Abstract: The invention relates to a hologram-recording dry plate fabrication process and system that can be used to fabricate a transmission or reflection hologram-recording dry plate particularly best suited for applications where high precision and high cleanliness are required. The hologram-recording dry plate comprises a substrate feeding means for feeding a substrate, a film feeding means for feeding a sheet-cut form of film having a separator, a separator releasing means for releasing the separator from the thus fed film, and a lamination means for laminating the film from which the separator is released on one surface of the thus fed substrate from the side of the film from which the separator is released.

Abstract: Transmission and reflection type holograms may be formed utilizing a novel polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) material and its unique switching characteristics to form optical elements. Applications for these switchable holograms include communications switches and switchable transmission, and reflection red, green, and blue lenses. The PDLC material of the present invention offers all of the features of holographic photopolymers with the added advantage that the hologram can be switched on and off with the application of an electric field. The material is a mixture of a polymerizable monomer and liquid crystal, along with other ingredients, including a photoinitiator dye. Upon irradiation, the liquid crystal separates as a distinct phase of nanometer-size droplets aligned in periodic channels forming the hologram. The material is called a holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC).

Abstract: Holographic data storage media having a sandwiched construction are described in which a holographic recording material is sandwiched between two substrates. A variety of different formulations of the holographic recording material are also described. By improving the formulation of the photosensitive material, holographic media can be improved.

Abstract: Plastic article having at least one side provided with a coating for increasing the melting point of the article and for increasing temperature induced plastic flow characteristic of the article. Process of and apparatus for manufacturing such article.

Abstract: A holographic recording medium exhibiting a high recording sensitivity without execution of reduction treatment. A system records information on the holographic recording medium by using a gating light within a wavelength band causing less optical damage to the holographic recording medium. The holographic recording medium includes a single crystal of lithium niobate (LiNbO3) or lithium tantalate (LiTaO3) containing Mn as a dopant.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a hologram screen having a large visual range and a hologram imaging apparatus used for the particular method of fabricating the hologram screen are disclosed. A plurality of mirrors (3) extended toward a plurality of photosensitive members (5) are arranged at a plurality of end portions (21), respectively, of a light diffuser (2). At least a reference beam (41) and object beams (42) passed through the light diffuser (2) are radiated on a plurality of the photosensitive members (5) individually thereby to form a plurality of holograms. These holograms are integrated with each other by being arranged two-dimensionally thereby to fabricate a hologram screen. Among the mirrors (3), a reference beam-side mirror (31) arranged nearer to the light source of the reference beams (41) is extended from the light diffuser (2) by a length varied with the position of the photosensitive member (5) to be exposed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, holographic data storage medium includes a first thermoplastic substrate portion having a thickness less than approximately 2 millimeters and a second thermoplastic substrate portion having a thickness less than approximately 2 millimeters. A holographic recording material may be sandwiched between the first and second thermoplastic substrate portions. By making thermoplastic substrate portions sufficiently thin, edge wedge problems can be avoided.

Abstract: A resonant enhanced photosensitive material includes a trap center that is adapted to interact with light and enhances the photosensitivity of the material based on a resonant interaction process with photons.

Abstract: The invention relates a lithograph for producing computer-generated holograms in a storage medium (13), provided with a source for generating a write beam (2), a moving lens (4) for focussing the write beam (2), means for displacing the moving lens (4) along a direction of movement (6), and with a means for displacing the write beam (2) in relation to the storage medium (13) in a manner that is perpendicular to the direction of movement (6). The aim of the invention is to provide a lithograph in which disruptions in the movement of a lens perpendicular to the direction of movement thereof do not effect this end, the moving lens (4) has refractive power only essentially in a first direction that is parallel to the direction of movement (6). In addition, a stationary lens (9) is provided, and this stationary lens (9) has refractive power only essentially in a second direction (5), whereby the second direction (5) is perpendicular to the first direction and to the write beam (2).

Abstract: It is a main object of the present invention to provide a volume hologram layer with good foil cutting property which is used for a volume hologram transfer foil and the like. The present invention provides a volume hologram layer wherein when the layer thickness thereof is 20 &mgr;m, breaking strength is in a range from 10 MPa to 30 MPa and breaking strain is in a range from 0.1% to 3% at 25° C., and breaking strength is in a range from 0.1 MPa to 1 MPa and breaking strain is in a range from 0.1% to 5% at 130° C., to thereby solve the above problem.

Abstract: An interferometric lithography method includes providing a first layer of material over a substrate and providing a second layer of material over the first layer of material. The method further includes providing a layer of photoresist over the first and second layers of material and providing coherent light to the first and second layers. The coherent light has an intensity insufficient to chemically transform the photoresist. The coherent light reflects off the first and layers to interfere with an intensity sufficient to chemically transform the photoresist.

Abstract: A radiation sensitive refractive index changing composition comprising (A) a decomposable compound, (B) a non-decomposable compound having a lower refractive index than the decomposable compound (A), (C) a radiation sensitive decomposer and (D) a stabilizer. By exposing the composition to radiation through a pattern mask, the above components (C) and (A) of an exposed portion are decomposed and a refractive index difference is made between the exposed portion and unexposed portion, thereby forming a pattern having different refractive indices.

Abstract: Quality of a reproduced light beam is improved, and rewriting and recording are performed at high speed without erasing data. Each page of a hologram is newly recorded so that the maximum point of diffraction light beam intensity in reproducing the newly recorded hologram is located at a position where diffraction light beam intensity from a data page of a hologram which has been previously recorded in a hologram recording medium is minimized at the time of reproducing the data.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for replicating (copying) a master hologram into a photosensitive layer to produce a copy of the hologram in a manner such that the copy of the hologram is an accurate and true replication of the master hologram with minimum interface-related defects. A holographic element containing a master hologram for use in contact copying is also disclosed.

Abstract: A ferroelectric material in which the refractive index change can be induced by irradiation with light at two different wavelengths without performing a reduction treatment or doping impurities. The ferroelectric material of the invention in which the refractive index change is induced by irradiation with light at two different wavelengths is a lithium tantalate single crystal with the composition of Li2O/(Li2O+Ta2O5)=0.4966 to 0.4995. Preferably, the ferroelectric material is a lithium tantalate single crystal with the composition of Li2O/(Li2O+Ta2O5)=0.4974 to 0.4989. Preferably, the infrared absorption coefficient in the [OH] stretching mode falls within a range of 0 cm−1 to 0.15 cm−1 (0 cm−1 and 0.15 cm−1 are included in the range).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing digital holograms in a storage medium, in which the technical problem of writing computer-generated holograms by means of optical lithography as quickly as possible and with little effort with simultaneous accurate control of the timed triggering and the positioning of the write beam is achieved in that a write beam is focused onto the storage medium and moved one-dimensionally relative to the storage medium, in that a scanning beam is focused onto a trigger mask having a plurality of trigger lines and moved one-dimensionally transversely relative to the trigger lines, the movement of the scanning beam being coupled with the movement of the write beam, in that, during the scanning of the trigger lines, a timed trigger signal is generated as a function of the arrangement of the trigger lines, in that, with the aid of the timed trigger signal, the intensity of the write beam on the storage medium is controlled, and in that the hologram is written line by li

Abstract: A post-exposure treatment method of a silver halide emulsion layer in the manufacture of a hologram, a hologram manufacturing using the post-exposure treatment method, and a holographic optical element including the hologram are provided. The post-exposure treatment method of a silver halide emulsion layer involves: pre-hardening the silver halide emulsion layer after exposure; developing the pre-hardened silver halide emulsion layer using a developer solution; bleaching the developed silver halide emulsion layer; hardening the bleached silver halide emulsion layer; drying the hardened silver halide emulsion layer; surface-hardening the dried silver halide emulsion layer; fixing the hardened silver halide emulsion layer; treating the fixed silver halide emulsion layer using warm water; and drying the silver halide emulsion layer which has been treated using warm water.

Abstract: A thermal transfer material includes a support. A release layer is overlaid on the support. A coloring transfer layer is overlaid on the release layer, has thermoplasticity, and is colorable by being exposed and then pressurized. In a printer for use with the thermal transfer material, an image is formed by exposing the coloring transfer layer. The coloring transfer layer is placed on image receiving material after the image is formed. The thermal transfer material is heated and pressurized while the coloring transfer layer is placed on, so as to color the image and transfer the coloring transfer layer to the image receiving material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a volume hologram laminate with low generation of spotty hologram flaws in the volume hologram layer even when kept under pressurized conditions during storage, and to a volume hologram laminate-fabricating label. The volume hologram laminate 1 of the invention has a first adhesive layer 3, a volume hologram layer 5, a second adhesive layer 4 and a surface protective film 6 formed in that order on a substrate 1, wherein the volume hologram layer is a hologram recording in a recording material comprising a matrix polymer and a photopolymerizable compound, having a glass transition point of 30° C.-70° C. and a dynamic storage elastic modulus of 5×105 Pa-5×107 Pa at 50° C. when measured at 6.28 rad/s, and the second adhesive layer has a dynamic storage elastic modulus of no greater than 5×104 Pa or at least 2.5×105 Pa at 50° C. when measured at 6.28 rad/s.

Abstract: Pre-sensitization techniques can be used in conjunction with holographic recording materials to allow high quality holographic stereograms to be recorded in those holographic recording materials using pulsed lasers. Additional hologram production system hardware and software designs for use with pulsed lasers are disclosed.

Abstract: A holographic recording medium containing a first substrate and a second substrate having a holographic recording layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, the holographic recording layer containing:

Abstract: An optical storage medium of the present invention enables storage of data with high precision at high speed, and rewriting of data at high speed without an erasing process. Optical storage, reading and retrieving methods and optical storage, reading, and retrieving apparatuses using the medium are also provided. The optical storage medium has at least a polarization-sensitive member having the photo-induced birefringence property, such as a member made of polyester polymer having cyanoazobenzene as a side chain. The above apparatuses have spatial light modulator capable of modulating polarization. The modulator provides information of bit of two-dimensional data to each corresponding pixel by application or non-application of a voltage, and modulates the polarization of the beam incident on each pixel. Thereby, a signal beam transmitted through the spatial light modulator having a spatial polarization modulation corresponding to the two-dimensional data is obtained.

Abstract: A holographic recording medium comprising a first substrate and a second substrate having a holographic recording layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, the holographic recording layer containing:

Abstract: The invention is a method of packaging volume holographic filters to modify the temperature sensitivity using fixed volume holographic grating filters (VHG). These filters are recorded using either a phase mask or a two-beam method. A mechanical constraint is provided to the filter by way of a stress. This stress can be applied equally to both simple reflection grating as well as slanted reflection grating. One way is to use a filter-anisotropic tube arrangement where the tube is made by either stacking washers of precise inner diameter or by wrapping a wire around a central filter core. To modify the thermal wavelength coefficient of the filter, clamps comprising plates and screws are used, the filter is inserted into a substrate, or the filter is sandwiched between substrates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an optical recording medium. In the method, on the surface of a recording layer formed by spin-coating a first coating solution containing a photo-isomerizable component, a second coating solution that contains a photo-isomerizable component that can be isomerized by radiation having the same wavelength as radiation used for isomerizing the photo-isomerizable component contained in the recording layer and incapable of dissolving the recording layer is spin-coated to form an intermediate layer. Since the intermediate layer thus formed cannot be dissolved by the first coating solution, a recording layer is further laminated on this layer. Thus, it becomes possible to make the recording layer thicker and also to provide a high-density recording characteristic.

Abstract: A holographic image shrinkable film and the manufacture thereof is to spread a UV resin film on a shrinkable film; stick the UV resin film tightly against a metal wheel engraved with a holographic pattern, holographic film or separating type hot stamping film; illuminate the UV resin film with an UV lamp so as to harden the UV resin film instantly; and remove the harden UV resin film from the metal wheel, the holographic film, or separating type hot stamping film; the holographic pattern on the metal wheel or the holographic film is copied onto the UV resin film, or a separating type hot stamping film substrate is combined on the UV resin film. The manufacturing method according to the present invention is rather not dangerous, and a specialist is not need. Therefore, a mass production can be practiced to save production cost can be saved.

Abstract: A holographic optical recording medium includes a plastic substrate, a first inorganic intermediate layer formed on the plastic substrate, and an organic recording layer on which information is recorded by using holography. The organic recording layer is formed on the first inorganic intermediate layer.

Abstract: There was found a metallocenyl-phthalocyanine or its metal complex of a divalent metal, oxometal, halogenometal or hydroxymetal, in which at least one of the four phenyl rings of the phthalocyanine contains, bound via a bridge unit E, at least one metallocene radical as substituent, E being composed of a chain of at least two atoms or atom groups selected from the group consisting of —CH2—, —C(═O)—, —CH(C1-C4alkyl)—, —C(C1-C4alkyl)2—, —NH—, —S—, —O— and —CH═CH—, as well as mixtures of the novel compounds which comprise, inter alia, isomers, a process for the production, the use and recording media comprising the novel compounds.

Abstract: The present invention offers increased efficiency and quality in the duplication of a master hologram utilizing an improved method of contact printing. This improved method of contact printing employs a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) recording medium as the duplication blank and/or the master hologram material. The optical qualities of the PDLC material described herein provide an improved method of duplication using single beam contact printing regardless of the material comprising the master hologram. Thus, master holograms originally recorded using highly complex optical geometries (e.g., computer generated holograms) are capable of duplication without the need for multiple beam power/intensity balancing and long recording times. The improved hologram contact printing method described herein works with virtually any type of master hologram, including both reflection and transmission holograms.

Abstract: Copolymer structures are formed by exposing a substrate with an imaging layer thereon to two or more beams of selected wavelengths to form interference patterns at the imaging layer to change the wettability of the imaging layer in accordance with the interference patterns. A layer of a selected block copolymer is deposited onto the exposed imaging layer and annealed to separate the components of the copolymer in accordance with the pattern of wettability and to replicate the pattern of the imaging layer in the copolymer layer. Stripes or isolated regions of the separated components may be formed with periodic dimensions in the range of 100 nm or less.

Abstract: There are provided a porous hollow fiber membrane capable of economically and efficiently recovering germanium which has heretofore been entirely disposed as a waste, and a method for recovery of germanium oxide using such a porous hollow fiber membrane.

Abstract: A method for patterning a layer on a substrate can include projecting coherent radiation toward a reflector surface so that the coherent radiation is reflected off the reflector surface to provide a holographic projection of a desired image wherein the reflector surface includes information that corresponds to an inverse of the holographic projection of the desired image. The substrate including the layer can be maintained in the path of the reflected radiation so that the holographic projection is projected onto the layer. Related systems are also discussed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a holographic recording medium. The novel holographic recording mediums disclosed herein comprises: a) at least one polyfunctional epoxide monomer or oligomer which undergoes acid initiated cationic polymerization. Each epoxide in the monomer or oligomer is linked by group comprising a siloxane to a silicon atom and each monomer or oligomer has an epoxy equivalent weight of greater than about 300 grams/mole epoxide; b) a binder which is capable of supporting cationic polymerization; c) an acid generator capable of producing an acid upon exposure to actinic radiation; and optionally d) a sensitizer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for the storage of data in the form of volume holograms which do not mutually overlap. The storage medium consists of a high-sensitive material in the form of a plate of thickness D, in which a single hologram is essentially shaped as a cylinder with the minimal possible cross-section. The signal light beam is modulated with data and directed onto the plate-shaped storage material by means of a lens or a conventional optical system, illuminating an area of the material which, for a given amount of data, is the smallest possible. To record a hologram, a reference light beam is used, incident upon the storage material either from the same direction as the signal beam, or opposite thereto. The hologram is only written in the portion where the signal and the reference beams overlap.

Abstract: Blue-sensitized holographic media suitable for recording with a blue laser is disclosed. The blue-sensitized holographic media provides greater dynamic range and a higher sensitivity than a green-sensitized holographic media, thereby providing more rapid hologram writing times.

Abstract: Diffractive optical structures are written within crystal optical elements using ultrafast near-infrared laser pulses. The crystal optical elements preferably perform an optical function such as focusing or chromatically dispersing light. The diffractive optical structures within the crystal optical elements perform additional optical functions that augment or refine the functions performed by the crystal optical elements.

Abstract: A dot matrix system, which uses an electronic display panel as a diffractive optical device to produce two laser beams. The interference pattern of these two beams, at the focal plane of a lens, forms a grating spot with a shape and beam profile determined by the wavefronts diffracted by the electronic display device. The invention uniquely combines aspects of the interfering beam prior art and the prior art using an imaging display. Instead of simply reducing a diffraction image on a display device as in the imaging display prior art, the invention puts two different Fourier transforms on the display, the laser beam interacts with these Fourier transforms, and a lens focuses the two beams on the recording medium, with the two beams interfering with each other to produce the desired grating pattern. Because multiple orders of the wavefront will be produced by the display device, a light blocking element is used, with an aperture to pass only the desired order(s) of the beams.

Abstract: In a volume phase grating, a plurality of phase gratings for causing a refractive index of a substrate having an incident surface and a launched surface facing each other to be cyclically changed between the incident surface and the launched surface are so formed as to be inclined at a specified angle to the incident surface. The volume phase grating is constructed such that an incident light is caused to be obliquely incident on the incident surface, and an angle of inclination of the phase gratings to the incident surface is set such that the incident light obliquely incident on the incident surface is refracted at the incident surface and perpendicularly incident on the phase gratings.

Abstract: A method for producing a holographic stereogram, comprising the steps of:

Abstract: The volume hologram recording photosensitive composition provided by the present invention contains at least a fluorine-contained photoreactive compound represented by the following formula (1): R1—R3—(CF2)n-R4-R2 wherein R1 and R2 are photoreactive groups which can be bonded to each other by photoreaction, and each of R3 and R4 is independently a single bond or a bivalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and n is an integer of 1 or more. This volume hologram recording photosensitive composition is used to form a recording section of a recording medium, and then the section is exposed to light, whereby a bright volume hologram can be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithograph for producing digital holograms in a storage medium, having a light source (8) for producing a write beam (10), having drive means (12, 14) for the two-dimensional movement of the write beam (10) relative to the storage medium (4) and having a first objective (16) for focusing the write beam (10) onto the storage medium (4) to be written.

Abstract: Charge-transfer materials are demonstrated to be useful for generating femtosecond holographic gratings. Using semiconducting polymers sensitized with varying concentrations of C60, absorption holographic gratings with diffraction efficiencies of 1.6% were recorded with individual ultrafast laser pulses; the diffraction efficiency and time decay of the gratings were measured using nondegenerate four-wave mixing. High quantum efficiency for electron transfer reduces the effects of early recombination which otherwise limits the density of excitations in pure polymers, and the metastability of the charge transfer enables tuning of the decay dynamics by controlling the concentration of acceptors in the mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal display device which enables a visual field range to be made wide and luminance drops to be reduced, so that bright displayed images can be presented, and provides a liquid crystal display device comprising, in order from a side of backlight 11, backlight 11, scatter plate 12, and liquid crystal element 20, wherein a transmission type of hologram scatter plate 13 is located in front of a display surface of liquid crystal display element 20. Hologram scatter plate 13, because of having been fabricated by means of single-step or two-step exposure, enables light more or less scattered through scatter plate 12 to be limitedly scattered within a given wide visual field range, so that bright displayed images can be presented over a wide visual field range yet with a reduced luminance drop. Scatter plate 12 may be omitted.

Abstract: A method of producing holographic iridescent film includes the steps of applying an adhesion coating upon a corona or plasma treated iridescent film, holographically embossing the adhesion coating, thermosetting the holographically embossed adhesion coating, and applying a high-resolution index (HRI) coating to the thermo-set holographically embossed adhesion coating.

Abstract: The present invention provides a volume hologram laminate by which a desirable reproduced wavelength is controlled and set optionally. The laminate has a first adhesive layer 3, a volume hologram layer 5, a second adhesive layer 4 and a surface protecting film 6 formed on a substrate 2 in the described order, wherein a substance for shifting a recorded wavelength to the volume hologram layer is contained in the first and/or the second adhesive layer(s) and a reproduced wavelength of hologram recorded in the volume hologram layer is controlled with shifting the substance between the layers.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a volume hologram medium obtained by multiple recording of holograms, which is improved in terms of just only security for forgery prevention but also aesthetics. A volume hologram medium 29′ comprises a reflection hologram in which a stereoscopic image of a three-dimensional object and an image of a plane pattern of a mask plate are recorded by interference of the same reference light beams having the same angle of incidence and the same wavelength with object light beams having mutually different angles of incidence. The stereoscopic image of the three-dimensional object is reconstructed in the form of diffracted light 31 in a single color and in angle relations close to recording conditions, and the image of a plane pattern of the mask plate is reconstructed as diffracted light 32b, 32′b at various angles of incidence of white illumination light 30 and in different colors depending on those angles of incidence.

Abstract: A method of recording a surface relief microstructure in a record medium includes: i) causing a coherent reconstruction or replay beam to impinge on a holographic optical element assembly, the holographic optical element assembly including a holographic optical element (HOE), the assembly causing selected portions of the beam to interfere at a focal region after diffraction by the holographic optical element so as to reconstruct a real image of an aperture previously used to construct the HOE; ii) locating a record medium at the focal region so that the real image is recorded; and, iii) causing relative movement between the record medium and the interfering beam portions and repeating steps i) and ii) so that the real image is recorded at a plurality of locations or pixels on the record medium.

Abstract: A rapid mass production of the high performance holographic recording articles including the process and composition are described. To prepare a high performance holographic recording article based on two-component urethane matrix system, for example, polyols and all the additives must be virtually free of moisture contents. Deaeration must be carried out, once isocyanate and polyols including catalysts and all other ingredients are mixed together, to eliminate all entrapped air that is introduced into the mixture during mixing. The deaeration takes time, and the urethane reaction must not be allowed to take place until all air bubbles are evacuated from the isocyanate-polyols mixture. The rapid mass production of this invention overcomes such process limitations and results in a high-volume production of the high performance holographic recording articles.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a hologram recording material composition which is excellent in transparency and diffraction efficiency. The hologram recording material composition comprises a thermoplastic resin (A) which is soluble in a solvent, a radical polymerizable compound (B) which is solid at an ordinary temperature and at ordinary pressure and has the 9,9-diarylfluorene skeleton and at least one radical polymerizable unsaturated double bond, a plasticizer (C) and a photopolymerization initiator (D). A weight percentage ratio of the thermoplastic resin (A), the radical polymerizable compound (B) and the plasticizer (C), (A):(B):(C) is 10 to 80:10 to 80:10 to 80. A refractive index of the radical polymerizable compound (B) is larger than a weighted mean of that of the thermoplastic resin (A) and that of the plasticizer (C).

Abstract: In the manufacture of an array total internal reflection hologram for printing a pattern of high-quality microfeatures over a large area, a mask defining just a part of the pattern is used to record an array of sub-holograms, the holographic recording medium or the mask being moved with respect to each other subsequent to the recordal of each sub-hologram, thereby building up a hologram of the complete pattern to be printed.