CPC Definition - Subclass G03H
This place covers:
- Means for and process of producing a numerical or analogical record of the phase and amplitude information of an object wave-front, e.g. by recording the interference pattern between a reference wavefront and the object wavefront;
- Hologram produced by the above process;
- Means for and process of reconstructing a holobject wave-front by optical or numerical diffraction from a hologram.
Main groups G03H 3/00 and G03H 5/00 are considered as marker for tagging the wave used, whatever the wave, detailed classes are given under subgroups of G03H 1/00.
- The large majority of application being limited to the field of optical holography, applications of holography are classified under G03H 1/00.
Holography is a basic technology which developed in numerous application areas. A primary advantage of processing phase and amplitude information of an object wavefront is the ability of holography to reconstruct a 3D holobject from a recorded 3D object.
Whatever the application, G03H classification symbols are given for remaining pertinent holographic aspects.
Examples of places where the subject matter of this place is covered when specially adapted, used for a particular purpose, or incorporated in a larger system:
in lithography systems | |
for authentication and security as covert or overt features | B41M 3/14, B42D 25/29, B42D 25/328, B44F 1/10, B65D 55/026, D21F 1/44, D21H 21/40, G06K 7/10, G06V 10/10, G06K 19/16, G07D 7/0032, G09C 5/00, H04K 1/00, H04L 9/00, H04L 63/08 |
in advertising, decorative arts | B44F 1/00, B44F 7/00, E01F 9/00, G09F 13/02, G03F13/04, G09F 19/00 |
for recording or reconstructing three dimensional information | |
in interferometry systems | |
for metrology | |
in alignment or positioning systems | |
for particle velocimetry | |
restoring distorted objects | |
in acousto-photonic systems | |
as holographic diffractive optical elements | |
for routing | |
in microscopy systems | |
in manipulation systems. e.g. Holographic tweezer | |
in scanner systems | |
as holographic optical element in head up displays | |
for information processing | |
in haptic computer interfaces | |
in correlator systems | |
in holographic storage systems | |
in video-holography |
In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
2D | Two dimensional |
3D | Three dimensional |
Holobject | Object issued from the wavefront diffractively reconstructed (to be opposed to the object generating the wavefront holographically recorded) |
Parallactic | Related to parallax e.g. parallactic decomposition stands for : decomposition of a 3D object into a set of 2D pictures obtained with various recording angle or line of sight |
In patent documents, the following abbreviations are often used:
CGH | Computer Generated Hologram |
HOT | Holographic Optical Tweezer |
SLM | Spatial Light Modulator |
This place covers:
Holography using optical waves i.e. electromagnetic radiations within the range of visible or near to visible (i.e. infrared, ultraviolet);
Applications wherein holography is an appropriate solution to a particular problem;
Systems for obtaining speckle reduction at recording or reconstruction; also applies to speckle reduction involved in numerical holography;
Systems for reducing the "space" x "spatial bandwidth" product; wherein the "space" measures the size of the hologram, the "spatial bandwidth" measures the "density" of holographic element, and the product reflects the total number of holographic elements forming the hologram; example : "horizontal parallax only" holograms comprise quasi-1D pertinent holographic information.
This place does not cover:
Interferometers using holographic techniques | |
Holograms used as optical elements | |
Holographic scanners | |
Holographic optical element in head up displays | |
Arrangements for recognition printed or written characters using holographic masks | |
Recording, reproducing or erasing by using optical interference patterns, e.g. holograms |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Shaping the laser beam for laser beam working | |
Security printing | |
Security printed matter on banknotes | |
Information-bearing cards with holograms | |
Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects | |
Secret pictures | |
Designs imitating three-dimensional effects | |
Cleaning vehicle's windows using holographic sensor | |
Container closure with temper indication | |
Watermarking on paper | |
Security element added to paper | |
Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals | |
Refractor for light source using hologram | |
Measuring arrangements using optical means | |
Measuring deformation in a solid by holographic interferometry | |
Sensing comprising diffraction grating | |
Testing tyres using holography | |
Holography used to investigate particles | |
Holographic interferometry used to investigate materials | |
Investigating or analysing materials by optical diffraction | |
Spatially resolving object in scattering medium | |
Flow measurement of fluid | |
Diffraction gratings | |
Coupling light guides with holograms | |
Microscopes | |
Micromanipulators structurally combined with microscopes | |
Diffraction optics | |
Systems using moiré fringes | |
Systems for producing stereoscopic or 3D effects | |
Optical logic element | |
Imaging mask onto workpiece in microlithography | |
Registration or positioning | |
Analogue computers performing mathematical operations with the aid of optical elements | |
Haptic computer interface | |
Optical sensing of record carrier using holographic scanner | |
Machine authentication of record carrier comprising hologram marking | |
image acquisition of printed or written character or pattern | |
Testing holographic security marking | |
Ciphering of e.g. graphic data | |
Luminous advertising illuminated in front of the insignia | |
Luminous advertising illuminated behind the insignia | |
Miscellaneous advertising or display means | |
Arrangements for handling particles | |
secret communication | |
Television using holographic recording | |
Optical switching systems | |
micromanipulation of neutral particle beams |
In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
Hologrametry | Dimensional and /or index measurement performed on the (optically or numerically) reconstructed holobject |
In patent documents, the following abbreviations are often used:
DOE | Diffractive Optical Element |
HDG | Holographic Diffraction Grating |
HOE | Holographic Optical Element |
HPO | Horizontal parallax only |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Microhologram not registered to the substrate |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Processes or apparatus for producing holograms with optical element in the object space affecting the object beam |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Interferometers using holographic techniques | |
Investigating particles by optical means, using imaging |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Wipers with optical rain sensor including a hologram |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Digital holographic imaging | |
Microscopes |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Image or video recognition using optical means, e.g. holographic masks |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Mask effects on the imaging process of microphotolithographic exposure |
This place covers:
- Isolated features involved during the holographic process (recording or reconstruction):
Recording material adapted to record holographic information:
organic material (e.g. Photopolymer, dichromated gelatine, Photoresists, Silver halide);
inorganic material (e.g. photorefractive crystal)
other recording means (e.g. CCD);
Details associated with the holographic record:
physical distribution storing in the hologram a print of the recorded interference pattern (variations of size, density, strength, charge, ...);
physical parameter affected when a reconstruction wave interacts with the hologram (amplitude, phase or polarisation variations);
nature of the holographic medium (e.g. thin, thick, volume holograms); dynamic of the variations (binary, discrete, continuous);
ageing and resistance of the material;
non-uniform thickness;
compound included into actinic material;
Mechanical aspect when related to holograms:
production line;
portable or mobile device;
moving component;
Involving specific optical component
phase mask; Diffuser;
optical filter;
amplitude, phase, or colour filter
particular location (e.g. in Fourier, holobject or image plane)
SLM as specific optical component
amplitude, signed amplitude , phase, polarisation, complex , amplitude/phase coupled or colour modulation;
EASLM, OASLM, XASLM, Acousto-optic modulator;
having movable pixels
1D, 2D, 3D modulation;
multiple SLMs (e.g. for multicolour processing):
having optical element in registration;
Object types:
diffusing, translucent and phase object;
2D (e.g. 2D SLM), 3D (e.g. 2D/3D) object;
holographic object
moving, coloured object;
numerical object (e.g. computer modelled or digitized real object);
decomposed object (e.g. 2D parallactic decomposition);
Laminate comprising hologram:
special arrangement of layers (e.g. printed layer);
functional layer (e.g. antireflective, colour tuning, enhancement, colour active, protective layer, polarisation, opaque or reflective layer);
Substrate aspect:
integrated surface relief hologram;
shape of the substrate (e.g. disc, ribbon, non-planar shapes)
kind of substrate (flexible, fibrous, metallic, plastic, crystalline or glass substrate);
Patterned hologram;
Light characteristics;
- Surface relief holograms;
- Copying holograms without interference recording, including embossing, moulding, casting, electroplating, masking.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Material deformation using laser beam | |
Moulds with particular shape of the moulding surface | |
Moulding article | |
Injection moulding | |
Layered product | |
Embossing decorations or marks | |
Pressing or stamping ornamental designs on surfaces | |
Manufacturing diffraction gratings using mechanical means | |
SLM having movable pixels | |
Photorefractive material per se | |
Electro-optic SLM | |
Optically addressed SLM | |
Holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystals | |
Photographic contact printing apparatus | |
Photosensitive recording materials per se | |
Package for films | |
Dichromated gelatine for photolithography | |
Bleaching | |
Preparation of phase shift mask | |
Photoresist material for photolithography | |
Photopolymer material for photolithography | |
Recording members for recording by exposure | |
SLM for holographic storage | |
Inorganic recording material per se | |
Photopolymer material for holographic storage | |
Producing master for CD/DVD | |
Magneto-optical recording material per se | |
Photorefractive, electro-optical recording material per se | |
Photochromic recording material per se | |
Other recording material per se | |
Lasers |
In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
2D/3D object | Object formed of a stack of parallel 2D cross-sections of the object with a set of parallel 2D planes |
In patent documents, the following abbreviations are often used:
EASLM | Electrically addressed SLM |
LCD | Liquid Crystal Display |
OASLM | Optically addressed SLM |
SLM | Spatial Light Modulator |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Object characteristics for holographic processes or apparatus |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Writing means other than actinic light wave |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Active addressable light modulator |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Mechanical components or mechanical aspects |
This place covers:
- Optical recording geometry : in-line, off-axis, non-orthogonal; transmission or reflection; image plane, Fourier transform, Lippmann;
- Recording arrangement involving particular optical element (e.g. a diffuser for recording coded-beam hologram); particular beam shape or geometry;
- Recording arrangement adapted to compensate or suppress aberration, distortions or unwanted interference fringes ;
- Recording arrangement adapted to record HOE;
- Coded beam holography (wherein at least one of the object and reference beams is optically coded (e.g. with a diffuser) during recording);
- Coherence gated holography;
- Polarisation preserving holography;
- Pseudo-deep holography;
- Total internal reflection, waveguide, substrate-mode holography;
- Harmonic holography;
- Monitoring the hologram formation;
Particular processing of hologram record carrier, including
- pre-exposure processing e.g. hypersensitization, partial deactivation, trimming;
- Post-exposure processing including
- chemical processing e.g. latensification, bleaching, fixing, trimming;
- physical processing e.g. shaping, delaminating, de-metalization;
- fringe deformation (swelling or shrinking processes) e.g. for tuning reconstruction wavelength or measuring substrate deformation;
- erasing the holographic information, including coherent erasure by superimposing pi shifted information;
Copying holograms by holographic means including :
- Contact copy
- Copying wherein the H1 and H2 holograms are separated such that the reference beam exposing the H2 does not interact with the H1;
- Copying using conjugate waves;
- Copying with category transfer;
- Subdivided copy.
This place does not cover:
Processes or apparatus specially adapted to produce multiple holograms |
In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
H1/H2 process | Transferring holographic information from master H1 to recording material H2 |
TIR | Total Internal Reflection |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Handheld portable device, e.g. holographic camera, mobile holographic display |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Holograms used as optical elements |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Adaptation of holography in microscopy, e.g. digital holographic microscope [DHM] |
This place covers:
- Holograms synthesized from objects or objects from holograms.
In this sub-group, a digital representation of the hologram is mandatory.
- Hologram synthesis per se, comprising a numerical transform simulating light propagation (e.g. Fresnel or Fourier transforms) between object and hologram domains (for Computer Generated Hologram, CGH) or between holographic data and holobject (in digital holography).
- The main processing steps that may be involved are:
- Numerical processing of object including object description such as geometrical, parallactic decomposition, slicing, rendering;
- Methods of numerical synthesis including Fresnel and Fourier transforms,
- convolution and iterative algorithm (e.g. IFTA), direct design (e.g. DBS, simulated annealing), Diffraction specific, Coherent ray tracing ;
- Numerical processing in hologram domain including noise reduction, linear
- combination of holograms, numerical padding;
- Encoding aspect including cell or point oriented coding, amplitude, phase or
- complex encoding, quantization;
- Synthesis adapted to generate holographic optical element;
- Synthesis adapted to generate holobjects from hologram, including solving phase ambiguity (phase unwrapping), recovering complex amplitude in hologram plane (using phase shifting, spatial heterodyning), synthetic aperturing;
- Adapted hardware (for computation or transmission);
- Materializing the synthetic hologram including serial or parallel printing, forming amplitude, phase or complex transmittance .
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Digital data processing | |
General purpose image data processing | |
Data description and modelling of 3D objects |
In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
Digital holography | digital recording of holograms and subsequent numerical processing |
Complex hologram | CGH encoding amplitude and phase (i.e. complex values : Amplitude exp(i phase)) |
Gerchberg - Saxton algorithm | a IFTA algorithm |
Kinoform | CGH encoding phase only |
In patent documents, the following abbreviations are often used:
CGH | Computer Generated Hologram |
DBS | Direct Binary Search |
IFTA | Iterative Fourier Transform Algorithm |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Form or shape of the hologram when not registered to the substrate |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Laminate comprising a hologram layer, conform enhancement layer |
This place covers:
Processes or apparatus for obtaining a holobject from an analogical or numerical hologram;
Particular reconstruction arrangement including :
- Mechanical support holding the holographic record;
- Optical arrangement and orientation between light source, hologram and detector (e.g. transmission reflection or edge lit reconstruction);
- Eliminating certain diffraction orders;
- Downstream optical component (e.g. diffusing surface revealing the holobject);
- Particular reconstruction light (white light G03H 1/24);
Dynamic of the holobject
- static;
- pseudo-dynamic wherein a dynamic effect is produced from a single hologram;
- dynamic wherein a time varying sequence of holograms is displayed;
- dynamic wherein a time varying sequence of holographic fringes information is addressed to a SLM;
Particular holobject including 2D, 3D, 2D+3D holobjects, rescaled or polarized holobjects;
Superposing or matching the holobject with other visual information;
Holobject having particular colour including achromatic, RGB, rainbow-like;
Particular location of the holobject with respect to the hologram, including in-plane, real, virtual or straddling holobject.
This place does not cover:
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Grating image | |
Stereoscopic microscopes | |
Systems for producing stereoscopic or 3D effects | |
Stereoscopic photography | |
Stereo photographic or similar process | |
Display per se | |
Stereoscopic television system |
Details and isolated features involved during the reconstruction process are also classified under G03H 1/02.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Total internal reflection [TIR] holograms |
This place covers:
- Angle multiplexing (multichannel holography);
- Coherence multiplexing wherein different holobjects are perceived under incoherent and coherent illumination;
- Phase code multiplexing ;
- Polarisation multiplexing;
- Temporal multiplexing :
Frame or time sequential multiplexing wherein a plurality of sub-holograms or holographic sub-frames are time multiplexed to reconstruct one holobject;
Double or multiple exposure recording process;
- Superimposed holograms (G03H 1/28) wherein the sub-holograms are superimposed in the same recording layer;
- Spatial multiplexing (G03H 1/30) wherein the sub-holograms are spatially multiplexed in a single material layer; including:
in-plane or depth multiplexing;
shape of the sub-hologram;
interleaved sub-holograms;
tiled identical holograms;
dot matrix holograms;
- Holographic stereogram wherein a collection of parallactic 2D pictures views of a 3D object are multiplexed into a holographic record thereby allowing to reconstruct the 3D holobject due to stereoscopic perception;
one steps and two steps holographic stereograms;
- Arrangement comprising multiple holograms in spatially separated supports
mechanically separated or in contact;
optically separated or in contact (optical contact in the sense that a reconstruction beam crosses the holograms);
made of different materials;
for spectral broadening (e.g. multicolour holobject);
comprising a HOE;
mixed volume/surface hologram;
superposed surface relief;
This place does not cover:
Double exposure interferometry |
Details of the recording/reconstruction arrangement are also classified in respective classes in G03H 1/00.
In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
Multichannel holography | Angle multiplexed holography wherein the holobject change when orientation varies |
Holographic stereogram | Hologram multiplexing a collection of parallactic (2D) pictures views of a (3D) object; replays 3D holobject |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Processes or apparatus for producing holograms using spatial modulation, e.g. ghost imaging |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Holographic printers |
This place does not cover:
Details of holographic recording and reconstruction process | |
Acousto-photonic imaging |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Non destructive holographic visualisation and testing | |
Seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting | |
Producing, transmitting, directing, suppressing sound waves |
This place does not cover:
Details of holographic recording and reconstruction process |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Investigating or analysing materials by the use of microwaves | |
Investigating and forming a picture of materials by the use of other wave or particle radiation e.g. X-rays or electron or neutrons | |
Investigating and forming a picture of materials by the use of nuclear magnetic resonance, electron paramagnetic resonance or other spin effects | |
Gamma- or X-ray microscopes | |
Electron microscope |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Active addressable light modulator, i.e. Spatial Light Modulator [SLM] |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Methods of numerical synthesis of holograms, e.g. coherent ray tracing [CRT], diffraction specific |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Anamorphic optical element, e.g. cylindrical |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Astigmatic beam having different focal planes |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Reconstruction geometries or arrangements for obtaining an optical image from holograms, using downstream optical component |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Light sources or light beam spectral composition being infrared [IR] |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Laminate comprising a hologram adhesive layer |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Light sources or light beam properties | |
Writing means other than actinic light wave |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Photoresist |