Method of fabricating a multiple holographic lens

Abstract

Method of fabricating a coherently exposed multiple holographic lens including a first step of fabricating an incoherently exposed master multiple holographic lens with an array of overlapping holographic lens elements, each of said lens elements having an interference pattern substantially covering the entire area of the lens. The master multiple holographic lens is illuminated with a first beam of light from a coherent source to provide a plurality of light waves equal in number to the number of lens elements in the master lens. The plurality of light waves overlap in a region downstream of the master lens. A holographic recording medium is positioned in the region of overlap such that an area thereon is illuminated simultaneously by each of the plurality of light waves. A second beam of light from a coherent source is directed toward the area of the holographic recording medium illuminated by the plurality of light waves. The holographic recording medium is exposed simultaneously to the second beam of light and the plurality of light waves and is developed to form a coherently exposed multiple holographic lens. A larger area of overlap of the plurality of light waves illuminating to recording medium is provided by an imaging lens positioned to capture and redirect the waves. A one to one image of the master lenses can be recorded by positioning a pair of imaging lens between the master lens and the recording meidum.