Abstract: The present invention relates to embodiments of a process for subjecting a holographic storage medium to illuminative treatment to: (1) enhance or optimize recording of holographic data; (2) enhance or optimize reading of recorded holographic data; and/or (3) erase recorded holographic data. The present invention also relates to embodiments of a system comprising: (a) an illuminative treatment beam; (b) means for reducing the coherence of the beam and (c) means for transmitting the reduced coherence beam to cause illuminative treatment of: (1) an unrecorded portion of a holographic storage medium to provide pre-cured portions having increased ability to stably record holographic data; (2) a recorded portion of a holographic storage medium to provide a post-cured portion having reduced residual sensitivity; and/or (3) a recorded portion of a holographic storage medium having holographic data to provide an erased portion wherein at least some of the recorded holographic data is erased.

Abstract: The present invention relates to embodiments of a process for subjecting a holographic storage medium to illuminative treatment to: (1) enhance or optimize recording of holographic data; (2) enhance or optimize reading of recorded holographic data; and/or (3) erase recorded holographic data. The present invention also relates to embodiments of a system comprising: (a) an illuminative treatment beam; (b) means for reducing the coherence of the beam and (c) means for transmitting the reduced coherence beam to cause illuminative treatment of: (1) an unrecorded portion of a holographic storage medium to provide pre-cured portions having increased ability to stably record holographic data; (2) a recorded portion of a holographic storage medium to provide a post-cured portion having reduced residual sensitivity; and/or (3) a recorded portion of a holographic storage medium having holographic data to provide an erased portion wherein at least some of the recorded holographic data is erased.

Abstract: Disclosed are optical systems and methods of producing obliquity corrected light beams, for example, holographic recording and retrieval systems that utilize an obliquity corrected reference beam. One method includes directing a light beam reflected from a prism mirror to a reference plane with an angle of incidence to the reference plane, wherein the prism mirror varies the width of the light beam according to the angle of incidence to the reference plane. The optical system may include a holographic data storage system and the reference plane may be associated with a holographic storage medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to embodiments of a process for subjecting a holographic storage medium to illuminative treatment to: (1) enhance or optimize recording of holographic data; (2) enhance or optimize reading of recorded holographic data; and/or (3) erase recorded holographic data. The present invention also relates to embodiments of a system comprising: (a) an illuminative treatment beam; (b) means for reducing the coherence of the beam and (c) means for transmitting the reduced coherence beam to cause illuminative treatment of: (1) an unrecorded portion of a holographic storage medium to provide pre-cured portions having increased ability to stably record holographic data; (2) a recorded portion of a holographic storage medium to provide a post-cured portion having reduced residual sensitivity; and/or (3) a recorded portion of a holographic storage medium having holographic data to provide an erased portion wherein at least some of the recorded holographic data is erased.

Abstract: Disclosed are optical systems and methods of producing obliquity corrected light beams, for example, holographic recording and retrieval systems that utilize an obliquity corrected reference beam. One method includes directing a light beam reflected from a prism mirror to a reference plane with an angle of incidence to the reference plane, wherein the prism mirror varies the width of the light beam according to the angle of incidence to the reference plane. The optical system may include a holographic data storage system and the reference plane may be associated with a holographic storage medium.

Abstract: Disclosed are apodizers and methods for redistributing the intensity of a light beam. Particularly, single component apodizers are disclosed. The single component apodizers include a single lens component that is capable of redistributing the intensity of a coherent light beam.

Abstract: Disclosed are apodizers and methods for redistributing the intensity of a light beam. Particularly, single component apodizers are disclosed. The single component apodizers include a single lens component that is capable of redistributing the intensity of a coherent light beam.

Abstract: An optical beamsplitter comprises a right angle prism having a hypotenuse and two legs wherein the hypotenuse includes an optically selective coating deposited thereon. An optical element is positioned adjacent the hypotenuse such that the hypotenuse and the optical element form a beamsplitting interface. Various optical elements are utilized to achieve the desired spatial and angular relationships between incoming and outgoing light beams. Several embodiments are disclosed wherein the optical element can comprise a flat plate for providing spatial offset, a wedged plate for producing spatial and angular offset, a lens for adding optical power, or a faceted thin plate.

Abstract: An optical beamsplitter comprises a right angle prism having a hypotenuse and two legs wherein the hypotenuse includes an optically selective coating deposited thereon. An optical element is positioned adjacent the hypotenuse such that the hypotenuse and the optical element form a beamsplitting interface. Various optical elements are utilized to achieve the desired spatial and angular relationships between incoming and outgoing light beams. Several embodiments are disclosed wherein the optical element can comprise a flat plate for providing spatial offset, a wedged plate for producing spatial and angular offset, a lens for adding optical power, or a faceted thin plate.

Abstract: An optical beamsplitter comprises a right angle prism having a hypotenuse and two legs wherein the hypotenuse includes an optically selective coating deposited thereon. An optical element is positioned adjacent the hypotenuse such that the hypotenuse and the optical element form a beamsplitting interface. Various optical elements are utilized to achieve the desired spatial and angular relationships between incoming and outgoing light beams. Several embodiments are disclosed wherein the optical element can comprise a flat plate for providing spatial offset, a wedged plate for producing spatial and angular offset, a lens for adding optical power, or a faceted thin plate.

Abstract: An optical beamsplitter comprises a right angle prism having a hypotenuse and two legs wherein the hypotenuse includes an optically selective coating deposited thereon. An optical element is positioned adjacent the hypotenuse such that the hypotenuse and the optical element form a beamsplitting interface. Various optical elements are utilized to achieve the desired spatial and angular relationships between incoming and outgoing light beams. Several embodiments are disclosed wherein the optical element can comprise a flat plate for providing spatial offset, a wedged plate for producing spatial and angular offset, a lens for adding optical power, or a faceted thin plate.

Abstract: A holographic storage system and method are provided in which a light source (12) is used to generate a coherent light beam which is split into a reference beam (18) and an object beam (20). The reference beam (18) is directed to the holographic storage medium (22) through use of a reference beam multiplexer (24). The object beam is encoded with a pattern encoder (34) and directed to the holographic storage medium (26). During read out, the object beam is reconstructed and detected by an optical detector (40).

Abstract: An optical beamsplitter comprises a right angle prism having a hypotenuse and two legs wherein the hypotenuse includes an optically selective coating deposited thereon. An optical element is positioned adjacent the hypotenuse such that the hypotenuse and the optical element form a beamsplitting interface. Various optical elements are utilized to achieve the desired spatial and angular relationships between incoming and outgoing light beams. Several embodiments are disclosed wherein the optical element can comprise a flat plate for providing spatial offset, a wedged plate for producing spatial and angular offset, a lens for adding optical power, or a faceted thin plate.

Abstract: A compact optical head for reading or writing data on an optical disc is disclosed wherein the optical head comprises an integrated laser diode/photodetector package, a half-cube beamsplitter, and an objective lens. Light emitted from a diode laser is in transmitted to the beamsplitter and deflected towards the objective lens. The objective lens focuses the incident light on a focal point on the surface of the disc. A reflected beam travels along the same path as the incident light and is deflected by the beamsplitter toward a photodetector contained in the integrated package, wherein the photodetector is displaced from the laser diode. Other embodiments of the beamsplitter are disclosed which include a wedged plate for transmitting collimated light emitted from the laser diode, and a cylindrical lens for introducing astigmatism into the reflected beam.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluation of radiation beam geometry that finds application in determining the focus of an illuminating beam relative to an optical disk is disclosed herein. In one preferred embodiment, a light source generates a linearly polarized beam which is collimated by a collimating lens. The collimated beam is then converged by an objective lens onto the surface of the optical disk. The disk reflects the illuminating beam focused thereon back through the objective lens to a beam splitter. A portion of the optical energy incident on the beam splitter is then redirected to form a servo beam, wherein the degree of collimation of the servo beam is indicative of the focus position of the illuminating beam. A beam separation module, based on frustrated total reflection, having a reflectivity which varies in response to the angle of incidence of optical energy thereon is positioned to intercept the servo beam.

Abstract: A multi-element, air-spaced prism system for use in a reflective-type optical media device having a light source to provide an incident light beam provides an achromatic, anamorphic prism which corrects for astigmatism and ellipticity in the light beam from the light source. One embodiment of the prism system provides at least two reflections of a return beam from the reflective-type optical media. The return prism provides these reflections from various optical surfaces in the multi-element prism system. In one embodiment, the prism system also provides a reflection of a portion of the incident beam. This reflection is directed to a detector which can, for instance, monitor the intensity of the light beam.

Abstract: An optical element microstructure detects changes in the propagation angle of an optical beam on a local basis. The optical element microstructure preferably comprises an array of structures which are small compared to the size of the beam. Detection is done on a local basis, with each optical element in the microstructure array perturbing the optical beam in a predictable manner. By virtue of the number of optical sensing elements, the microstructure array is less sensitive to flaws in the optical elements, as compared to a single optical component placed in the path of the light. In addition, the microstructure lends itself to mass production by replication, and other low cost methods such as injection molding.

Abstract: A pair of jumper cables for connecting between weak and strong batteries for transmitting power to jump-start a vehicle wherein the cables include a protective feature to isolate an electric spark from the general area of the batteries to prevent explosion. The cables comprise a first, continuous conductor cable adapted with clamps for attachment to the negative terminals or ground voltage of the respective batteries. A second, two-segment insulated conductor cable is provided having two medial and two distal ends, wherein each of the distal ends includes a conductive clamp for attachment to the positive terminals of the battery. The remaining medial ends of the positive cable are adapted for mutual, releasible attachment by an alligator clamp fixed at one of the medial ends. The remaining medial end is configured in size and shape to permit its firm grip within the opposing medial clamp.

Abstract: Focus sensing using a light detector array is accomplished in an optical recording system using the light beam returned from the recording media through the objective focusing lens by passing the beam through a spherical focusing lens using a mask such as a knife edge which only passes a portion of the beam to the light detector array. The light detector array is matched to the mask and detects the different partial image patterns formed as a result of the close to focus condition with the recording media too far away from the objective lens and the near to focus condition with the media too close to the objective lens. In the focused condition, the light detector array receives a comparatively fine focused spot of light. Alternative embodiments of the present invention may use a cylindrical lens which in the focused condition creates a longitudinal bar of light.