US3600935A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for producing a holographic light pattern from an ultrasonic impulse
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-08-16
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Granted: 1971-08-24
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Expires: 1988-08-16
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus employing an ultrasonic signal to cause an interference pattern between a coherent light reference beam and a second coherent light beam which is ultrasonographically modulated to form recordable interference patterns in the form of a hologram.
Inventors
- 👤 Gilbert Baum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 06:44
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/10; G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8965; G01S15/897; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/04; G01S7/52; G01S7/56; G01S7/60; G03; G03H; G03H5/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of producing a holographic light pattern representative of physical characteristics of an object under observation by deriving said light pattern from an impulse of ultrasonic sound comprising the steps of directing an impulse of ultrasonic sound to the body to be observed, and receiving an echo of the ultrasonic sound impulse from the body to be observed by means of a modulating crystal element subject to physical deflections in response to the sound impulse signals, directing a first beam of coherent light to said modulating crystal element for modulation thereby and directing the beam as modulated by said modulating crystal element to a plane, directing a second beam of coherent light to said plane to intersect said first beam of coherent light at a predetermined angle, said second beam of coherent light having the same frequency and a fixed phase relationship with respect to said first beam of light, the beams intersecting at said plane forming a holographic light pattern, and synchronizing with the impulse of ultrasonic sound the initiation and duration of transmission of said beams of light to said plane to limit the information carried by said light beams to a particular zone of resolution containing echoes of interest.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of producing a holographic light pattern representative of physical characteristics of an object under observation by deriving said light pattern from an impulse of ultrasonic sound comprising the steps of directing an impulse of ultrasonic sound to the body to be observed, and receiving an echo of the ultrasonic sound impulse from the body to be observed by means of a modulating crystal element subject to physical deflections in response to the sound impulse signals, directing a first beam of coherent light to said modulating crystal element for modulation thereby and directing the beam as modulated by said modulating crystal element to a plane, directing a second beam of coherent light to said plane to intersect said first beam of coherent light at a predetermined angle, said second beam of coherent light having the same frequency and a fixed phase relationship with respect to said first beam of light, the beams intersecting at said plane forming a holographic light pattern, and synchronizing with the impulse of ultrasonic sound the initiation and duration of transmission of said beams of light to said plane to limit the information carried by said light beams to a particular zone of resolution containing echoes of interest.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said two beams are provided by the steps of emitting a single beam of substantially coherent light frequency, and passing said single beam through a beam splitter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the modulating element is used as the source of the impulse of ultrasonic sound.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plane where the first beam and second beam intersect comprises a photosensitive surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the modulating element is a piezoelectric element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a liquid medium acoustically couples the impulse of ultrasonic sound to the object under observation and the object to the modulating element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first beam of light is reflected from a surface of said modulating element, the displacement of individual unit areas of the surface of the crystal being a function of the amplitude of the returning acoustical echo at each such unit area of surface to thereby modulate the beam.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of producing a holographic light pattern representative of physical characteristics of an object under observation by deriving said light pattern from an impulse of ultrasonic sound comprising the steps of directing an impulse of ultrasonic sound to the body to be observed, and receiving an echo of the ultrasonic sound impulse from the body to be observed by means of a modulating crystal element subject to physical deflections in response to the sound impulse signals, directing a first beam of coherent light to said modulating crystal element for modulation thereby and directing the beam as modulated by said modulating crystal element to a plane, directing a second beam of coherent light to said plane to intersect said first beam of coherent light at a predetermined angle, said second beam of coherent light having the same frequency and a fixed phase relationship with respect to said first beam of light, the beams intersecting at said plane forming a holographic light pattern, the first beam of light being transmitted through the modulating element and the modulation occurring by changes in the refractive index of the separate portions of the modulating element in response to separate portions of the returning ultrasonic sound echo.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of producing a holographic light pattern representative of physical characteristics of an object under observation by deriving said light pattern from an impulse of ultrasonic sound comprising the steps of directing an impulse of ultrasonic sound to the body to be observed, and receiving an echo of the ultrasonic sound impulse from the body to be observed by means of a modulating crystal element subject to physical deflections in response to the sound impulse signals, directing a first beam of coherent light to said modulating crystal element for modulation thereby and directing the beam as modulated by said modulating crystal element to a plane, directing a second beam of coherent light to said plane to intersect said first beam of coherent light at a predetermined angle, said second beam of coherent light having the same frequency and a fixed phase relationship with respect to said first beam of light, the beams intersecting at said plane forming a holographic light pattern, the first beam of light being transmitted through the modulating element and the modulation occurring by changes in the refractive index of the separate portions of the modulating element in response to separate portions of the returning ultrasonic sound echo.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of producing a holographic light pattern representative of physical characteristics of an object under observation by deriving said light pattern from an impulse of ultrasonic sound comprising the steps of directing an impulse of ultrasonic sound to the body to be observed, and receiving an echo of the ultrasonic sound impulse from the body to be observed by means of a modulating crystal element subject to physical deflections in response to the sound impulse signals, directing a first beam of coherent light to said modulating crystal element for modulation thereby and directing the beam as modulated by said modulating crystal element to a plane, directing a second beam of coherent light to said plane to intersect said first beam of coherent light at a predetermined angle, said second beam of coherent light having the same frequency and a fixed phase relationship with respect to said first beam of light, the beams intersecting at said plane forming a holographic light pattern, and passing said first beam as modulated through an optical arrangement including a Schlieren system prior to reaching said plane.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of producing a holographic light pattern representative of physical characteristics of an object under observation by deriving said light pattern from an impulse of ultrasonic sound comprising the steps of directing an impulse of ultrasonic sound to the body to be observed, and receiving an echo of the ultrasonic sound impulse from the body to be observed by means of a modulating crystal element subject to physical deflections in response to the sound impulse signals, directing a first beam of coherent light to said modulating crystal element for modulation thereby and directing the beam as modulated by said modulating crystal element to a plane, directing a second beam of coherent light to said plane to intersect said first beam of coherent light at a predetermined angle, said second beam of coherent light having the same frequency and a fixed phase relationship with respect to said first beam of light, the beams intersecting at said plane forming a holographic light pattern, and passing said first beam as modulated through an optical arrangement including a Schlieren system prior to reaching said plane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as claimed in claim 9 further including the step of passing said first beam and said second beam through lens means to reconcile their respective paths prior to said beams intersecting.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as claimed in claim 4 further including the step of optically gating said photosensitive surface to thereby present said photosensitive surface to said intersecting beams only at predetermined timed intervals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
202 words
An apparatus for producing an acoustic hologram comprising, means to transmit an ultrasonic impulse to an object under observation, a crystal means responsive to ultrasound positioned to receive ultrasonic echoes from the ultrasonic impulses from said transmitting means, light source means adapted to emit first and second beams of substantially coherent light having the same frequency and a fixed mutual phase relationship and to direct the first of said beams to said means responsive to ultrasound, said means responsive to ultrasound being operable in response to the ultrasonic echoes to modulate the first light beam, means for directing the modulated first light beam and said second light beam to intersect at different angles at a common plane to form a hologram, and means connected to synchronize the actuation of said light source and said transmitting means to present said first beam at said means responsive to ultrasound as said last referred to means reacts to said ultrasound. 13 The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said light source meanS includes a light source adapted to emit a substantially coherent light frequency beam and means to split the primary beam emitted by said light source to provide the first and second beams.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 further including a photosensitive surface at the plane of intersection of the second beam and the modulated first beam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said transmitting means includes a piezoelectric element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 further including a liquid coupling medium between the object under observation and said ultrasonic impulse means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said means responsive to ultrasound comprises a piezoelectric element.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said transmitting means includes a transducer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said means responsive to ultrasound includes means thereon to reflect said first beam.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said light source means includes a laser.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said transmitting means and said means responsive to ultrasound are combined in a single piezoelectric element.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 further including lens means interposed along the paths of said reference beam and said modulateable beam adapted to reconcile the respective paths of said beams to form said interference pattern.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 further including a timed shutter means interposed between said reference beam and said modulateable beam and said photosensitive surface adapted to prevent the intersection of said reference beam and said modulateable beam on said photosensitive surface
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 further including a phosphorescent screen at the plane of intersection of said second beam and said modulated first beam and means to photographically record said screen.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 further including a photochromic screen at the plane of intersection of said second beam and said modulated first beam and means to photographically record said screen.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of producing a holographic light pattern representative of physical features of a body to be inspected by employing an impulse of ultrasonic sound comprising the steps of directing an impulse of ultrasonic sound through a medium to the body to be observed, receiving the echo of the impulse of ultrasonic sound from said body by means of an acoustically distortable medium, directing a first coherent beam of light through said acoustically distortable medium to cause the beam of light to be modulated by the distortions produced by the echo therein, directing the modulated first beam of light to a predetermined plane, and directing a second beam of coherent light to said plane at a predetermined angle to the modulated beam of light to thereby form a holographic light pattern representative of the characteristics of the body under observation, said second beam of light being at the same frequency and having a fixed phase relationship with respect to said first beam of light.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of producing a holographic light pattern representative of physical features of a body to be inspected by employing an impulse of ultrasonic sound comprising the steps of directing an impulse of ultrasonic sound through a medium to the body to be observed, receiving the echo of the impulse of ultrasonic sound from said body by means of an acoustically distortable medium, directing a first coherent beam of light through said acoustically distortable medium to cause the beam of light to be modulated by the distortions produced by the echo therein, directing the modulated first beam of light to a predetermined plane, and directing a second beam of coherent light to said plane at a predetermined angle to the modulated beam of light to thereby form a holographic light pattern representative of the characteristics of the body under observation, said second beam of light being at the same frequency and having a fixed phase relationship with respect to said first beam of light.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for producing a holographic light pattern representative of physical features of a body to be inspected by employing an impulse of ultrasonic sound comprising means for directing an impulse of ultrasonic sound through a medium to the body to be observed, an acoustically distortable medium positioned to receive the echo of the impulse of ultrasonic sound from said body, means for directing a first coherent beam of light through said acoustically distortable medium to cause the beam of light to be modulated by the distortions produced by the echo therein, means for directing the modulated first beam of light to a predetermined plane, and means for directing a second beam of coherent light to said plane at a predetermined angle to the modulated beam of lIght to thereby form a holographic light pattern representative of the characteristics of the body under observation, said second beam of light being at the same frequency and having a fixed phase relationship with respect to said first beam of light.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for producing a holographic light pattern representative of physical features of a body to be inspected by employing an impulse of ultrasonic sound comprising means for directing an impulse of ultrasonic sound through a medium to the body to be observed, an acoustically distortable medium positioned to receive the echo of the impulse of ultrasonic sound from said body, means for directing a first coherent beam of light through said acoustically distortable medium to cause the beam of light to be modulated by the distortions produced by the echo therein, means for directing the modulated first beam of light to a predetermined plane, and means for directing a second beam of coherent light to said plane at a predetermined angle to the modulated beam of lIght to thereby form a holographic light pattern representative of the characteristics of the body under observation, said second beam of light being at the same frequency and having a fixed phase relationship with respect to said first beam of light.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein the acoustically distortable medium is a crystal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 28 wherein the crystal is a piezoelectric element.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein the acoustically distortable medium is a liquid.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 30 wherein the liquid acoustically distortable medium is water.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said reflecting means comprises an optical grating.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein said means for directing the first beam of light through said acoustically distortable medium includes a fiber optic device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-23 | 1975-02-22 | 1975-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-23 | 1979-02-22 | 1979-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-23 | 1983-02-22 | 1983-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |