Other

Aztec Systems, Inc.

Simian Company, Inc.

Kenneth A Haines

James J Cowan

Debby L Haines

A diffuser is disclosed which transmits or reflects incident light into a specific range of angles. In a preferred embodiment, this light is uniformly scattered throughout a cone of angles. The diffuser consists of two parts. The first part diffracts or reflects light into a specific offset angle. The second part, in the preferred embodiment, uniformly scatters the light through a range of angles, which is centered on the offset angle. The diffusers have utility in applications such as screens for wrist watches, computers, calculators, and cell phones.

Directional diffuser

Computer-processed or computer-generated objects can be used to build holograms whose images are close to or straddle the hologram surface. No preliminary or first hologram is required. The hologram is built up from a number of contiguous, small, elemental pieces. Unorthodox views from inside the object are required for the creation of these elements. One method of generating the views employs unique object manipulations. The computational transformations ensure that no singularities arise and that more-or-less conventional modeling and rendering routines can be used. With a second method, a multiplicity of conventional object views are collected. Then, all pixels in these conventional viewplanes are reassigned to new and different locations in the new viewplanes for the elemental views. These methods may be used to build rainbow holograms or full parallax holograms. When properly executed they are visually indistinguishable from other types.

Methods of hologram construction using computer-processed objects

A method is disclosed to holographically mark an object in a way that the mark cannot be removed, reproduced, or transferred covertly. The mark can be read from a distance so that the part can be verified as the one and only original. The mark is applied to an undulating or rough surface of the object. The method requires that a reference wave be reflected from the surface and holographically recorded. This wave is then regenerated so that it travels in the opposite direction. This regenerated wave is itself reflected from the surface to form a collimated reference wave which, together with an object wave, is used to form the holographic mark. The recorded image cannot be observed without the presence of the surface itself.

Holographic authentication patch

A method of constructing cross-section images similar to 'computer assisted tomography,' using optical data processing to replace the computer. The method uses incoherent light in the optical processor, thereby avoiding the noise and diffraction patterns inherent in images processed with coherent light. The method disclosed in this invention allows the processing to be carried out in real-time as the data are being collected.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America

Kenneth A Haines