Apparatus and Method for Producing Holograms

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This patent presents an apparatus and method for producing multiple microholographic data storage elements (microholograms) using commercially available aspheric lenses and specially designed variable-thickness components. The system compensates for spherical aberration when focusing laser light at different depths within a data storage medium, leading to precise, high-density three-dimensional holographic data storage. The approach enables both depth multiplexing (writing data at different depths) and wavelength multiplexing (using different laser colors), significantly boosting storage capacity and read/write reliability.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Next-generation optical data storage systems (as a successor to DVD/Blu-ray) with higher capacities.
• Archival data storage for large-scale, long-term digital preservation (e.g. in governmental or research institutions).
• Secure data recording for security and authentication (holographic security features on IDs, tickets).
• Medical imaging data archiving where high density and data longevity are required.
• Recording and playback of holographic visual content or 3D images in entertainment or scientific visualization.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Greatly increases data storage capacity by enabling high-density three-dimensional (volumetric) storage using multiple depth layers.
• Improves data reliability and quality by eliminating optical aberrations (spherical and aperture aberrations) that could degrade the reading/writing spot.
• Uses commercially available aspherical lenses and simple parallel plate elements, facilitating cost-effective system construction and maintenance.
• Allows fast and precise adjustment with minimal moving parts, leading to increased reliability and reduced mechanical wear.
• Enables advanced data multiplexing options (depth- and wavelength-multiplexing), providing flexibility and further increasing total storage density.

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Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for producing a multiplicity of holograms, and the present invention relates particularly to a microholographic data store and to a method for producing microholographic interference gratings. The object of the present invention is to take a commercially available, lightweight aspherical lens as a basis for providing a microholographic data store and a method for producing microholographic interference gratings which implement compensation for the spherical aberration and thereby allow complete elimination of the aperture aberrations which arise. This is done by providing a first variable-thickness component (20), in the form of a plane-parallel plate, between the first lens (14) and the storage layer (12) and a second variable-thickness component (22), in the form of a plane-parallel plate, between the storage layer (12) and the second lens (16), the sum of the optical thickness of the first variable-thickness component (20) and the depth of focus of the radiation focused by the first lens (14) in the storage layer (12) being constant for different relative distances between the first lens (14) and the storage layer (12), and the sum of the optical thickness of the first variable-thickness component (20) and the optical thickness of the second variable-thickness component (22) being constant.