a photo-sensitive member shown in FIG. 18. On the other hand, FIG. 19 shows a one shot exposure system of a photo-sensitive member 20 prior to a division to sections 20a of the number of 2 width. FIG. 18 is a view of an exposure of the section 20a after division as well as the diffusing body 24a viewed from a direction opposite to the direction of the reference light 22 to the photo-sensitive member toward the direction of z-axis shown in FIG. 19 which corresponds to a direction of incident axis 26a of the object light 26. Thus, FIG. 17 is view which is obtained by rotating the optical system in FIG. 18 about the axis transverse to the paper and passing central point C.sub.1 of the sectioned photo-sensitive member 20a, while the axis 22c of the reference light 22, which connects the diverging point 22b of the reference light 22 with the central point C.sub.1 of the sectioned photo-sensitive member 20a, is coincident with a horizontal plane x1 for an exposure in the x-z plane, which includes the axis object light (not shown). It should be noted that an arrangement of the optical system of this embodiment viewed from the above is unchanged with respect to that in FIG. 4.
In this embodiment, in FIG. 18, the photo-sensitive member 20a and the light diffusing body 24a are rotated for a predetermined angle θ.sub.b about an axis which passes the central point C1 of the photo-sensitive member 20a and is transverse to the plane of the paper of FIG. 18, while the relative positional relationship between the members 20a and 24a is maintained, so that the diverging point 22b of the reference light 22 comes to the horizontal plane x1, for the exposure, on which the axis 22c of the reference light 22 and the axis of the object light are both located. Thus, an advantage is obtained that the optical systems for the divided four hologram sections are located on the same horizontal plane for the exposure.
Now, an advantage of this embodiment will be further explained. FIG. 19 shows, in a three dimensional coordinate system, a desired arrangement between the photo-sensitive member prior to the division and the light diffusing body 24 of a necessary size. FIG. 19 also shows four sections 20a divided from the photo-sensitive member 20 and a diffusing body 24a of a necessary size for divided one section 20a. In FIG. 19, the origin of the coordinate corresponds to the center point C of the photo-sensitive member 20 prior to the division. Furthermore, in the coordinate system, the x-axis corresponds to a lateral direction of the member 20, while y-axis corresponds to a longitudinal direction of the member 20. Finally, the z-axis is transverse to the photo-sensitive member and the object light 26a is, toward the central point C, introduced vertically to the photo-sensitive member.
Prior to the division, the central point C of the photo-sensitive member 20 as well as the diverging point 22b of the reference light 22 are located on the same horizontal plane x including the axis of the object light (not shown). This plane including the axis 22a of the reference light 22 and the axis 26a of the object light 26 is referred as an "exposure horizontal plane". However, after the division of the photo-sensitive member to the four (2 of the divided section 20a of the photo-sensitive member 20 is changed from the diverging point 26b. In other words, the axis 22c of the reference light 22 is inclined with respect to the "exposure horizontal plane". FIG. 20 shows an optical system for an exposure of the sectioned photo-sensitive member 20a, wherein the axis 22c of the reference light 22 is not located in the x-z plane which corresponds to the "exposure horizontal plane" but is inclined with respect to the plane.
In FIG. 20, an axis 26c is one which is parallel to the axis 26a of the object light in FIG. 19 and is directed to the central point C.sub.1. Furthermore, FIG. 18 is the view of the optical system viewed along the direction as shown by an arrow D in FIG. 20. In FIG. 18, the axis 22c of the reference light 22 is inclined to the exposure horizontal surface x at an angle of θb. Thus the plane, constructed by the axis 22c of the reference light 22 and the axis the object light which is passed through the central point C.sub.1 of the photo-sensitive member 20a and which is transverse to the plane of the paper, is also inclined with respect to the exposure horizontal plane x as an angle of θb. Such an inclination makes it difficult to properly arrange the optical system. However, according to present invention, a rotating movement for an angle θ.sub.b about the center point C.sub.1 of the photo-sensitive member 20a from the condition in FIG. 18 to the condition in FIG. 17 is done while keeping a relative position between the photo-sensitive member 20a and the light diffusing 24a, which makes it possible that the above problem is overcome. Thus, in the execution of the present invention, the axis 22c of the reference light 22 as well as the axis 26c of the object light 26, i.e., the central point C1 of the photo-sensitive member 20a are located in the same horizontal plane x1. An incident angle of the reference light 22 is an incident angle to the central point C.sub.1 of the photo-sensitive member 20a in the plane 85 which includes the axis 22c of the reference light 22 and is transverse to the plane of the paper. Furthermore, the incident distance is a distance between the diverging point 22b of the reference light as actually generated and the central point C.sub.1 of the photo-sensitive member 20a.
In short, the rotating movement of an angle θ.sub.b about the axis 26a of the object light, which passes through the central point C.sub.1 of the photo-sensitive member 20a and is transverse to the plane of the drawing, causes the optical system as shown in FIG. 17 to be obtained, which allows the exposure process to be easily executed.
Above explanation is related to a case where the photo-sensitive member 20 is divided to four sections 20a, i.e., 2 lateral directions, respectively. However, it is also possible to employ a number of divisions more than two in the lateral and or longitudinal direction.
The following embodiment, which will now be explained, is directed to the use of a diverging light as a laser light for an illumination of the light diffusing body. Namely, in this embodiment, shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, a diverging point is designated at a point 210 in an optical system for producing a hologram of a desired size by a single exposure. FIG. 21 is a side view of the optical system in FIG. 19 viewed in a direction of B while FIG. 22 is a side view of the optical system viewed in a direction of C. As will be seen from FIGS. 21 and 22, the axis 200a of the diverging light 201 passing through the diverging point 210 is directed transversely to the light diffusing body 24 and the photo-sensitive member 20.
In order to cause the photo-sensitive member 20 to be divided, it is necessary that a diverging light 200 from the diverging point 210 as shown by a shaded portion is directed to the central point C.sub.1 of the divided photo-sensitive member 20a and has an axis 220 introduced obliquely into the light diffusing body 24. In particular, if a division into four (2 diverging light 200 is also inclined to the "exposure horizontal plane" which includes the axis 200a of the diverging light 201 and is transverse to the plane of the paper in FIG. 22, which corresponds, in FIG. 21, to the plane of the paper itself which includes the axis 200a of the diverging light 201. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 21, the reference light 22 from the diverging point 22b is directed to the central point C1 of the photo-sensitive member 20a itself, while also being in an inclined condition.
In view of this, a similar problem as explained with reference to the fourth embodiment arises. Namely, since the diverging light 200 for illuminating the light diffusing body 24a and the reference light 22 from the diverging point 210 and 22b, respectively, located outside the "exposure horizontal plane" are introduced obliquely, the optical system for the exposure cannot be located in the exposure horizontal plane, which makes an arrangement of the system difficult.
This embodiment is directed to solving this problem, i.e., a photo-sensitive member is subjected to a division, and an independent exposure is done for the divided sections, which is followed by an integration of the section so as to provide a hologram screen of an increased size. Now, a method for realizing this idea will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 23 and 25, which show an optical system for an exposure for a photo-sensitive member divided into a four (2 sections.
In FIGS. 22 and 25, the "exposure horizontal plane" is the plane which includes the axis 90 transverse to the central point C.sub.1 of the division to the photo-sensitive member 20a and transverse to the plane of the paper. A rotation of the optical system for the exposure in the coordinate system (x, y, z) transverse to the central point C.sub.1 is done in such a manner that the axis 220 of the diverging light 220 is coincided with the axis 90 on the "exposure horizontal plane" transverse to the central point C1 of the photo-sensitive member 20a while the diverging point 22b comes to be situated on the "exposure horizontal plane".
In more detail, in FIG. 23, as a first stage, a rotating movement of the entire optical system is done, about the y-axis, through an angle of θ.sub.y in such a manner that the axis 220 of the diverging light for illuminating the light diffusing body 24a coincides with the axis 90. FIG. 24 shows a condition where this rotating movement of the optical system is completed.
At the next stage, in FIG. 25, a rotating movement about the x-axis of the entire optical system for an angle of θx is done in such a manner that the axis 220 coincides with the axis 90, thereby obtaining a condition as shown in FIG. 26.
At a final stage, a rotation about the z-axis is done in such a manner that the axis 22b of the reference light 22 is come to be situated on the "exposure horizontal plane". This rotating movement is the same as that in the second embodiment, i.e., the rotating movement from the position in FIG. 18 to FIG. 17 when viewed from the rearward direction along z-axis.
In the exposure system in the above embodiment, the rotated, sectioned photo-sensitive members and the diffusing body after the completion of the exposure are inclined as shown by reference numerals 350, 360, 370 and 380, respectively. In this preferred embodiment, which will now be explained, a single photo-sensitive member 20a or a single diffusing body 24a has a size of a photo-sensitive member or a diffusing body, which allows the inclined photo-sensitive members 20a or diffusing body 24a at any of position of 350, 360, 370 and 380 to be exposed, as will fully explained hereinbelow.
Specifically, FIG. 28 shows a single light diffusing body 24a, which allows all of the photo-sensitive members to be exposed. Namely, in this embodiment, during the execution of an exposure process, the photo-sensitive members 20a are held at the inclined positions 350, 360, 370 and 380, respectively, and, at each inclined position of the photo-sensitive member 20a, an exposure process is executed together with a mask 390a for the photo-sensitive member and a mask 390b of the diffusing body for the respective inclination. This embodiment is desirable in that steps for rotating the photo-sensitive member 20a as well as the light diffusing body 24b are eliminated.
In the above embodiment, it is desirable that the mask 390a and 390b are made of frosted black opaque plates, having respectively inclined openings as shown in FIG. 29 at positions 350, 360, 370 and 380, respectively.
In this last embodiment, the mask 390a for the photo-sensitive member 20a can be eliminated, if photo-sensitive members are, depending on the material therefor, adhered or painted only at necessary locations.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, in the hologram exposure, systems, between the inclined photo-sensitive members 350 and 380 and between 360 and 370, the reference light 22 in FIG. 29 can be commonly used. Namely, in the hologram exposure systems between the inclined photo-sensitive members 350 and 380 and between 360 and 370, the optical systems other than masks 390a to be exchanged can be commonly used. In other words, the exposure of the right-handed and the left-handed photo-sensitive member can be done by merely changing masks 390a. Thus, this embodiment has advantages in that steps for the setting of the optical system are highly simplified. Finally, this embodiment can also be realized in any number of divided sections including the embodiment as explained with reference to in FIGS. 17 to 19.
Now, an embodiment directed not to a hologram screen but to a hologram of an increased size which is used for a projection of an imaginary image and is subjected to a divided exposure will be described. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 31, a display of a type where an image from an image generating element such as a crystalline liquid is used and a light source is arranged at its rear side. The image is projected onto a hologram 404 to provide a virtual image to be observed by an observer 5. In order to obtain the hologram 404 used in such a system, as shown in FIG. 32, a photo-sensitive member 410 is subjected to exposure, by two diverging lights 406 and 408, on its opposite sides.
In case where the photo-sensitive member is divided to 4 (2 rotating movement is done in such a manner that the axis from the diverging points 406 and 408 and directed to the central points C.sub.1, C.sub.2, C.sub.3 and C.sub.4 by are located on the "exposure horizontal plane" containing the central point photo-sensitive member C prior to the division and the diverging points 406 and 408. As a result, exposures for four holograms are realized by respective exposure optical systems located on one and the same exposure horizontal plane.
The hologram produced by this embodiment has the same spectral characteristic as that of the hologram produced by the first embodiment, thereby obtaining a regeneration image with color. The reason will be explained hereinbelow in detail. Namely, in FIG. 36, of the object light 26 passing through the light diffusing body 24, a part of the object light 85 is introduced into the photo-sensitive member 20, which contributes to produce a hologram. However, the remaining part of the object light 86 is not introduced into the photo-sensitive member and does not contribute to the formation of the hologram. However, due to the use of the mirror 80 as shown in FIG. 37, the object light 86, which is otherwise not used, is subjected to reflection at the mirror and is introduced into the photo-sensitive member 20. Thus, the mirror 80 can functions in similar way as the light diffusing body 24a as shown by the phantom line. Thus, a setting of the size of the mirror 80 is possible so as to make it to function as the light diffusing body of the desired sized, thereby obtaining the same spectral characteristic as that of the hologram produced purely by the light diffusing body as is the case in the first embodiment.
M=L1/tan &#952;
&#952;=tan.sub.-1 ((L1+L2)/L),
where, in FIG. 38, θis an angle formed by a line connecting the end 24b of the diffusing body 24 of a size determined in accordance with the necessary view area with the end 20a of the photo-sensitive member 20 and a perpendicular to the diffusing body 24 from the end 20a of the photo-sensitive member 20, L is the distance between the photo-sensitive member 20 and the diffusing body 24, L1 is a length of the light diffusing body, L2 is a lateral distance between an end 20a of the photosensitive member 20 and the mirror, and M is a length of the mirror 80.
Furthermore, the hologram assembly 30 according to present invention can be used in any number of division in a longitudinal and lateral directions as illustrated by an integrated construction in FIGS. 49a and 49b.
FIG. 51a shows a device for evaluating a single laminate (double layer) structure of the hologram in FIG. 50. FIG. 51b is relationship between the regenerating wave length and an efficiency in comparison with the result of a single layer hologram. FIG. 51c shows a chromaticity diagram when a white light is regenerated by using as a light source a projector XV-E500 produced by Sharp Co.
As shown in FIG. 51a, an illumination light is introduced into the hologram at an angle 31 diffraction light in a vertical plane of the hologram, an evaluation of the spectral characteristic is done by measuring the wave-length and the regeneration efficiency, as shown in FIGS. 51b and 51c. In FIG. 51b, curves H1 and H2 are the regeneration efficiency for single holograms, while curve H is the regeneration characteristic for the laminated hologram structure in FIG. 50. As will be seen, an increased value of efficiency is obtained in the embodiment of the present invention.
Furthermore, in FIG. 51c, H1 and H2 show, respectively, cordinate positions of regeneration light in the chromaticity diagram when a single layer hologram is used. H shows a cordinate position of regeneration light in the chromaticity diagram when a combined or laminated hologram is used. It will be clear that a color tone characteristic nearer to a white color position P is obtained by the combined (laminated) structure in this embodiment.
BRIEF EXPLANATION OF ATTACHED DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial view of an optical system for an exposure of a photo-sensitive member.
FIG. 5 is a partial view of an optical system for a regeneration of a hologram and illustrates a relationship of a size between the view range and the light diffusing body.
FIGS. 14a and 14b, 15a and 15b and 16a and 16b illustrate a different embodiment for a unification of sectioned holograms.
FIG. 17 is a partial side view of an optical system for an exposure of a photo-sensitive member after the completion of an adjustment to a "exposure horizontal surface".
FIG. 52 shows a schematic arrangement of a display device using a transparent type of a screen hologram. At a rear side of the screen hologram 1 at a location above a screen hologram 1, a device for projecting an image such as a projector 3 is arranged. Light 31 from the projector 3 is projected to the screen hologram 1, so that an image is created on the screen hologram 1. Light 32 is thus emitted from the screen hologram 1, so that a viewer on a front side of the hologram screen can see a displayed image on the screen hologram. Furthermore, a background light 33 passes through the hologram screen 1 without being hindered, which allows the viewer to see not only the displayed content but also the background 7.
The object light 117 and the reference light 118 are directed to a photosensitive member 120, so that light interference occurrs, whereby generating a light interference fringe which is recorded on the photosensitive member 120. In this case, the light diffusing body 116 as a hologram is recorded in the photosensitive member 120. Thus, during regeneration process, the light diffusing body is re-generated, so that diffraction and diffusion of the re-generating light, at the hologram, occurrs. As a result, the hologram, from which the diffused light is emitted, functions as a screen.
Furthermore, in the illustrated method, an arrangement of the optical system for an exposure is such that the laser beams, i.e., a reference light and an object light, are passed through the same horizontal plane, which allows the hologram of the desired size to be obtained by an execution of a single exposure process. This horizontal plane is, below, referred as an "exposure horizontal plane".
Now, a determination of the size of the diffusing body for producing a screen hologram having a desired view area will now be explained with reference to FIG. 55. In FIG. 55, a diffusing body is designated by a reference numeral 116. In front of the diffusing body 116, a photo-sensitive member 120, having top and bottom ends 120a and 120b, is arranged at a distance L1. A viewer 5 is located in front of the photo-sensitive member 120 at a distance L2. A view range is defined by a reference numeral 125 having ends 125a and 125b. The size of the diffusing body 116 is determined by the area of the diffusing body 116 defined by lines a1 and b1, where the line a1 is a line connecting the lower end 25b of the view area 125 with the upper end 120a of the photo-sensitive member 120 and a line b1 is a line connecting the upper end 125a of the view area 125 with the lower end 120b of the photo-sensitive member 120.
The size of the diffusing body 116 is actually limited by a particular arrangement of the optical system, that is determined by the value of the distance L1 between the photo-sensitive member 120 and the diffusing body 116 and the distance L2 between the photo-sensitive member 120 and the location of the viewer 5.
In short, the necessary size of the light diffusing body 116 for an exposure of the photo-sensitive element 120 is thus determined. Namely, the larger the size of the photo-sensitive member 120, the larger must be the size of the light diffusing body 116. In particular, in the case of an application of a screen hologram to a display device such as a show window, a hologram screen of an increased size is needed, which makes the size of the light diffusing body to be highly increased. For example, in order to produce a screen hologram of a diagonal size of 1 meter and of a view area (view angle) of .+-.20.degree., a diffusing body of a diagonal size of 3 meter is needed. A use of a diffusing body of such an increased size is actually impossible due to a limitation in a designing of an optical system. Namely, a limitation of the size of a light diffusing body makes it difficult to obtain a hologram screen of an increased size.
As another problem generated when producing a screen hologram of an increased size, it is necessary that, in FIG. 53, the light 115 for illuminating the light diffusing body 116 for producing the object light 117 must be expanded to a size larger than the size of the light diffusing body 116 and the reference light 118 must be expanded to a size larger than the size of the photo-sensitive member 120 for the production of the hologram. This makes the intensity of the laser beam to be reduced per unit area of the photo-sensitive member 120, which prolongs the exposure time, which is much longer than a period in which interference fringes stay in a stable condition on the photo-sensitive member 120, which makes the production of a hologram of an increased size very difficult. Namely, as is well known, an energy of a laser light for an exposure of a photo-sensitive member for a production is determined in accordance with a particular material constructing the photo-sensitive member. For example, a desired exposure amount for a photo-sensitive member is in a range between 100 to 300 mJ/cm.sup.2 in case of a dichromatic gelatin and between a few to 50 mJ/cm.sup.2 in case of a photo-polymer. Thus, an exposure time in a range of 30 minutes to a few hours is needed even when a laser of an output power of 10 watts is used. On the other hand, the time which is allowed for a production of a hologram is usually as short as about 10 minutes, which is much shorter than the above mentioned desired exposure time, which makes it very difficult to produce a hologram.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to overcome the above-mentioned difficulties in the prior art and to provide a hologram device of an increased size, the production of which has heretofore been considered difficult and a method for producing such a hologram device.
Namely, FIG. 1 shows an optical system for an exposure of a photo-sensitive member and FIG. 2 shows a regeneration system of the hologram as produced by the system in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, θr is an incident angle of the reference light 22 introduced into the photo-sensitive member 20 at a point A in a direction transverse to the photo-sensitive member 20, θ.sub.0 is an incident angle of the object light 26 introduced into the photo-sensitive member 20 at the point A and λ.sub.0 is a wave length of the laser. Furthermore, in FIG. 2, θc is an incident angle of the regeneration light 32 (corresponding to a projection light from a not shown imaging device) introduced into the produced screen hologram 30 at a point C in a direction transverse to the hologram 30, θi is an angle of a diffraction light 34 emitted from the screen hologram 30 in a direction as shown by an arrow (direction transverse to the hologram 30), and λc is a wave length of a diffraction light 34. In this case, the following equations are obtained.
sin &#952;.sub.i =sin &#952;c+&#956;(sin &#952;.sub.0 -sin &#952;r)(1)
=&#955;.sub.c /&#955;.sub.0                            (2)
In the above equations, at the point A of the photo-sensitive member and at the point C of the hologram 30 which corresponds to the point A, and θr anc θc are constant. The laser wave length λ.sub.0 is, in case of, for example, an argon laser, 514.5 nm. Furthermore, when the emitting angle θi of the diffusion light 34 is determined to a desired value of, for example, 0 desired relationship between the θ.sub.0 and θc. By using this equation, a range of the incident angle θ.sub.0 can be determined in such a manner that the wave length λc of the diffraction light emitted from the entireity of the screen hologram 30 during the execution of the regeneration process covers the visible wave length area, by which a determination of a desired size S of the light diffusing body 24 can be done.
S.sub.1 &#8807;L &#952;c) and
S.sub.2 &#8807;L &#952;c)
As explained above, according to present invention, a plurality of sectioned holograms are integrated so as to provide an integrated hologram extended in a two-dimensional direction. However, the following problem is encountered during the execution of an exposure of a photo-sensitive member in an optical system. Namely, during an exposure of a photo-sensitive member, the central point C of the photo-sensitive member 20 should be located in an "exposure horizontal surface", in which the axis 22a of the reference light 22 and the axis 26a of the object light 26 should be located. A relative arrangement between the photo-sensitive member 20, the axis 22a of the reference light and the axis 26a of the object light 26 as viewed in a direction as shown by α in FIG. 3 is the same as that shown in FIG. 53 except that the photo-sensitive member, the axis of the reference light and the axis of the object light are shown by 120, 118a and 117a, respectively, in FIG. 3.
However, in the case of the integrated arrangement of the sectioned holograms extended in the two-dimensional direction, the central points C1 and C2 of the respective sectioned photo-sensitive members each constructing the sectioned hologram are shifted upwardly or downwardly with respect to the central point C of the photo-sensitive member 20 prior to the division. Thus, the axis 22c of the reference light 22 which connects the diverging point 22b of the reference light 22 and the central point C1 or C2 of the sectioned photo-sensitive member 20a is inclined with respect to the "exposure horizontal plane". This means that an arrangement must be made such that the reference light 22 is introduced into the photo-sensitive member at an inclined angle θs, which, on one hand, makes the design of the optical system for an exposure to be complicated and makes it likely that an observer or operator is blinded by a laser light during a necessary adjustment process of the optical system on the other hand.
Furthermore, an object light for illuminating a light diffusing body during an exposure of a photo-sensitive member is introduced obliquely to the photo-sensitive member form a location outside the "exposure horizontal plane", which makes it, in the conventional arrangement, difficult to properly arrange the optical system and makes likely that the laser beam is emitted in an unpredictable direction. These problems are not likely to be generated according to the present invention, since the optical system for the exposure is easily arranged on the "exposure horizontal plane".
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