Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
`J
The present invention makes possible the orderly
manipulation or processing oE energy in the ~orm of three
dimensional energy dis-tributions which distributions may be
comprised of either organi2ed information defined by a
distribution of energy gradients such as for example an image
present in the form of electromagneti.c radiation disposed in
an organized distribution or substantially incoherent non-
ordered energy distributions such as for example radiation
from the sun which may be organized and/or classified
according to any characteristics thereof by a system in
accordance with the present invention. Among the systems
possible wi-th the present invention include those directed
towards energy coZZection including energy in the form of
solar radiation, natural wind and water flows as well as any
other form of natural or synthetic energy which may be col-
lected and concentrated and subsequently utilized again to for -
~example power cities and industrial as well as residential
areas; energy cZassification where for example propagating
- 1 - ~ '
energy may be classified according to amplitude, frequency
and/or vector or direction of origin; energy tran~orm~tion
where one form of energy as for example solar energy or
energy from a laser may be transformed into random as well
as predictable image formations or in general energy may be
transformed from one form to another with respect to any of
its characteristics of amplitude, phase, fre~uency or vector;
and energy inter~etion with diverse media including excitation
of fuel materials, polymerization of certain resins, etc. as
well as excitation of mediums which are capable of stimulated
emission as a result of amplification i.e. laser generation,
etc.
The above are solely exemplary of the possible uses
of the present invention which is broadly directly towards
systems comprising ordered distributions of elements capable
of affecting applied forms of energy and capable of performing ;
operations on certain energy distributions by tailoring the
geometrical distribution of the present systems to bear close
geometrical relationship to the component energy gradients of
a particular energy distribution.
. ~ ~Photographic or holo~raphic film or any radiation sensi-
¦tive medium may be positioned in proximity to or within
the modulator distribution, and be used to record or play
~bact informati n fror within or without the aystem.
. .' , ,1
! , , ,
I
B~cxG~our~lD OF T~E'I~VENTI~
. . .. .. ._ _
Fleld o~ the Invention: . ,
The present invention.relates~.to a syistem ~or the
distribution, transmi.ssion, and detection of. prODagatitl,5
ener~y which may originate from an artificial or natural
radiation source. More particularly, the present invention
relates to a system which is capable of a~fecting propagating
energy to impress thereon desired.in~ormation ~ere such propa~at-
ing energy may be recorded or.utilized as desired or may be
subseauently demodulated or the production of organi3ed complex
information imagin~, which may be used for scientific displays
as well as aesthetic ~visual ;dis~lays ~hichl~;mayi,be intensely !
kaleidoscopi .
1. ` , . I,
I . I
I . i '-
1~3~,~9i7
Descripti n of the Pr.ior Art: .
The prior art contains many systems ~or the modulation
of acoustical or electromagnetic radiation. 1~1any optical
instruments comprise a plurality of modulatinP, elements or
systems, wherein the radiation is ~a.ssed successively through
such modulatinjr" elements, or in some cases simultane~usly
~ I "1~ ' ' I . I ~., .I ~ . ~.
throucrh several modulatin~, elements with such radiation being
, , , i i " ,, I I i r~ ., , 11 ",
subject to various controlled manipulations. One of the more
advianced methods Eor recording modulated radiation is the
hologram, which may be of an optical or acoustical nature, and
I . ., ~, i .,, , I ,", j . ~ ,, i . I ;
which, in turn, functions~as a complex motlulatlon device. In
" :~ ~ I " ' ~
the production of a holo~crram, propa~ating energy ls
. l~? ' 11~ ; 1" i , 1 J Ij.1,;
modulated by an object either reflectively or transnissively;
i s~chmodulated radiation is subsequently recorded in the form
of interference with a uniform reference wavefront. The
_ ~ a ~ L
information is recorded in an encoded form. 1~hen illuminated,
11 the recordin~r functions as a.complex demodulator which allows
¦l reconstruction of the ori~inal information. In many instances
I this type of system functions well only with a spatially
coherent monochromatic-light source; however, some syste~s
which may utilize incoherent or white light have been -develo~ed.
, ;.'` ~ . ' ; i I ": . ~ . -' ,
One of these is described in U. ~S. Patent ~1o. .~, 515, 452
( R. V. Pole), which is concerned with the production of
hologram~iutilizing white light and a plianar array of elements
I kno~n in the art as a fly's eve arrav. The ~lanar array of
., "'1 .1: 1 i~ ''' ' ~ ' i I I
elements comprises lenses ~hich are desi~,ned rfor minimum
distortion in order to use the majority of light incident
11 thereon from a specific direction. 1~en the li,~,ht source
¦l coincides broadly with the optical axes oF the fly's eye
I array, the distortion o~ the imap,e seen by each
I 1.
1 4
,, 1,..
~7~9~
element is ~)rimarily ~ function of the planar ~i~t-~ibution.
Furthermore, slnce all lenses are disclosed to lie in a si.n~:Le
plane, the resulting image, disregarding chromatic aberration,
also lies in a single plane and may be recorded by suitable
means such as film. For example, when information resulting
from reflection of white light from an object impinges upon
the planar array mentioned in the above patent, the difference
in viewpoint from widely separated elements enables a sub-
stantial amount of information concerning the object to be
recorded in an encoded form. Subsequent reillumination in
combination with the original planar array of elements can
reproduce an image of the object in a manner closely related
to holographic techniques.
The system described in the above U. S. Patent 3, 515, 452
is limited in that it is designed to accept radiation or
information from one general direction and comprises planar
array elements which may produce increased distortion as the
angle of radiation incidence diverges substantially from the
optical axes of the elements. The present invention includes,
in preferred embodiments, systems capable of simultaneous~y
accepting radiation from a plurality of mutually orthogonal
directions.
In another area of the art, multiple modulation techniques
are utili~ed; thus, radiation is amplified by stimulated
emission such as occurs in a maser or laser. Generally, the
principles of multiple reflection of radiation are utili~ed
to repeatedly stimulate certain types of matter in phase so
as to produce a substantially coherent wavefront of stimulated
emission. In U. S. Patent No. 3, 248, 671, internal reflection
~ I
l! !
1. r ¦
'
!
,
a377
techniques flre utiliæed to produce this stimulate(l emi~ssiol~,
wherein a certaln ~,eometrical element of a semi-conductor
material com~rises multiple reflective surfaces, such that
radiation therein may be con~ined ~7ithin a certain area
definin~ a cavity; it may be repeatedly reflected from tlle
multiple surfaces, thus stimulatin~ emissi.on from the atoms
of the semi-conductor material during the multiple passes
between the multiple reflectin~, surfaces. The present invention
is particularly adapted to the above described techni~ues.
In one embodiment, multiple reflective elements are closely
~ositioned concurrent wit,h an orderl~ point distribution.
P~adiation incident upon such a system is to a substantial degree
captured and retained within the multiple cavities formed by
the reflecting elements. If a lasing mediu~ is present
hetween the elements, or if thP elements are comprised o a
lasing medium, amplification of th-e incident radiation will
occur by stimulated emission of the lasing mflterial.
The use of multiple modulating element systems as artistic
devices is repres~nted, for example, b~ U. S. Patent
No. 3, 614, 213; this is concerned with an artistic re~lector
viewer having multiple reflective surfaces which may oppose
each other at certain angles and thus provide a variety of
sy~metrical optical displays. The ~resent invention also
finds very important applications in the production of
artistic or visual displays and has been found to be substantiallv
more versatile in this utility than the nrior art devices such as
the one described above.
l I .
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1~3~7~
U.S. Patent No. 3,927,329 describes a method of using
the motion of a plurality o~ spheres along a fixed, one-dimen-
sional path to produce electrical energy from the kinetic
energy of the spheres. The kinetic energy may be derived from
a fluid, but since only a single dimension of movement is
obtained, the energy so derived is thus limited.
U.S. Patent No. 3,091,870 utilizes magnetic spheres in
the construction of molecular and atomic models of specific
geometrical shape or configuration. No relationship or inter-
action is disclosed with propagating energy, or external field
energy with respect to such confieuratioDs.
_, I
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....
The use of ordered beds of spheres ~9 a convenien~
method of stacking nuclear fuel cells is described in U. S.
Patent No. 3, 262, 859. The geometry and flow-through
characteristics of such bed~s and support systems are also
described. The geometric relationships resulting from
stacking angles ti.e., interfacial angles) between 54 44'
8" and 39 10' 25.8" of close-packed spheres are disclosed.
However, the relationship between this three-dimensionally
ordered geometry in a system of radiation modulat'ors, '~
transmitters, detectors, etc., is not described and is
the primary concern of this invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENT _ N
The present invention utilizes a system to be used in
conjunction with either random or ordered propagating energy
wavefronts which may be acoustical, mechancal, electromagnetic,
or any combination thereof. Additionally, the system may be
immersed i.n ener~y fields which may be acoustical,
electromagnetic, t'nermal, purely ma~netic, mechanical,
electro-static, gravitational, or may be due to water or ~ ¦
air flow. Any suchenergy fields may induce mechanical or
electromagnetic oscillations in one or more of the elements t
of the system.
The system is based on the ordered distribution of points,
the organization of which forms the basis for the specific
arrangement and positioning of energy a~fecting ele~ents. The
energy fields are generally arranged three-dimensionally wlth
their orientation derived as a function of such'an ordered
point distribution teometry. Such n ordered three-dimen-
l I
8 `
..
sional point distribution geometry may be defined as that
distribution of points which occurs when at least two points
of a set of points are distributed on each of three non-
parallel axes and no more than two axes occur in the same
plane.
A system for controlling propagating energy may
comprise at least six surfaces capable of affecting such
propagating energy, said surfaces being arranged in an ordered
three-dimensional geometrical distribution, said distribution
of said sur:Eaces being a function of at least two parallel
planes, of a set of parallel planes, distributed on each of at
least three non-parallel axes wherein no two lines lie in the
same plane and no more than two of said axes li.e in one plane.
In such a system the geometry of the said ordered distribution
may be a function of one or more geometrical characteristic of
at least one oE said surfaces.
The present invention is directed to systems which
may be used in conjunction with either random or ordered
energy distributions which distributions may be defined by a
plurality of energy gradients present either in a dynamic form
such as a propagating energy wave front or in a static form
_ g _
~ ~377~7
such as an energy field including magnetic and gravitational
Eields, for example. The systems of the present invention may
be immersed in energy fields which may be acoustical, electro-
magnetic, thermal, purely magnetic, mechanical, electrostatic,
gravitational, or may be due to water or air flow. ~ny such
energy fields may induce mechanical or electromagnetic oscil-
lations in one or more of the elements of the system. The
systems of the present invention would be composed of elements
to correspond to the type of energy distribution with which a
particular system would be utilized. Thus for performing
operations on an acoustical energy distribution such as, for
example, a sound field, a system of the present invention
would be composed of a plurality of elements each capable of
affecting such a sound field with the elements disposed in a
three dimensional geometrical distribution bearing ralation-
ship to the distribution of acoustical gradients of which such
a sound field would be composed. In this manner it would be
possible to predict the effect o~ such a system on such a
distribution by producing individual operations by each
element of such a system upon some portion of such energy
distribution such that the total effect of the system can be
obtained by the integration of such a plurality of effects to
produce an orderly manipulation of such an energy distribution
by the integration of such a plurality of component manipu-
lations.
9 . 1
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7~
The present system is based on an ordered distri-
bution of points the organization of which forms the basis for
specific arrangement and positioning of the energy affecting
elements of the present distributions. Energy fields which
result from processing by the systems of the present invention
are generally arranged with their orientation derived as a
function of such an ordered point distribution geometry and
the particular effects on an initial existing eneryy distri-
bution produced by the present systems may be predicted by
the choice of certain variables within a number of groups
which variables will be set out below~ In general the three
dimensional point distribution geometries upon which the
present systems are based may be defined as including dis-tri-
butions of points which occur when at least two points of a
set are distributed on each of three non-parallel axes with
no more than two axes occurring in the same plane.
A system for controlling propagating energy may
comprise at least six surfaces capable of affecting such
propagating energy, said surfaces being arranged in an ordered
three-dimensional geometrical distribution, said distribution
of said surfaces being a function of at least two parallel
9.2
~3~79''7
planes, of a set oE parallel planes, distributed on each of at
least three non~parallel axes wherein no two planes lie in the
same plane and no more than two of said axes lie in one plane.
In such a system the geometry of the said ordered distribution
may be a function of one or more geometrlcal characteristic of
at least one of said surfaces.
One method for generating a three-dimensional energy
distribution for manipulation or processing by the present
invention is by utilization of a two-dimensional source of
energy, either propagating or static.
A two-dimensional source of a static magnetic field
may be the surface of a magnet per se, just as the surface of
a television tube may be, when activated, a two-dimensional
source for many types of radiation, particularly optical
electromagnetic radiation, through time.
In a similar manner, a two-dimensional receiver may
be formed by photo cells disposed side by side in many rows
and columns. This arrangement lends itself ~uite well to
input and output energy distributions referenced to an X ~ Z
format with time providing the Z component.
9.3
The term energy distribution as used herein is
intended to include forms of propagating energy fields as well
as static energy fields wherein such energy fields consist of
components or enexgy gradients which actually define the
pattern of existing energy. Such energy gradients may be
either substantially static with respect to temporal-spatial
displacement or may be dynamic with respect to such time
space displacement. The former type of energy distribution
may be exemplified by a static energy field such as a mag-
netic or gravitational field etc. while the latter type of
energy distribution would be exemplified by a propagating
energy field that is propagating through space and time such
as for example electromagnetic, nuclear, or acoustical radia-
tion.
Such energy distributions by virtue of the energy
gradients existing therein may be symmetrical with respect to
spatial characteristics or with respect to temporal character-
istics or may be asymmetrical with respect to either. The
systems of the present in~ention comprise distributions of
plural means each capable of performing manipulations or
operations or otherwise processing some component of such an
energy distribution and the plurality of operations thus
performed on the energy gradients composing such energy
.
q~ 't
7~7
dis-tributions are integrated lnto the operation being per-
formed on the entire energy distributionO Thus by integrating
the geometry of an initial existent energy distribution as
defined by the component energy gradients thereof with the
geometry of the particular system distribution as defined by
a plurality of elements of which such a distribution is
composed, a specific system may be tailored to perform desired
operations or manipulations upon such an energy distribution.
The selection of specific system characteristics such as the
geometry of the entire system distribution, the geometry and
characteristics of each of the individual elements of which
such a distribution is composed as well as other variables to
be described further below is based on the nature of the
energy distribution upon which it is desired to perform
specific operations.
In most cases a system may be best tailored to
perform specific desired manipulations on a specific energy
distribution by establishing a relationship be-tween the
characteristics of such an energy distribution and the charac-
teristics of the system distribution which would be used.This relationship may be defined by certain groups of varia-
bles. Thus in accordance with such characteristics of an
initial energy distribution as the amplitude, phase, fre-
quency, vector, etc., of the component energy gradients of
9.5
~: . , ~ , . . .. .
3~7~q
such a distribution, the characteristics of the system aistri-
bution to be utilized therewith such as: the geometry of the
total system; the geometry of the individual elements thereof;
the modulation or otherwise energy altering capabilities of
each individual element which may be determined by the sur-
faces thereof, the shapes thereof and placement thereof etc.
in the system; all define variables which may be chosen and
organized so as to produce a resultant energy distribution the
characteristics of which ma~ be to a great extent determined
in advance and which may predictably result from the utili-
zation of a system in accordance with the present invention.
For ease of explanation the possible variables which
relate to the use of the present systems are classified into
groups set out below. It should be recognized that the
following classes are arbitraty and illustrate one exposition-
al organization of the variables involved in the selection of
a particular system distribution best suited for the perform-
ance of desired or designated manipulations on a specific
energy distribution. The following five classes deal with
possible variables in connection with system distributions
(classes 3, 4 and 5) as well as possible variables in connec-
tion with energy distributions both input and output from the
9.6
~3~
present systems (classes 1 and 2).
In selecting variables for determining a particular
configuration for a system of the present invention for use
in a particular application, it should first be determined
what energy distribution or distributions will be dealt with/
that isJwhat energy will be input t:o the system in the form of
radiant energy, magnetic energy, acoustical energy, etc. and
additionally to the characteristics of such an input energy
distribution~it should be determined what manipulations are to
be performed with respect to such characteristics as amplitude,
phase, frequency and vector or direction in the instance of
propagating or dynamic energy. These questions may be defined
in the terms of the first two classes of variables as set out
below.
Class 1 variable~ - this is a class of variables
including characteristics of the original or raw energy dis-
tribution which is input or "applied" to a system of the pres-
ent invention. As noted these variables include the particu-
lar characteristics of such input energy including the
frequencyJamplitude,phase and vector or vectors of the com-
posite energy distribution as well as similar characteristics
of the component energy gradients thereof into which such energy
distributions may be differentiated; e.g. field intensity
variables.
q 7
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Class 2 variables - this class of variables is that
which describes the energy distribution which would result
from interaction with a particular system distribution of the
present invention. These variables which would be similarly
describable in terms primarily of frequency, amplitude, phase
and vector of energies or of field intensities at particular
locations within such energy distributions may either be
determined if given (a) an initial energy distribution as
described by class 1 and (b) a specific system distribution
as describable by classes 3, 4 or 5; or a desired energy dis-
tribution could be intentionally resultant given (a) a set
of variables as described by class 1 and by (b) tailoring the
variables of classes 3, 4 and 5 in order to develop a particu-
lar sy~tem distribution appropriate for manipulation of an
initial energy distribution in order to predictably produce
such desired resultant energy distribution. This second
class of variables would for example describe the distribu-
tion of energies or the individual component energy gradients
existent within a system distribution of the present invention
such as an array of cavities or voids between individual
elements as well as those energies existent within the indi-
vidual elements themselves.
~1 8
79~
Class 3 variables - this class of variables is one
directed to the particular characteristics of the systems of
distributions peY se and includes spatial or positional
variables such as the coordinates of:
a. the geometrical centers of the individual
elements or energy manipulating means present,
b. the points of contact of the elements (if any),
c. the geometrical centers of the voids or cavities
formed between two or more elements,
d. the distributions of points on the surfaces of
elements or the coordinate geometry of the surface functions
of such elements,
e. the interelement geometries such as for example
interelement angles etc.
Any of the above variables may be chosen to be
constant within a particular system or may be chosen to be
variable over a certain range within the system, that is to
say that any of the spatial variables may be dynamic and may
change with time as a result of certain inputs to the system
as for example the spacing between certain pairs of elements
or the spacing between certain subdistributions of elements
may be intentionally varied in order to produce specific
alterations in the manipulations being performed on energy
input to the system.
,~ ,
9.9
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The above variables constitute means for referencing
the relatively gross geometrical characteristics of the
instant system distributions.
Class 4 - this class of variables deals with the
characteristics of the individual elements of a system distri-
bution or more broadly the component means for performing
operations or manipulations upon input energy distributions.
These component manipulations, each performed by one or more
elements of the present systems are integrated into composite
manipulations performed by entire groups of elements which
may either form subdistributions within a larger distribution
or which may comprise the entire system distribution of the
invention. This class of variables includes more highly
refined geometric characteristics of component elements such -~
as the size, shape and surface characteristics as well as
variables describing the characteristics of composition such
as for example the indices of refraction, degree and spectra
of reflection and/or absorption characteristics, etc. In-
cluded in this class are variables which characterize the type
9.10
~L3779~7
of manipulation to be performed on incident energy systems
such as: modulation, amplification, detection, generation,
emission, reElection, etc. These component effects may be
integrated into the total effect of a particular system
distribution on a particular energy distribution with one or
more of the above effects being performed in any particular
system.
Class 5 variables - this class deals primarily with
the variables describing physical as well as virtual movement
of the component elements of an instant system distribution as
well as movement or displacement of groups of such elements or
of subdlstributions thereof as referenced to the coordinates
of the entire system. This class of variables would thus
describe systems where, for example, certain parts of each
element or certain elements per se or all elements may be
given freedom of movement within the entire system with such
movement either generated by system interaction with energy,
given such freedom of movement or which movement may be caused
by the system in order to predictably affect or manipulate
9.11
.3'77~7
such energy as desired, such as to cause varying interference
patterns within a resultant energy dlstribution in the case of
propagating energy.
An example would be the scanning of a propagating
radiation beam over a two dimensional or a three dimensional
area by one or more elements of a system distribution in order
to further distribute such radiation predictably into other
portions of the system. This set or class of variables would
be most usefully referenced to the total coordinate systems
describable by class 1 variables that is the var.iables
describing input energy distributions as well as furthermore
being usefully referenced to the total geometry of a system
distribution.
The following is directed towards describing one
embodiment or set of embodiments of the present invention
which deals primarily with propagating energy distributions,
however, similar embodiment dealing with other types of energy
distributions are intended to be within the scope of the
present invention as defined by the appended claims.
'-
9.12
3 ~
The term "propagating energy" as used herein is intendedto include all forms of wavefront energy, radiating wavefronts
as well as any similar type of energy comprising an energy
field of alternating polarity, magnitude or other character- ¦
istics which alterations may occur at any frequency. The
energy field in which such magnitude, polarity or other alter- !
ations are occuring may be electromagnetic, acoustical, magnetic,
electrical, etc,, and includes all Eorms of radiation from
the sun as well as audible and ultrasonic sound, Such energy
fields as described propagate or travel through space generaLly,
as a result of such magni~tude or polarity alterations, at
speeds depending on the type of energy of which they are com- ¦
posed as well as the frequency of such alterations.
In the event that one or more of the propagating energy
characteristics are alternating at an extremely low rate,
it may be said to be substantially an energy field of stable
polarity over a short period of time relative to the period
of such slow polarity alterations In this case, as well as
in instances of the present systems using energy fields which
are not changing in polarity, such energy is simply designated
herein as an "energy.field", and includes such natural and
synthetic fields as gravity, electrostatic fields, magnetic
fields and other constant polarity energies.
While the disclosed embodiments generally comprise
the utilization of propagating energy from the electromagnetic
portion of the energy spectrum, it should be noted that such
systems of three-dimensional orde:red distributions of elements
may perform operations upon the following energies either in
coherent or incoherent form:
energy from the sun
electromagnetic radiation
natural mechanical wavefronts
artificial mechanical wavefronts
electromechanical wavefronts
acoustical wavefronts
at least one controlled wavefront
a wavefront originating internally to said
distribution
a wavefront originating externally to said :
distribution
a three-dimensional geometrical distribution of
one or more controlled wavefront(s)
-- 11 -
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,
a three-dimensional geometrical distribution of
one or more controlled wavefront(s) wherein said
controlled wavefront distribution is a function of
the said ordered three-dimensional distributions
of said elements capable of affecting said propa-
gating
magnetic
electromagnetic
gravitational
electrostatic
thermal
In the embodiments of the present invention where
incident energy distributions are of a propagating nature
having the characteristic of frequency or wavelength, desired
operations or manipulations may be performed under three sets
of circumstances, depending on the relationship between the ~ .
wavelengths ~ of radiation and the size of the modulators used
therewith. In one instance, the size of the modulators of the
present invention would be of an order of magnitude sub-
stantially larger than the wavelength of the radiation being
modulated. In the second iDstance, the modulators of the
,~
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- 12 -
present invention and the wavelength of the radiation incident
thereon would be of a similar order of magnitude. In the
third instance, the size of the modulators would be on an
order of magnitude a great deal srnaller than the wavelength
oE the radiation incident thereon. For example, if the modu-
lators are circular or spherical, with diameter d
in Instance I, d > > >
in Instance II, d
and
in Instance III, d < < < ~ ;
In any of the above instances, the propagating energy or
radiation may be in the form of a beam, a divergent cone, or
a spherical or planar wavefront.
In the above, ~ is the wavelength of the energy
and is exemplary of a characteristic of the component energy
gradients of which an energy distribution may be composed.
In general, however, the three classes of size relationship
described may exist between any elem.ents or energy affecting
means- of the present invention and the components or energy
gradients of any energy distribution.
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3~9~7 I
i
1. In the Eirst lnstance, the pr:Lmary interactiorl is between
incLclerlt radiation and moduLati.n~ sur:Eaces. In this -i.nstance,
the general arrangement of such modulating surfaces i9 a
function of size, shape and modulating characteristics, as
well as each surface's orlentation relative to the immediately
adjacent surfaces. This makes possible the performance of
specific operations and manipulations on radiation incident
on such an organized system. The surfaces are preferably,
but not necessarily,incorporated into the present systems
in the form of disti.nct elements. When the surfaces are used
-in combination with modulating elements, or when they are them- !
selves the elements, they perform the actual modulating functions ¦
of the present invention. These element surfaces may perform
these modulatlng functions based on reflecti.ve or diffractive
surface characteristics--or based on the refractive character-
istics resulting from such surfaces existing as boundaries
~tween t z~ne~ of ll~ering ind ces o~ re e~ti~n
. ' . I
1~ ` '
ll
I-L. In the second instance where the siæe o~ the present
modulators is on the same order o:E magnitude as the waveLengtll ¦
o incident radiation, the interaction is in the form o~ ¦
interference phenomena which in many instances take the
form oE a brag-type diffraction--such as that which occurs
in certain crystal lattices, wherein the modulation oE incident
radiation is performed by the crystal structure itself and
in which the atoms or molecules of the crystal are
arranged in an ordered distribution. Modulation is achieved
by the interaction o certain portions of incident radiatian
with one set oE atoms of the crystal--while adjacent portions oE
radiation interact with another set o:E atoms or molecules oE
the crystal to cause phase, frequency, a~nd amplitude modulation
to be impressed upon radiation passing through such crystal
structures. It is possible to utilize such diffraction
phenomena to classify random radiation by phase, amplitude,
or frequency, thus extracting image or graphic in~ormation
by spatially organizing the distribution of such random radiation.
A significant example of such incoherent radiation is that
emitting from the sun: the present invention :Einds impor,tant
application in the classification, distribution, collection,
transmission, or absorption of such energy for optical data
processing as well as or the utilization of raw solar energy
as a power source. For example, thé invention will permit
phase, frequency, amplitude, and spatial organiza~ion o:E
radiation for the selective excitation of a lasing medium. ¦
Certain crystal structures, in which the spacing between
atoms, as well as the specific arrangement and structure of
the atoms, is carefully chosen, may function in the manner
- ~ :
3~7~
1 o:E the present invention, iE such structures are properlj
i oriented with respect to incicLent radiation. Such crystal.s
may include many semi-conductor materials in which the specific
structure of the crystal co-operates w:ith certain acti.ve materials
¦ comprisin~ the crystal body to perform controlled operations
upon radiation entering or incident upon the crystal.
.' ' " . , ''
. 16
.. ~ ... _ . .... ____ ... . .. __
79~7 1
III. In the tlli.rcl case d:iscussed above, wherein the wa-velength
of the incident radiation is of an order o:E magnitucde substan
tially larger than the size and spacing oE the modulators,
similar types of diffractive phenomena occur. In these cases,
however, the speci~ic characteristics of individual modulators
are not as significant as the positioning and organization of
such modulators. Indeed, their ordered distribution performs
a substantial portion of the modulating ~unction in this
instance as opposed to the above examples where the surface
characteristics of thé modulator are of greater si.gnificance.
~ ,, ' 1,
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.
. 17
~3'7~
In the embodiments of the present invention wherein
plural means for affecting energy are combined to form an
ordered distribution, these means also referred to herein as
modulating elements--may also approach the domain of crystal
structure described above and may be on the order of one
micron--or even lOOA or less in diameter. These modulating
elements may, for example, be small glass microspheres,
silvered or otherwise, and may be combined with a transmissive
monomeric material impregnating the spaces between the
lQ elements which may be polymerized in situ in order to affix
them in the particular relationship of ordered distribution
required for the operation of the present invention. In such
a case, the glass spheres should have surface tolerance com-
mensurate with the wavelength of radiation utilized.
While various shapes of modulating elements may be
utilized in these modulator element distributions, such as
squares, hexagons, toroids, etc., spherical elements or those
based on spherical functions have been found to function
particularly well, substantially due to their symmetry, which
allows them to operate in an orderly manner upon radiation
incident from any direction. As discussed above, the modu-
lating function of these elements is primarily performed by
the surfaces thereof. Each element may be either hollow or
solid, with the surface characteristics including diffractive, ~ ;;
transparent, refractive, reflective, or any combination
thereof. The size of each element may be, but is not neces-
sarily, uniform throughout the distribution. The size will be
related to the type of radiation utilized, and, as explained
above, to the wavelength thereof. Thus, for example, with
- 18 -
, ~ , .
" ~13~7~7
.
substantially optical electromagnetic radiation, it is possi-
ble to use modulating elements whose size is many orders of
magnitude greater than a wavelength of such radiation, in
which case surface characteristics would have a predominating
effect. However, in a distribution of elements, each of which
is of a size of the same order of magnitude as the wavelength
being utilized, the surface characteristics would not have as
great an effect as the nature and characteristics of their
distribution and spacing.
In one of the more involved embodiments of the
present invention, it is possible to produce holograms of
modulating surfaces by a projection taking the form of a
distribution of spheres, for example, and to control by com- :
puter such factors as the surface characteristics of each of
the modulating spheres in the stacking and the organization
and interfacial angles of the stacking in the making of the
hologram(s). In some instances, the interfacial angles are
modulated by apparent spatial displacement of one or more of
such holographic spheres. Further, the computer may control
the apparent point of view of the projection of the modulating
system, as well as the placement of the virtual illumination
sources in the projected modulator distribution. In this
embodiment, the computer would control the amplitude, fre-
quency, and phase--as well as the angles of incidence and the
apparent spherical coordinates of the illumination source
relative to the system of the apparent holographic modulating
elements. It is thus possible to utilize a computer to
control a projection of a system according to the present
invention wherein most of the variables encountered during the
operation would be computer controlled. By using an XYZ
-- 1 9
~ ~,3~t~
, .
three-dimensional projection coordinate system, the required
modulator surfaces, as well as the apparent modulating charac-
teristics thereof, can be synthetically generated holographi-
cally according to simple three-dimensional analytical
geometric equations which would be all the more simple if the
surfaces were spherical. Programming could then be instituted
which would dictate that a beam of radiation striking the
surface at a specific angle would either be reflected or
refracted therefrom, depending upon the modulating character-
istics that are in memory for that particular modulatingsurface as well as the angle of incidence of the beam. These
computations would be repeated for each interaction of an
apparent wavefront of radiation with an apparent modulating
surface. Such a system will be described in more detail
herein below.
The actual modulating element distributions of the
present invention, or the associated holographically projected
real or virtual image of elements, may take the form of three-
dimensional ordered arrays which may comprise anywhere from
2Q several to a substantial number of elements~ The number of
elements is, in most cases, a factor determining the reso-
lution of the system and is a function of the geometric varia-
bles of arrangement, the nature of the radiation, the shape of
the elements themselves, as well as their modulating charac-
teristics. In one embodiment, a number of elements would atleast partially define a reflective cavity with surfaces
having some degree of reflectivity; while some elements of a
refractive nature would preferably be positioned to refrac-
tively extract information from the apertures formed, for
3Q example, by three reflective elements.
- 20 -
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3~7 ~
It is furthermore possible to have the ,~bove described
reflec~ive cavity at least partially contain elements
which would refractively modify the information being
multiply reflected therein.
A major variable determining the arrangement of modulatin~ !
elements in a particular array or stacking is the interfacial
angle between planes of such elements. In a sim~le stacking
of layers of elements, the inte:rfacial angles is measured from
the oblique planes of alignment af the centers of elements
in successive layers to the horiæontal base layer. The plane
of any horizontal layer is parallel to the base layer; this
set of parallel horizontal reference planes is said to be
at a reference angle of 0. The oblique planes constitute
an additional set of parallel planes. The interfacial
angles of these oblique planes are determined by the direction
from the center of a given element in a given layer to the
center of a nearest nei~hbor element in an adjacen-t layer.
Coexistent with the primary set of parallel planes at a
primary interfacial angle, determined by nearest-neighbor
angle relationships, are secondary, tertiary, etc., sets i
of parallel planes of elements within the same system which
are similarly determined.
The interfacial angle may vary from approxi.mately 35
to aPproximately 54 in orderly distributions. This is due
to the fact that stackings of elements in which the planes
have interacial angles of less than 39 tend to become
random in arrangement, with the modulating elements not
co-operating as well in the orderly distribution D radiation
Il . I
Il 21
37~9~ ,
where~ls the maximum stackin~, an~le possible i,5 approximately
54 , which occurs in a stackin~ oE spheres in which each
sphere is touching all spheres a~jacent to it. If this
angle were to increase for a particular stacking upwards
throu~h 54C~, the stacking wo~ld have interfacial anP~les
decreasing from 54 ~ from another orientation. Interfacial
angles of approximately 51~ 49 ' have been found to ~rovide
a particularly desirable arran~ement; a stackin~ of spherical
elements, some of which are substantially reflective while
others are of a refractive nature, is particularly suited
to a Sl 49' stacking geometry. In an arrangement o:E spheres
with interfacial an~,les o 51~ 49 ', there exists the maximum
number of unobstructed straight lines interconnectin~ each part
to its neighbors, while maintaini.ng a minimum number of e~ement
contact points. This combination o spherical elements of
a reflective and refractive nature, stacked in planes of
elements which comprise and intersect another set o~ parallel
planes of elements at an angles of approximately 52, form
one preferred embodiment of the present invention, which will
be described in more detail llerein.
It is possible for the modulatin~ element system of the
present invention to comprise two or more distinct stackin~v,s,
each having its respective group of elements wherein these
elements may vary with respect to:
(1) the number of elements
(2) the arran~ement or interfacial stackin~ anv~les o~
elements
(3) the modulatin~ characteristics Oc the elements
(4) the spacin~ between the elements
(5) the size of the elements
(6) the composition of the elements
!I j
22
1 ~3'^~9~ I
¦The stackings may be located immediately adjacent to one
¦another, in some instances forming one combined stackin~
having sections of different characteristics; alt~rnately,
there may be two distinct, orderly stacked distributions
whi.ch are separated by a distance greater than the size
of ei~her stacking. Any intermediate degree of separa-
¦ tion between such stackings is also possible. In someembodiments, the ordered geometrical distribution may
include two distinct but inte~ral sub-distributions of
a plurality oE elements, the first of which, for example,
may produce a primary effect on incident propagating energy
or upon propagating energy originating from its inter-
ior; while the other sub.distribution would receive
, some portion of the affected propagating energy
i!exiting from the first sub-distribution and would produce
a secondary effect upon such propagating energy; and where-
¦in the average spacing between any two of said sub-distri-
butions may be substantially greater than the average
spacing between the elements within each of said sub-
distributions.
In other embodiments, two or more of such distinct
distributions of elements are interfaced or interconnected
by fiber optic waveguides or by a third distinct distri-
bution of elements such as either absorbing or reflecting
hollow tu~ ~s, for example.
i , , I
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23
~377'~
The present inven~ion ln.ly function with more ~llan
two distinct dis~ributions, each of which may also cooperate
as portions of a larger distribution. In this case, each
distinct distribution is integrally related to the arrange- !
ment of the other associated distributions. For example,
a first array of modulating elements in a certain distri- ¦
bution may perform a primary e~ect on an ordered or random
propagating energy, where the modulated radiation would
exit the first array in all directions and subsequently be
intercepted by several other secondary arrays, each having
a distribution related to that'of the irst array. The
second arrays may be de'signated as screens due to the fact
that the radiation which has been modulated by ~he primary
array is projected onto the secondary array which performs
a secondary effect on such propagating energy in a manner
such that the desired information is actually utilized as
it emanates from this secondary array or screen.
~ The above described secondary arrays or screens may
be formed at least partially of diffractive elements which
may be relatively planar and comprised of linear or circular
diffraction gratings or mosai,cs thereof such as are de-
scribed in U. ~. Patent No. 3, 567, 561. Such small cir-
cular diffraction gratings may be specifically positioned
in either single or multiple layers such that an ordered
distribution of such diffractive elements in three dimen-
sions is maintained. One or more of these arrangements
or screens could be integrated into the geometry of the
primary or projecting array as described above, such that
two planar distributions of elements would form tw'o dis-
tinct planar arrays. Each plane may be comprised of
various sets of elements. It may also comprise a separate,
similarly proportioned but larger distribution of elements
which may function as a resolving means for propagating
energy.
Il
i
,: ~/., ~
7~75~7
multl-layer arrangelnen~ or a planar distribu~ion o.
I elements in an ordered distribution may function either as
an encoding or decoding device which could, for example,
resolve images or otherwise affect propagating energy con
taining complex information, which may or may not have
been previously coded or r."odulated. This information could
be projected as follows:
l A) projected directly on ~he above arrangement
: I of elements by any of the known photographic
or holographic projection mean,s from one or
any number of directions such as a laser projection ¦
B) projected on an additional distribution adjacent
to it which could be composed of any number of
. elements of various types. These additional
_ dïstributions may also function as scr.eens and .
! would be, in many cases, three-dimensional
distributions of modulators arranged in parallel
. planes a~ angles in the 39 - 54~range.
C) projected on conventional white screens adja~cent
to the:resolving surface .
D) projected on conventional white screen elements
distributed or integrated with the resolving array
In conjunction with previously unmodulated radiation?
di~fractive, planar element screens ~ay act as encoders or 1.
image transformers, and the transformed images can in turn be
utilized as they are, or can be recorded and utilized at a later ¦
time. 5 h recordings would ln some cases take the iorm Oe
I
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.'
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.. .. ~ ; .. . I
3~7~7
intensity fringes resulting ~rom the i.nt:erference of a
plurality of distinct propagating energi.es.
In instances where diffractive elements serve as
a demodulating screen for radiation emanating from the
primary array of modulating elements, this primary array
may be composed of diffractive elements, reflective ele-
ments or refractive spherical modulating elements in various
combinations.
It can thus be seen that the elements of the present
invention may comprise various cornbinations of reflective,
refractive, and difractive surfaces or any surfaces capable
of affecting propagating energy. Such surfaces arranged
either in a single distribution or in a plurality of dis- !
tinct distributions function integrally with one
another in three dimensions wherein the geometry of the
ordered distribution is a function of one or more geometri-
cal characteristics of at least one of said surfaces.
In some instances, it is preferable in the above
embodiments to enclose the ordered distribution of modu-
lating elements by container surfaces which will further ,
reflect and contain such radiation, leaving small areas of
the container open as apertures to allow entrances~.and
exits for the radiation.
In addition to three-dimensional arrangements, the
ordered distributions contemplated in the present inven-
tion may also comprise single planar arrays of elements,
generally in combination with other planar arrays, where ¦
the positioning of any one of these individual planes of
elements is determined by and dèpendent on the positioning
of the remaining planar arrays.
. If the element arrays are three-dimensional, the sup-
~port for the entire array may vary independently of the inter-
1~ I
l I
!
3'^~7~7
planar stackin~ n~les, and the modulati.np7 eler~ent6 m.ly
be arranged on pyramidal~shaped support systems--as well
as spherical, hemispherical, conical, or cylindrical columnar
support systems. For example, in the case o a columnar shaped
support system, the diameter of the column may be a function
of the diameter of the modulating elements thereof.
It is furthermore possible for the modulating element
arrays to be indeEinite in extent, whereby the boundaries o
the distributions are not as significant as the inter-element
spacing and orientation. In th:is case, there would be at least
one boundary of the distribution of a speciic nature, such as
planar, for the introduction of radiation into the system, In
this event, such a planar boundary of a modulating element
distribution would exist at specific orientation to the element
planes existing within the distribution. Thus, the above
considerations would be similar to those involving the
determination of the orientation of the face of a.crystalline
solid in specific relation to the planes of atoms or molecules
in the particular crystal lattice being considered.
The present system may perform diverse functions, such as
the formation of holographic or photographic images from
existing objects, the controlled synthesis of holographic
images where computerized image information may be either
originated during image construction or stored in mèmory,
as in an optical computer, for the processing of binary or
other optical information, as well as other functions dependent
on the orderly manipulation of information.
The present invention may function as a radiation amplifier ¦
such as a laser or maser, depending on the frequency of the
ll
. ,1
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, 27
7~n
radiation involved, wllerein the specific ,~rrangement oE
modulating elements would cooperate with a medium capable
of stimulated emission -to form an amplifying cavity.
The formation of unique aesthetic visual displays
is also a primary application of the present invention and
the orderly distribution of modul.ating elements described
herein in combination with one or more .light sources is
capable of forming either an orgcmized or kaleidosc~pic .
arrangement of imagery with a degree o~ flexibillty and
capability heretofore unknown in the art.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention
to produce a system for the distribution, transmission, and
detection of propagating energy, wherein such propagating ¦
energy may be afected in a controlled manner to e'i'th'e'r~
originate or further modulate information as desired Such
a system comprises a source of propagating energy' and a
means for affecting said propagating energy by interaction
with a plurality of elements arranged in an ordered three-
dimensional geometrical distribution.
, ,
!! ` .. , ., ,
It is furthermore an object of the present invent'ion '
to produce a sys~em for the complex spatial modulation.of
propagating energy of either an acoustical, electromagnetic, .
or mechanical (wind, water, lava, river, and tide t~aves)' ''I''''
nature so as to impress, ex~ract', organize and/or utilize
energy wieh respect to such propagating energy as may be
desired. '
Another o'bject of the present invention is to produce
a system for modulating radiation in a complex and controlled
manner, and thus produce desired complex interference wave-
fronts which may be recorded on radiation sensitive mater-
ials, fo example, on photographic or holographic emulsions.
28 1 '
~ 3'~
A further object of the precent invention i9 to producc
a system which faci.litates the amplificat'ion of radiation b'y
stimulated emission within a unique ~hree-'dimensilonal ca'~iity o'~ i''i
multiple modulators.
1l
It is also an object of the present invention to provide
'an apparatus which is capable of contro~led'and'complé'x'visua'll'''rl'i ;''
synthesis of either realistic, anamorphic, abstract, or
. other diverse forms of imagery with a ve~rnsa~'i'iity'hereto'fdre
unknown in the art of image-synthesis or video-syntheis'ii3!.' " '' 1'
. ' ,. ,' ' ,i .I..ij.,
It is another obJect of the pre'sent 'inventlon to prov'ide' ¦'''''
an apparatus which is capable of phase, frequency, and/or
amplitude modulation of radiation wavefronts'in a mathemat'icaLIy
predictable ispatial, geometrical, or temporal reference system.
The three-dimensional geometry of sulch distribu'tions of elements
as well as the modulating characteristics of its-components
are capable of performing complex geometric transformations
on radiation of any type appropriate to t].le modulators. These
techniques may be utilized in many disciplines.
. I
A urther object of the present invention is to produce
a system of radiation modulators which, when properly oriented
relative to the sun or other source of high energy random radia-
¦ tion, is capable of modulating, classifying, concentrating,gatherin and/or otherw1se utllizing the e~iergy therefrom.
,
.
29
-, 1 ,. ,
11 3~79~7
¦ Another object of the present invention is to provi(le
¦ a modulating system.compri.sing ten spherical reflecting
modulating elements arranged in such a configuration that energy
may be inserted into desired apertures or spaces between the
spherical elements and into desi.red portions of the multiple
cavities contained in such a system, in order to accomplish
any of the above objects or purposes.
. , . I
Another object of the present invention is to provide
a means for the display of one or more electronic signals
which, more,specifically, may comprise frequencies in the audio
portion of the.electromagnetic spectrum. Such means will
provide.three~dimensional visual imagery synchronous with the 1.
audio signals, This means for converting audio signals to
visual imagery can also be used to convert visual imagery to
~adio infcr _ tl^~.
~ .
, ~.
I . 1.
- ~ ~3779q
The above and further objects will become obviou~
upon examination of the followin~, description o-E the
: preierr embodiment~ in conjunction with the drawin,e~,
.' '
.' 1.
,
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31 .
il l .,
3~1~7~7
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DP~WINGS
Figure 1 illustrates the interaction between a radi-
ation beam and a single reEractive spherical element;
Figure 2 illustrates a similar interaction between
a radiation beam and a single refractive spherical element
under slightly'different conditions;
Figure 3 illus~rates a simple interact'ion between'
a radiation beam and a single re.Eractive spherical element
resulting in symmetrica]. distribution of radiation;
Figure 4 illustrates an organized geometry in accord- ¦
ance with which a preferred embodiment of the present in-
vention .is organized;
, Figure 5 illustrates an ordered three-di,nensional
geometrical distribution comprising 26 axes oE symmetry; 1,
Figure 6 illustrates some of the possible resonant
distributions o radiat.ion utilizing:spherical refractive
ele~ents;
Figure 7 illustrates several simple ordered distri- .
butions oE. spherical elements in accordance'with the,
present invention; .
Figure 8 illustrates sev.eral additional simple
ordered distributions of elements;
Figure 9 illustrates one distribution of radiation
possible.as a result of a specific distribution of spher-
ical elements;
Figure 10 is a prospective illustration of a plurality
o spherical elements in an ordered three-dimensional
geometrical distribution in accordance with the present
invention;
Fip,ure 11 is a cross-sectional illustration of a
portion of the distribution o;E Figure 10 and additionally
¦ ?
l 32
i
I ~3
illustrates the interaction of racliation simultan~ously
with a plurality of spherical reractive elements;
Figure llA through llD illustrates some simple inter- ¦
actions of radiation with a fiber optic waveguide and
several spherical elements;
¦ Figure 12 illustrates some interactions of radiation
with a plurality of spherical refractive elements in another
cross-sectional view o~ an ordered three-dimensional dis-
tribution;
Figure 13 is a photograph of the type of interaction
illustrated in Figure ll;.
Figure 14 is an illustration.of an ordered three-
dimensional distribution of spherical elements utilized
l in several embodiments o:E the present invention; i.
_ Figure 15 illustrates one preferred embodiment.of
an ordered distribution of spherical reflective and refrac-
tive elements in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 16 illustrates another ordered three-dimen-
sional geometrical-distribution o spherical refracti~e
and reflective elements in accordance with the present
invention;
Figure 17A is a photograph of one system of reflec-
tive spherical elements constructed in accordance with
the present invention;
Figure 17B is a photograph of a portion of another
sys.tem of reflective spherical elements constructed in
accordance with the present invention;
Figure 18 illustrates the interaction of controllably
deflected radiation with a single spherical reracted
l element;
.¦ Figure l9 illustrates the interaction of two con-
~¦trollably deflective beams after being respectively modu-
~lated by two single refracted spherical.elements;
33
3~7~
Fig.ure 20 illustrates a preferred system for ~he
controlled distribution transmission detection and collec- j
tion of radiation in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 21 shows several preferred.components for
use in the system illustrated in Figure 20;
¦ Figure 22 illustrates several further components
for preferred use in the sytem o:f Figure 20;
. and
Figure 23 illustrates a diverse embodimen.t of the
present invention utilizing three elements; one toroidal
~t ... d ~ p~ 1enen
:
~! ¦
, .
; 3~ 1
~ 113'~q9~
D~SCRIPTIO~ OF T~IE PREFERRED El~BODIMENTS
. . ... ~. ~
The present invention is based on a system for
controlling propagating ener~y comprising a plurality
of elements ca~able of affecting such propagating energy
said elements being arranged in an ordered three-
dimensional geometrical distrib1ltion. Such an order-
ed distri~ution may be defined as an arrangement of elements
separated by mathematically determined distances with
reference to an X,Y,Z axis system. The distance s~ répre-
sents the straight-line distance between the centers of
adjacent elements on a given coordinate axis. A simple
unit system, for example, would position elements by sx=l,
sy-3, s~-4. More complex distributions could be determined
by reduci.ng x,y, and z components to arithmetic and
geometric progressions on these coordinates. In the follow-
ing descriptions, some of the basic interactions involved
in single modulating elements which may be used in the
present invention will be described as well as the modulat,ion
characteristics resulting from interactions which occur
in systems of multiple elements arranged'in rows, planar
arrays and three-dimensional arrays.
In much of the following description, the use of
spherical modulating elements is described. The principles
of the present invention are best a'pplied to symmetrical
elements, the sphere being the most simple, orderly, symmetri-
cal distribution in three-dimensions.' It should be understo.od,
however, that the use of circular, eliptical, triangular,
.',
square, rectan~ular, hexagonal, or any regular or irre~ular
n-sided polygon, or any other two-dimensi.onal shaped ele-
ments or combination of at least ~wo such elements of
dif:ferent shape is contemplated in the present inve~tion.
The use of three-dimensional elements such as spheres,
cubes, rectangular solids, toroids, tetrahedrons, pyramids,
and n-sided rey,ular or irregular polyhedra, cones, hyper-
boloids, paraboloids, hyperbolic paraboloids,.is within
the scope of this invention, provided the distribution o
uch elements is ordered in three-dimensions. In fact,
any planar two-dimensional figure whatsoever may ~e used
as an element in a given system. Further, any three-
dimensional solid or portion of such solid or combination
of at least two sùch elements of different shape may be
an element. Hollow solids, or hemispherical' solids, may
be used as elements, or any bounded curved surface of
positive or negative curvature, such as spherical polygons,
cylindrical, conical, or hyperboloidal surfaces, etc.
When such elements are arranged in an ordered three-
dimensional distribu'tion, as will be described in the
case of spheres below, the positionin~ of vario~us elements
may cooperate with the geometry o each element to form
diverse radiation distribution, transmission, absorption,
and detection systems which'should be.understood to be .
within the scope of the present invention, as defined .by
the.appended claims. The geometry of said ordered three-
dimensional geometrical distribution is a function of one
or more geometrical characteristics of at least one .of
said elements. '
The present invention also includes systems for
utili~ing an energy field in the generation of propagating
energy comprislng a plurality of elements subject to the
influence of said energy field, said elements being dis-
posed in an ordered three-dimensional geometrical distri-
bution.
36 '
3r~
Any of the disclosed ~:ystems of elernents may comprise
a plurality of units of a fir.st material distributecl and
held in relative position within a continuous.matrix of a
second diverse material.
Another system herein disclosed may comprise at
least one elemen-t which itself comprises a plurality of .
elements which may be substantially spherical all of which
may be disposed within at least one spherical element with
a l-rgeF diameter
'. ' ~'
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.
37
. . .
13~
A-~tention is ~irst called to Fi~,ures 1 and ? where
is shq~n in each case a two-dimensional representation of
a spherical modulatin~, elemen~ with a beam of radiation 1
incident thereon. It will be noted that in Fi~ure 1, the
beam of radiation l ori~inatin~ from source S is incident
upon modulatin~ element 3 at point A at angle ~'to a line
5 which is tang,ent to ~oint A on the surface o~ modulatin~,
element 3. In this instance, modulating element 3 is of
a partially transmissive nature and may be, or examDle,
a solid sphere of glass, acrylic, or other suitable ma'terial,
it being understood that the index o F refraction oE the
material is a vital variable. In this example, the beam of
radiation 1 originating ~rom source S'would be s~lit at
point A lnto beam 1~, which is re~lected from t'he surface o~ the
sphere, and beam 7, which passes through a section of the
_ s~here, and once again encounters the s~here surface at ~oint B.
¦Depending upon the degree of reflectivity o~ the sphere's
surface, and on the index of refraction, a portion o.f
the beam may be internally reflected as beam 11 and a portion
may also refractively exit the s~here as beam 9. At the ,
impin~jement of beam 11 at point C, beam 13~ which exits the
sphere, and beam 15, which remains internal,'are generated.
Beam 15 encounters the surface at'point D, which is not in ~his ~.
case coincident with point A.
It will be clear upon examination that the precise
an.gle ~ which beam 1 makes *ith tangent 5 at the original
point of incidence is responsible for ~eterminin,g the
length and direction of beams 7, ll, and 15 inside the sPhere
as well as the paths of exiting beams 9, 13, and 17, the
I I .
Il 38
" ~ : ~
- ~L3~79~7
la~ter of which exits from Doint D. Beam 19,. generated
at point D, remains inside the sphere. It is evident that
beam 19 will continue to make contact with successive
points on the surface of the sphere, generating in each
instance an internal and external beam. These beams would
be of successively lower ampli~ude than the original intensity .
of incident beam 1. The amplitude of beam 1, in combination
with the absorption and other physical characteristics of
sphere 3, will determine the number of reflections possible .
based on decreasing amplitude of the beams generated.
' ~ . .
While it is clear that the index of refraction and the
surface properties of sphere 3 are important considerations,
it is possible simply by adjustment of the angle of incidence
~ of beam 1 to control the successive paths of beams 7, 11,
15, etc , so as to either repeatedly generate new points of
incidence with the surface of sphere 3 or to cause such
points to become coincident as is shown in Figure 2. In
Figure 2, radiation beam l, which originates from source S,
is incident at angle ~, with a tangent 21 at point E on
the surface of sphere 3. At this point, internal beam 23 .
as well as external beam 25 are generated; it can be seen
that beam 23 intersects the surface of sphere 3 at point F ..
generating beams 27 and 29, with beam 27 in turn generating
beams 31 and 33 at point G. Angle ~1 has in this instance
b.een selected so that one of the internal reflections, beam
31, returns to point E, which was the original point of .
In-idenc f besm 1 with the surface of sphere 3. Thls
. , ~ I .
39 ~
1~37~
occurrence will cause a reflection from point E of a beam
which follows substantially the same path shown at 23,
as well as the generation of a refracted beam which may
follow path 25
`" ~3~7~q
Thus, in this instance, a resonant pattern of
radiation similar to that found in a ring laser i9 set
up which reinforces itself; the sphere becomes a ~enerator
of beams 25, 29, and 33 and functions as a beamsplitter or
radiation distributor wherein the number of exiting beams
can be precisely determined by the angle of incidénce of
one beam entering the modulating element 3. It can be
seen.in figure 1 that beam 19 may continue to reflect
within sphere 3, generating successive beams. Depending
upon the exact value of ~, such a beam may, eventually once
more intersect the surface o sphe:re 3 at a point identical
with a previous intersection; or the beam may continue to
reflect around the surface of sphere 3, never intersecting
the surface at the same point twice, thus fo~ming a hig`h
order series of points.
__... _ -- , ...... _ _ . . _ ._ .
L3~7~
In any case, all beams generated, as wel:L as all inter-
sections of such beams with the surface of sphere 3 lie
within a single plane due to the symmetry of the sphere.
Resonance may be established when an even or odd number
of internal reflections co~exist on the same line or
point or plane within the element; an example is given
in Figure 3 of a situation where seven exit beams and
seven internal beams are developed from one entrance beam,
In this case, incident beam l--once again from source
S as in Figures 1 and 2--intersects point H of sphere 3 at
angle ~ to a line 35 which is tangen~t to the sphere at
point H. Subsequently, there are generated sequentially
exit beams 37, 39, 41, 43, 45. 47, and 49, the last of
which may Eollow the exact path that an original reflection
of beam 1 from point H produced. Thus, by the incidence of
beam 1 at specific angle ~2 with the surface of sphere 3, .
seven exit beams.symmetrically distributed are produced,
all of which lie in a single plane that intersects the
center o pherc 3.
. ' , ,'',
. .
. . ' .
_.
. . .
. `1 ~ ~f7~7
The pr:inciples ~escribed above with respect to
Fi~ures 1, 2, and 3 can be ~mderstood to at~ain a much
grea~er complexity when the interactions are considered
to take place in spheres arranged in distributions of
intersecting planes which share common spherical elements.
. In such a three-dimensional arrangement, the distribu-
tion of radiation in each sphere lies within a plane that
may or may not coincide with distributions in adjacent or
tangent spheres. It will also be evident that more than one
planar sYstem.of distributed radiation may intersect in a
. single sphere in more complex instances. The plane within
which such a distribution would lie is determined as a
. function of the following: .
1. the angle and point of entry relative to the
center of the sphere
_ 2. the indices of refraction of the sphere and
_ that of the surrounding medium
3. the frequency of the beam or wavefront
Distributions of radiation in the form of resonant
patterns relate the radius of a sphere to.the various chord
lengths which generate internal resonant paths and to the
external distributions of radiation at the points of surface
: .contact, The planar distributions illustrated.in Figures
2 and 3 represent respectively three and seven equal
divisions of a circle.
. . ,,:
Figure 3 also illustrates another possible aspect of
a transparent spherical modulator element system wherein at .
least two of said elements are disposed concentrically and
comprise an inner element and an outer element. For example,
a sphere of different material disignated as 4 which is
: smaller than and concentric
~3'~7~7
,
with elemen~: 3, could, if positionecl within sphere 3, .3110w
or bloclc the passage o~ certain chord len~ths of radiation
being internally reflected within element 3, thereby acting
as a filker of sorts. In this instance, the properties of
sphere 4 could be sufficiently different to obstruct the
beam travelling around the chord lengths pictured. It can
be seen that this situation could be carried further by
using, for example, a plurality of spherical modulators
arranged concentrically around a central modulator which
lies in a planar array. In a similar instance, concentrlc
spherical elements comprise a system wherein the outer
surface of said inner element is substantially reflective,
the inner surace of said outer element is substantially
reflective whereby a radiation cavity is formed between
the outer surface of said inner element and the inner
surface of said outer element, and wherein at least one
of said elements further com~rises at least one aperture
allowing the passag,e of propagating energy. Such a system
may further comprise separate means for modulating the
phase, amplitude., or frequency of said propagating energy.
Another similar system may comprise at least two of such
elements which are disposed co-axially which also comprise
an inner element and an outer element.
Figure ~, containing illustrations ~a through ~f,
illustrates further examples of the possible internal
distribution patterns which may be generated by directing
a beam of radiation at a point on the surface of the sphere
with the internal path length generated, BC being equal
to 2R Sin 1/2 ~.
~, . _ __ ......... . _ . .
- , . . .
~ .' - ' . '; - '; :
3~79Y~
BC is a representative chord length in each illustration;
R i9 equal to the radius of the spherical element; and
~, the angle of incidence, varies in value as shown in
the illustrations.
Fig. 6a 2 divisions Fig. 6b 3 divisions
._ . _
~ = 180 BC = 1.0 - ~ =120 BC = .86603
r = 1/2 r = 1/2
.
Fig. 6c 4 divisions Fig. 6d 5_ division
= 90 BC = .70711 ~ =72~ BC = .58779
= 180 BD = 1 ~ = 144 BD = .95106
r = 1/2 r = 1/2
Fig. 6e 6 divisions
Fig. 6f 7 divisions
_ ~ = 60 BC = .500
BAC -- 51'42 BC = .4336
= 120 BD = .86603
~BAD = 1028L BD = .78'7
~ = 180~ BE = 1.0 ,
r = 1/2 ~ BAE = 154~22 BE = .97~7
r = 1/2
. . .
. . ,:
Thus, for example, Figure 6b shows a ~attern which is
resonant at a frequency of three, which is used to designate
the fact that the p~ttern repeats itself and intersects the
surface of the sphere at three points shown as B, C, and
D in Figure 6b. At each of ~hese points it is possible for
either one of two incident beams of radiation to produce,
reinforce, or attenuate the resonant pattern shown within
.'
_---- , ... ,
~L37'79r~
the sphere: one beam ac~ing on clockwise re~lective paths,
the other beam acting in counterclockwise reflections.
These sets oE beams are designated as (1) Clockwise, i.e.,
57, 61, and 65 (2) Counterclockwise, i.e., 59, 67, and 63.
Any one beam or all beams would substantially follow the
paths shown within the sphere designated as 69, 71, and 73.
The above would also be true with any other frequency of
resonant pattern. For example, in Figure 6e where the pattern
intersects the surface of the sphere at 6 points, any one of
12 beams could create such a pattern, add to it, or attenuate
it. In Figure Sb, if both~incident beams 57 and 59 consist
of coherent light and a near-per~ect high tolerance sphere
were available, then it is possible that the clockwise
reflections caused by beam 57 could interfere with the
counterclockwise reflections caused by beam 59, resulting in
a net attenuation or reinforcement of the intensity of the
-resonant path BCD. If both coherent beams are of the same
frequency and are 180 out-of-phase, they may each cancel each
other so that the intensity of resonant path BCD decreases
to zero.
, .
With reference once more to Figure 6b, if only
beams 57 and 59 are said to be entering the sphere, both
being incident at angle ~ at point B, a system of
interference is set up in that each beam is travelling in
the opposite direction from the other and comparisons in
the form of the interference produced can be made at
points B, C, and D where interference would relate
_._.
. .,
. . , . - - , ~
1 ~3L3~;'7~
I
phase differences relative to (1) the di.rection and relative
distances o the in~ut at B (2) any poin~ alon~ the
internal or external. Rath (3) any modulation of radiation
along the internal or external path. Thi.s is similar
to a ring laser where even a rotation of the whole system
could cause a frequency shift in.radiation movin~ in
. opposite directions, and thus afect the interference occuring
at, for example, points B, C, and D.
.
A high resolution radiation sensitive mPdium placed
tangent to points B, C, and/or D in Fi~ure 6b would be
. capable of recording such interference patterns present
_ st those p i ts.
'
~ ` . I
I . . .
47 1'
. I
, .~
` l l
Figure 1~ further illustrates ~he interaction ofpropagating
radiation with a single re~ractive sPherical modulating
element wherein radiation is subject to deflection alony7
perpendicular X and Y axes in order to vary the position of
incidence on the sphere's surface as well as the angle of
incidence therewith. The emphasis here will be on
radiation passing through the element and being refracted
. thereby; however, intérnal reflection may also operate.
Thus the system shown in Figure 18 consists of a laser 273,
¦Y~Y deflection means or devlce 275, spherical refractive
modulating element 277, and if desired, photographic film 27~ j
which may be re~laced by a dif~raction gratin.~,. !
Spherical modulating element 277 may be composed of,
for examplej glass, acrylic, or other similar material
but should preferably be of high optical quality with respect
to its uniform composition and surface smoothness comparable
with state-of-the-art optical elements. It will be under-
stood that various compositions, each:having a distinct
index of refraction, may be utilized, and thus the index
of refraction may be adjusted to a desired value. An
important consideration in the systems of the presen~
invention is also the degree of absorption at the wave-
lengths of ra~iation being utilized. The optical elements
of the present invention preferably have, for the particular
waveleng~h in use, as low a degree of absorption as possible,
especially in embodiments of the present invention where a
., .
~ ,3~ 79~7
large number Oe elements in~eract with radiation sequentially.
The XY deflection means may be, for example, electro-
optical, electro-mechanical, or any other system exhibit-
ing desired performance characteristics. It can be seen
in Figure 18 that XY deflec.tion means 275 is shown to
deflect the laser beam emitting from laser 273 to various
positions, many of which are ill~lstrated in this single
figure. Thus,.for example, the minimum deflection illustrated
has a.certain angle of deflection from the central axis 281
whi:ch is designated in the drawing as ~.l while the largest
angle of deflection makes an angle e ~ with the central axis.
It will be noted that when deflection at angle ~ occurs,
the optical characteristics of spherical modulating element
.277 cause the deflected beam to be refracted and to intersect
the central axis 281 at point 283. As the angle of
deflection increases, the point of intersection of the
refracted beam with the central axis moves closer to the k
center of the sphere. Thus the be.am deflected at angle
is refracted to intersect the central axis at point 285.
The above are only exemplary positions of the deflected
laser beam and it can be seen that.with a beam which is
constantly moving and being deflected, the angle ~ would
.b.e varying continuously. As a result, various three-
dimensional field distributions are created on the opposite
side of sphere 277 which vary in depth along the axis as the
angle of de1ection from the axis varies. In situations
' .
,:
: ' ` ! '~
~377~
where the XY deflection is of a substant:ially complex
nature, for example, each of the deflections in the.X
and Y axes being separate or distan~.ly related functions,
various concentrations and distributions of energy are
projected by the scanning means 275 onto the surface of
sphere 277. These ~arying distributions or concentrations
on the surface of the sphere correspond to and are
actually transformed into variou~: spatial and intensity
distributions on the far side of the sphere In most
cases, as the angle of defle.ction increases, i.e., as the
beam is de~lected further from the central axis of the
system which would also correspond to a progressively
smaller angle of incidence of the beam with the surface
of the sphere at 271, the distance D of the intersection
of the resulting refracted beam with the axis on the far
side of the sphere becomes less, i.e., dimension.A1 shown
at 287 is inversely related to dimension D shown at 289.
It should also be noted.that in a situation without
any.de~lection means and with simply a point source on
axis 281 to the lef.t of ~he sphere, the distance from the
point source to the center of sphere 277 along the central
axis would be proportional to the distance at which that point
source again comes to a focus on the far side of sphere 277
on axis 281.. In this case, the distance of the point source
from the center of sphere 277 would be a function of the
distance from its image to the center.of sphere 277. If the
divergenc rf a point source is of a li~ited degree, a cone
~L37~97
of light would diverge therefrom and depending upon the
distance of the ~oint source from the center of sphere 277,
as well as the angle of divergence of the radiation from the
point source, a cone of radiation, would be generated which
would intersect sphere A in~a circular area of a size
proportional to the above factors. Similarly, on the far
side of sphere 277, a cone of radiation will converge on
a focal point F; the distance FC will also be determined
by the above factors.
Attention is a~ain drawn to Figure 13 wherein is
shown the relationship between point source or beam source
S and its corresponding point of focus or intersection F
along axis 281. A similar relationship is established in
the axial alignments of refractive elements as illustrated
in Figure 11 wherein a relationship of three-dimensional
geometric correspondence exists between the location of point
Pl or of beam sources 131, 135, 141, exterior to the system
and the field created by the image, i.e.,F~ ransformed
and transmitted to the area of the cen~er spi-ere 135. ,
For example, point source P3 i.s reconstructed at P,~ as it .
is transmitted through the two axial systems, one on t~e
x-axis, the other on the T~ -axis. This example will
serve to illustrate the behavior of the transmission
characteristics of these multi-axial optical systems when
the transmitted propagating energy wavefronts, i.e., point,
beam, or divergent cone, are not alip~ned with or originate
from points on the axis.
.
:, : , ' ' ' ' ! '
~l3~75~
With re.sl~ect to the ahove Fi~ure 1~, a pa~ticu].clrly no~el
combin~tion of elements i.s ohtained by P].acinp~ a
¦ circularly ruled, transmission diffract.ion grating 279
perpendicular to the axis at a point on the ri.~ht side
of a sphere such that the converging cone of radiation
originatinp from a poin~ source S on the left will intersect
the diffraction ~,rating and due to the circular sYmmetry o~
such a cone of radiation as well as the circular svmmetry of
the circularly ruled diffraction gratin~ 279j different
sized cones of radiation will be generated to the right of
279; they may be either e~xpanding or converging cones of
radiation de~endin~ on the distance of the originatin~, ¦
¦point source from the sphere as well as its angle of
divergence.
In Figure 18, it is sho~m that the angle of beam
_ deflection would in turn deter~ine the location and angle
of the beam of radiation that intersects, for exa~ple,
point 2~3, po1nt 235, or a similar point a].ong the centra].
axis. The location of such an intersection point in
relation to the circularly ruled dif-~raction gratin~, at
¦¦279 would determine the location of a higher order distribu-
tion of points along axis 231. In order to obtain a
symmetrical system as described above, the circularly ruled
diffraction grating should prefera~ly be substantially
perpendicular to the axis 281 and should also h~ve its center
located on the axis 281 determined by source S, sphere
center C, and the focal point or intersection point F,
The above fac~ors, e.g., the angle of a cone of divergine
,.~
Il . .
52
_ . . , ~ .. .. , I
, .. : .
.
~.1.~79q
and converging radiation with respect to a spherical
modulating element such as 277 will be particularly
significant in systems where more than one of such spheres
are arranged in an organized system where the center-to-center
distance of the spheres as well as the particular patterns
of radiation entering such a system are calculated so as
to perform specific and predetermined operations on such
radiation.
A sli.ghtly more complex scanner system would be one
'comprising two spherical modulating elements and two
scanners and would take the form as, shown in Figure 19,
Shown are spheres 291 and 293 along with their,respective
XY deflection scanners 295 and 297 and lasers 299 and 301.
Such a system is capable of generating complex imagery .
in the area between spheres 291 and 293 due to the interaction
of the wavefronts emanating from each sphere and resulting
from various deflection distributions on the surface of each
sphere by the scanners and lasers associated therewith.
It would be possible, by using holographic techniques and
laser radiation of a suitable coherent nature, to generate
complex fields of radiation which could be transformed to
imagery by, for example, holographlc recording and viewing
techniques. Such a system as shown in Figure 19 would ,
be relatively simple in that the radiation field would be
distributed with re,ference to a single reference axis common
to and central to both scanning systems. A radiation sensitive
. . . .
~ 7 ~7
recording medlum placed in this field could record extremely
complex wavefront in:Eormation patterns.
It can be seen that more complex systems could be
developed using the above principles such as systems
comprising a greater plurality of elements arranged in
an organized system.
In such arrangements comprising a large number of
modulating elements, especially those in three-dimensions,
it will be clear that multiple axes are present and the
various fields of radiation which are distributed through-
out such a system can be controlled by specific attention
to the various axes, their angles of intersection, as
well as the placement and characteristics of the various
modulating elements along such multiple axes. A complex
distribution of such modulating elements would ~esult
in a similar distribution o:~ x,y scanners and such
a system could be embodied in an ordered array or stacking
of refractive modulating elements, preferably spherical,
where the number of such x,y scanner distribution systems will
determine the complexity of the field distribution. One way
of achieving such a complex distribution of elements is by
stacking t~em, one layer resting in the cusps formed by
the lower layer. When such a pluralit~ of spheres are
stacked, depending upon the spacing between the elements,
each sphere will make contac~ with other spheres at points
. .'.
~, . .... _ _ _ . _
~L~l37~7
of specific number and location.
A system which utilizes such radially di.sposed axial
distributions of elements each ha.ving an associated propa-
gatin& energy directing means such as an x,y scanner wherein
a plurality of such axial distribution systems converge or
intersect a certain area provides a means for directing
propagating energy from many directions to said central area
for urther utilization.
'. .
Such a multi-channel optical corre.lator will find
applications in various disciplines requiring control of
propagating wavefront energy for the purposes of controlling
absorption, transmission, detection, distribution, and display
. par~meters. Clearly these systems will provide a high
degree of contr.ol over the distribution of three-dimensional
field intensities in the visual spec~rum for the purposes
~of ~hree- mension~ image construc~ion or image synthesis.
. ~ ,,.
. .
. .
~............. _ . ......... _ _, ~ _, ......... _ .
'~ 79 7
In most of the figures that follow, x-y-z mutually
perpendicular coordinate axes are used. In sideview drawings
and perspective drawings, the x-and y-axes refer to the
horizon-tal base or reference plane while the z-axis refers
to the vertical dimension or height. Of course, in a
top view only the x-and-y axes show. Also, when solid
angles occur, they are treated as angles projected onto
a reference plane, such as the x-y base plane or the x-z
base plane. Unless otherwise indicated, the value o
angles are ~iven in their projected value equivalents,
rather than in the true solid angle.
Figure 7a illustrates a top view of a system in
which the spheres are stacked in planes parallel to the
page with each sphere touching all twelve adiacent spheres.
The centers of spheres 77, 79, 81, 83, 75 and contact
points A,B,C, and D all lie in the horizontal plane. -Each
of these sets of parallel planes is composed of distributions
of élements that are touching and lie in lines at 60, at
90 , at 120~, and 180 with respect to each other. Sp~ere
85 is shown to be slightly out of alignment with sphere
93 in order to make it visible, however, in the actual
arrangement, spheres 85 and 93 would coincide in the
view of Figure 7a . Similarly, spheres 87 and 95 are shown
slightly separate to indicate the presence of two spheres,
. .
I ~L~3~7~7
I
one over the other, and would actually be superirnposed ln
Figure 7a as would corresponding spheres 89 and 97
as well as spheres 91 and 99.
Figure 7b shows a side view of the arrangement in
Figure 7a . In Figure 7b , another set of planes of
elements parallel to the page reveals distributions of
elements that are touching and li.e in lines at 90, at 54~,
at 108 , and 180 as viewed in this projection,
In Figure 7c are depicted i.n perspective the 5 spheres
of the base reference plane. Spheres 99, 93, 95, and 97,the
four spheres that stack on top of the base- plane, one in
each of the four top quadrants, are depicted pulled apart .
with arrows to show where they should be stacked. Not
depicted are the corresponding four spheres 91, 55, 87, and
89., that are stacked underneath the base planes, one in each
of the four bottom quadrants. These four bottom spheres are
symmetrical with respect to the four spheres stacked above
the base plane.
In Figure 7b , spheres ~5, 87, 89, and 91 make
contact with sphere 75 in its lower hemisphere and make
contact respectively at points E, F, ~, and H on sphere 75.
Spheres g3, 95, 97, and 99 make contact in the upper portion
of sphere 75 as shown in Figure 7b and make contact
respectively at points I, J, K, and L. For the purposes
of illustration in Figure 7a, the hidden spheres and ;
hidden contact points were slightly separated to indicate
the fact that two points are actually present and would be
79P7
superimposed in a more Proper view, but n~ such chan~,e is
made in the posi..tion.s of Fi~,ure 7b. It c~n also.be seen
that the circle re~resentin~V sphere 75 also coincides
with and represents spheres 77 and 81 which are in front
o.. and behind sphere 75. The respective points o~ contact
of spheres 77 and ~1, with central sphere 75, that is, points
and C, are represented by a sinp,le point in Fip,ure 7b.
S~heres 93 and 99 are also superimposed and malce contact
with central sphere 75 at points I an~ L; respectively,
superimposed spheres 95 and 97 have central contact points
at J and K; spheres ~7 and 89, at F and ~; spheres ~5 and
91 at E and H Sphere 79 makes contact with 75 at ~oint
B and sphere 83 at point D, similar to Figure 7a~ In Fi~ure
7a, the z-axis line that passes throu~,h the center sphere
75 is represented by a point.. In Figure 7b, the y-axis line
that p.asses through the center of sphere 75 reduces in
perspective to a point. It is obvious that the distribution
projected perpendicular to the y-axis,. as represented in
Fi~,ure 7b, is congruent to that projecte~ perpendicular to
the x-axis.
. " .
. .
-
1 ~137~
¦ IJe shall refer to the ahove stflclcill~" ;.llu.strate d l~y ton-
view Fip,ure 7a and sicle-view Fi,~,ure 7b, as bein~J, a 45 inter-
element and 54 interplanar stacking.s, resPectively. The
centers of the spherical elements of the top view of a plane
I of e].ements pro j ected onto the x-y reference plane of the
¦ paper determine 45 slope llnes for x. Similarly,
in sidevie ~ Fipure 7b, the centers of element~s
.
1~
. .
. '
~ ~L377~37
project onto the X-7. plane of the paper to determine 54~ slope
lines where tan. 5~ = x It can be seen that in a 5~' inter-
planar or 45 interelement stacking, each sphere makes
contact at twelve different points with the spheres surrounding
it, and these points of contact at which any two spheres touch
can be considered as a pinhole through which radiation can
be transmitted from one sphere to another undis.turbed by
the refraction of the medium which might be between the
spheres, provided the spheres are conducive to that radiation.
Figures ~a and 8b illustrate another example of the
above situation; but in this instance, projections of the
parallel planes of spheres per~endicular to the x-and-y axis
of the spheres generate parallel planes at angles of about .
51 49lwith respect to the horizontal reference plane
determined by the centers of spheres 77, 79, 81, 83 in Figure
8a and Figure 8b . This arrangement results in a situat-ion
where each sphere makes contact with only eight of the twelve
surrounding spheres with a specific size gap between the '
remaining spheres. The numbering of the spheres in Figure 8a
and 8b is the same as those in Figures 7a and 7b since
the same spheres are shown, but in a different symmetrical
distribution. Consequently, in this case, there exist three
. distinct distributions: one for each of the three mutually
perpendicular axes. These symmetric distributions are
. ' .
.
~ L37~ '
simil.ar on z-axes and a dlfferent distribution on the third
axis in the case of spheres stacked on an incline of 51 49'.
Since the stacking angle as shown in F.igure 8b most conveniently .
describes the geometry of the arrangement, ~his angle will
be referred to as the interfacial angle, which in this case
is 51 49'. It will be noted in Figure ~a and ~igure 8b
that contact of sphere 75 at pOilltS A, B, C, and D with spheres
77, 79, 81, and 83 is no longer made and a speciic size gap
is now shown between sphere 75 and each of these ~our spheres.
At an interfacial angle of 51 49' this gap is ,0514 r, r being
the radius of a sphere. It will be noted that once again the
position of spheres 85, 87, 89, and 91 has been of~set
slightly in order to show their presence behind spheres 93,
95, 97, and 99, Similarly, in Figure 8a, points E, F, G,
and H, which are the points of contact with sphere 75 of
spheres 85, 87, 89, and 91, respectively, have also.been ::
offset slightly to show .their presence, which would other-
wise be superimposed on points I, J, K, and L, which are
the points of contact of sphere 75 with spheres 93 through
99, respectively. In Figure 8b, it will be noted once again
that spheres 77, 75 and 81 are shown superimposed on each other
as are spheres 93 and 99, 95 and 97, 87 and 89, and 85 and 91.
With stackings of spheres at interfacial angles other
than 54, such as the 51~ 49' of one preferred embodiment,
in addition to there being fewer points of contact between
the spheres, the gaps thus produced between some spheres add
a significant parameter to the optical properties of the
. I
. " .
~ ~ 3~7 ~
system. One consequence of this .spacîng wi.ll be illustrated
further below, in Figure 9 .
In a large system of spheres made of a refractive
material where the geometry of the distribution of the
spheres is chosen to be congruent with the geometry of
the resonant path in one sphere (for a given requency or chord
length) the interference pattern which is set up in a given
sphere relates the position o~ a standing pattern or resonant
path within one sphere to the congruent but expanded array
of points or locations represented by the distribution of
all spheres. In this geometry, the pattern or resonant
path within a single sphere combines with the standing
patterns within other spheres such that the array of all
spheres produces coincident axes of resonance within the
entire distribution. An example of this is given in Figure
9 where a small number of spheres is arrranged, for the
simplicity of illustration, ~n a single plane and where
each sphere contains a resonant pattern which finds ,
correspondence in and reinforces the resonant patterns found
in the adjacent spheres.
It will be noted that spheres 101, 103 and 105
contain resonant patterns of the frequency of 6, which are
produced by a beam of radiation 107 which originates ~rom
source S. It can be seen that beam 107 is partially
reflected to ~orm beam 109 and partlally refracted at
. .
.
, .
~ 7~3~7
point A of sphere 105 to form beam 111 which is reflected
around sphere 105 forrning the six-sided resonant pattern.
Since sphere 103 makes contact at point B which is also a
point of contact with the surface of sphere 105 by the pattern,
part of the radiation in beam 113 passes through point
B with substantially no re~raction and enters sphere 103
as beam 115. Subsequently, the radiation is re~.lected
around sphere 103 and at point C makes contact with sphere
lQl where beam 117 enters sphere 101 and creates a similar
six-sided pat~ern to those in spheres 103 and 105, this being
due to the particular arrangement of these three spheres
with relation to beam 107. It will be noted, however, that
the situation is different with respect to spheres 119
and 121: they do not make contac~ with sphere 103 and
are positioned in each case a specific distance d/n
therefrom --which is designated in this case as a fraction
of the diameter, d. In this example, the positioning of
spheres 119 and 121 has.been.chosen such that they inter-
cept.two exit beams. from sphere 103, i.e., beams 115 ,
and 123 which partially exit sphere 103 at points D and:E
respectively. The radiation from beam ll5 enters sphere
119 at point F and, due to the spacing of sphere ll9 from
sphere 103, enters at an angle substantially different .
within the sphere than would otherwise be the case if sphere
119 was touching sphere 103. In this example, the spacing
designated as n in Figure 9 is such that a resonant
pattern is set up in both spheres 119 and 121 having an exact
.
. .
1 ~3~7~
resonant frecluency o~ 3. ~dditionally, a portion of
radiation beam 125 which again contacts point F,Dartially
leaves sphere 119, and, in this instance, impacts sphere
. 103 at point H, reinforcing both the radiation in beam
127 as well as that partially reflected.from sphere 119 -
by beam 115.
:~ ` ' ,'
,
. ' ''''
.. . ' ' ' , ' ' 1.
:
:, . '
',.
. . 64
~ ~13779~
It can be seen from the above that by ~he proper position- ¦
ing of spherical modulating elements as well as the proper in-
cident angle of radiation upon any one or more of
these elements, certain radiation distrlbutions can be
set up which bear relationship to each other and especlally
to the unlform dlstrlbutlon of such modulating elements.
It should be noted that the sphere spaclng ln Figure 9 and
the angles of re~raction,plctured are not exactly shown
to actual scale, but are only to lllustrate possible
distrlbutlons. The ratlo n may have to be larger or smaller
than shown to actually achieve the distributions illustrated.
Previous conslderatlons of Figure 9 and Figure 1~ ¦
. and,Figure 19 described single and multiple interactions
in terms of beams of radlation. However, the expansion
of the range of inputs into these simple systems'does
not randomly distort the'distribution; instead, it.organlzes
and transforms it. '
. , . . . ,.
. , .
77~7
Fi~ure 10 sho~s a matrix separ~ted to ill~ls~rate
one possible embodiment of the present invention
wherein an organized distribution of spherical elements
129 comprises three planar distr:ibutions. One consists of 49
spherical elements arranged in ortho~onal rows in a
7X7 nlanar matrix desi~,nated as al. Arran~ed above is a second
matrix of spheres.a~, also in a planar array composed of
mutually orthogonal rows of spherical elements, this time
numberinp, 25, arranged in a 5X5 matrix. These two planar
distributions would be spaced, for examp].e, in plane.s
approximately 1.33 element diameters apart.
~ 7 9
Spaced similarly above the 25-sphere distribution
is a 9-s~here distribution composed of a 3X3 square array
of sphericaI elements a3 centered above the 25-sphere
distribution, which is in turn centered above the 49-sphere
distribution. A sin~,le final element a~ at the aDeX of
the system is in turn positloned above the central element
of the 9-snhere distribution pla.ne and is in this instance
separated therefrom by approximately 1.33 elemènt diameters
in agreement ~ith the s~acing between the other ~lanar
distribu ons.
. , , I
'
ll
.1 . , ' ' ,
~ 67
': " '. ', , ~' ', ~ "': '
:. ~ . ~ .. .. .
~.~L3 779!7
¦ ~urther, the depiction in Fi,~ure 10, for the sake of
ease in viewine" has intentionally omitted the additional
planar arrays th~t ~ay lie intermediate between the sqMare
arrays shown. These addition.al arrays would allow for a
consistent stacking with consistent contact of all spheres.
The planes within which the ad~litional arrays would lie,
i.e., b1,b~, and b~ are indicated by the dotted lines.
Each such additional array would have a square m~trix of
sphere.s whose centers alip,n on a plane. These three planes are
parallel to the planes of the depicted arrays a~,a~, and a3.
The plane of array b, is half~iay between ~he planes of arrays
a, and aL; planar array b~ i.s halfway between a~ and a~;
planar array b3 is halfwQy between a~ and a~. The distance
between the planes of array al and array bl is approximately
. .66874 element diameters. The.same distance occurs in each
_ I instance from planar arrays b~ to a2, from a~ to b " b~ to
1.33, a3 t b3, and ~flnally from b3 to a~.
' ~1 . , . .
¦ . k
.11 . ................................. ... . ..... ..
, - ' . ' ' ' ': .. .'. . l . ! . .' '
Fi~,ure l'L sho~s ~ ~lcle view of the planar arraYs oE
spheres of Figure 10. ~his view i.n Figure 11 is perpendicul.ar
to the plane containing the x-axis and the z-axis of Figure
10. Within the single plane o~ elements pictured in Figure
11 there may be identified several groups of a~es along
which the centers of a pluralitv of the elements in the systeM
may lie. It is additionally evident that there are parallel
¦ axes which might enter the distribution at different ~oints
but which would all remain para:Llel to each other throughout
the s~stem. Such an arrangemen~ of spheres, as in Figure'll
¦and Fi~jure 1~, could be compared to a crystal lattice with
¦ interfacial ang.,les of 51~ 49'. Eac'h linear alignment of
~element centers of Figure 11 represents' or corre~onds to
a ~lane of'elements perpen'~icular to the ~age. In any .such
system, a central element may be positioned 9uch tha~ it
_ intersects with the highest number of such axes, thus becoming
ca~able of receiving'radiation along any one of them i the
¦lelements are refractive and can successively' iocus the radiation
¦¦ through the system with a minimum of loss. Thus it can
¦be seen, for example, that sphere 135 is at tjhe intersect~ion
i ' ¦of axes x3 and y3 which can be considered~ a major axes since
the distribution of elements is denser than, for exam~le,
on axis t~ which is also formed with sphere 135. Similarly,
a great number of minor axes such as sl and r~ are forme~ !
with sphere 135; however, in these cases they would utilize
and conduct such varying intensities and radiation transformations
to the central sphere, since the density or number of elements
¦along such axes varies.'In the event that the sun is utilized
las a source of propagating energy, it should be noted that
different groups of these axes could successively align with
the sun's racliation thus allowing a substantially stationary
system to gather radiation along successive groups of axes
during the sun's apparent movement through the sky. There
could be integrated into
69
: ,, , -,;
3~7~
these density varyin,7, axes ele~ent~s composed of m~teriaLs
whose indices o~ refraction, s:i~e, or shape compensate
for such varyin~, densities. The utilization of such an
axial distribution of controlled inputs .for the directin~,
of radiation to a central area would provide ~eans for
uniformly concentrating radiation energy in various three- !
dimensional conigurations on various gas, liquid or solid
fuels or active media or anv combination thereof.
In one embodiment such an arrangement of re~ractive
elements is utili7ed to uniformly focus coherent radia~ion
¦on deuterium and tritium balloons or other fuel ~ellets
¦to achieve efficient fusion reactions. A consideration
¦of Figure 11, Figure 9, and Fi,~,ure 12 will reveal some ways
¦in which spheres aligned in straight line arran7,ements can
¦Ico~municate radiation along the axis of sy~metry. For example,
¦¦in Figure 11, beams Ll, L, and L~ are conducted through the
i system and intersect sphere 135 in a transformed but orderlY
¦ distribution. It should also be noted that in the three- !
~dimensional distribution pictured in Figure 11, many more
axes exist whic intersece a~ ~pbere l~5
.
. I
,
37t~9~7
!
An emi~odiment is illustrated in Fi.~,ure 16a and 16b
where the shaded sPheres 1-10 are arranFJed in 2-5 sphere
51 491 pyramids set ba.se-to-base with ~5 rotation on
the z-axis and the refractive spheres set in the ~ cusps
can convev light to the center o:E the cluster (numhers 11-18).
l~1hen a beam source--used itself or when used with an associated
deflection system, as described :in Figure 18--is associated
with each of these axial entrances such as that rep~esented
on the t-axis in Fi,P,ure 16a and 16b, .field control o:~ the
interior is achieved throu~h the integration of two opposing
sets of in~uts, i.e., 4 each, radially symmetric to the
z-axis, wherein the focus or intersection of one set does
not coincide with that of the other set as shown in Figure 16a,
thereby providin~ a means for concentrating maximum controlled
input with minimum distribtution o axes o:F symmetry while
the entire system is still sym~etrical to the z-a~is which
allows for.meanin~ful comparison and/or measurement of
field effects with respect to the z-axis. Additional axial
distribution sYstems such as these could be utllized in a
morecomplex system to achieve higher resolution control over
the centr.lL sres of the ten sphere arrangement.
I 1,
. , ''.' ' 1.
.
Il I
. Il............................ .. , I
~3~7~
In one embodiment, the design of a resonating cavity
Eor use with various lasing media which provides ~or the
excitation of that media through 26 axes of refractive
elements that exist in a stacking of spheres such as shown
in side-view, cross-section in F:igure 14 and is shown as
an axial distribution in perspective in Figure 5. The
nature of the paths of light through the axial aligmnent
of refractive spheres is shown in Figure ll in cross-section.
Since this axial alignment of 26 axes is capable of
generating standing wavefronts, when used with coherent
Iight focused on central sphere 135, forming standing
wave patterns in the order of magnitude of thé wavelength
of the radiation used, this method of stacking or otherwise
distributing modulators in three-dimensional arrays provides
a unique, selective-excitation geometry which links
macro-modulator systems to micro-radiation events in a
highly tunable format. For instance, the number of intersecting
axes can be determined by the number of spheres omitted in
the central intersection zone. The shape of the interference
pattern in that central zbne can also be controlled by:
. . - ' ' .
. (1) the appropriate choice of the wavelength used
to exite the lasing medium
(2) the adjustment of the angles at which the
multiple axes intersect to be harmonious
with or congruent with the geometry of the
atomic structure of the lasing medium
(3) the appropriate choice of modulator
material
(4) the appropriate dimensional adjustment of
the axial phase relationships.
....
l~L3 ~ 7~3 7
The control oE these parameters permits unique control
over the shape of standing wavefronts which can be created
to be harmonious with or congruent with the geometry of
the atomic structure o~ the active elements in a lasing
medium; this provides selective exci~ation in the size
domain appropriate to the phase, amplitude, frequency,
and location of atomlc oscillations.
~3~
.
In another embocli.ment, in:~ormation, radiation, or any prop-
aratin~ ener,~ can be transmitted along these axes with
appropriate modulators and be received by central sphere
135, but, more generally the radiation will form a three-
dimensional interference pattern in the general area of
sphere 135 as in an embodiment where sphere 135 was omitted.
Consideration of Figures 10, 11, and 14 reveal various
representations of the cross-sectional plane through the
x-axis and the z-axis. In'Figure 14 all planes o~ spheres are
represented, with the shaded area representing those sphéres
omitted in Figures ln and~ll. Also, in Figure lt~ the spheres
along the t~-axis have been removed (1) to reveal the
configuration behind and (2) to illustrate the ability
to crea~e corridors through various axes of an orderly
array by removing the elements along these axes. Various
shaped cavities can be created by selectively or randomly
removing a single element, various configurations, or '
various distributions of elements, regular or irregular.
Various types of modulators could also be selectively or
randomly distributed in the sys'tem, thereby ut'ili~ing the
three-dimensional array as a format for the integration of
propag~ting ener~y or radiation along these axes. In one
embodiment illustrated in Figure l~l,'photographic or more
preferably'radiation sensitive film 207,20~--having whatever .
resolving power is required or the particular frequency
of the radiation utilized--may record, ln planar cross-section
' . ' . .
- . ,.
3t7~
. I i
and at any angle, the in~ormation wllich might be present
due to the inputs alon~ any one or more of the axes dis-
cussed above.
One manner in which information may be put into such
a system is with a waveguide using radiation of appropriate
wavelength In such a system, the ends of said fiber optic
ele~ents are positioned in proximity to the exterior bound-
ary of said ordered three-dimensional distribution. In
another system, the ends of said fiber optic elements are
designed to interface with the geometry of the entire array
as well as with the geometry of each individual element.
Utilizing frequencies in the visible range, a fiber optic
may be formed integral with an input or output element
as shown in Figure 14 at e and el
l One manner in which information may be put into such a
_ system is with a wave guide using electro-magnetic radiation
of appropriate wavelength. With frequencies on the order of
the visible range a fiber optic may be formed integral
with an input or output element as shown in Figure 14 at e and e,
In Figure 11, the angle at which a paralIel beam entered ,
the wave guide 142 would determine the angle that the beam
makes with the axis, thus transforming and transferring
that energy to a central area, such as sphere 135.
With reference to Figure Ll, it can be seen that beam
141 travels along the wave guide 142 at angle 07with
respect to the x3-axis and upon entering the system from
wave guide element combination 142, it is refracted until it
enters the central area of the distribution where it is
still shown as 141. In a llke manner, beam 131 entering at
angle ~ with the x -axis is transmitted through the
system to the central area. Beam 130, which enters
parallel to the x~-axis, is transmitted to a different location
in the central area.
~L3~ 37
From consideration of Figure 1~., where a cavity
is formed by the removal of one central sphere 135, it is
shown how the multiple axes access is achieved. Figure
shows the intersection of 26 axes at point 26 which
corresponds to sphere 135 in Figure 11. The same axial
alignments can be seen in Figure 14. Figure 5 is a
perspective representation of the axial distribution that . -
is created by the distribution of axes in a regular
stacking of spherical elements with interfacial angles of
5149'. Perpendicular to each plane, in such a stacking
of spheres, is a set of parallel axial distributions of
elements. Consequentl~, in an arrangement of refractive
elements, the center sphere cavity of Figure 1~ could contain
organized information transformations i~ the form of radiation
distributions capable of being recorded on radiatIon sen-
sitive media.
37'79~'7
Twenty-six directions or axes are determined by lines
in Figure 5 radially distributed from cernter 26. Clearly
this ability to concentrate controlled prop~ating.energy from 26
directions is one of the unique characteristics of this
invention. Since these 26 axes of symmetry could be
represented by parallel planes of elements similar to those
used in conjunction with the fly's-eye array described in
U. S. Patent No. 3, 515, 452 (R. V. Pole), it would.be in
the geometric configuration described in Figure 14 that 26
such image transformations from 26 di~ferent directions
could occur simultaneously in one area suitable for recording
on photographic or radiation sensitive media placed in the
central. cavity.
In another embodiment.to which Figure 1~ refers,
there occurs an arrangement of reflective spheres with
a cavity created by the removal of one central sphere.
This cavity would function as a multi-mirrored cavity with
radiatin~ a~es distributed as shown in perspective in
Figure 5. The ability of this cavity to selectively
reflect any input to the cavity provides a means whereby
the multiplexing o~ radiation is uniquely convenient to
existing radiation control devices-. Eor example, the
use of lasers and scanners to control the radiatlon inputs
to such a cavity. The spaces between the spheres, themselves
being distributed in rows creating apertures into the system,
can be utilized.as corridors through which radiation can
,,
~ 377~7
be directed to the center cav:Lty. In ad~ition, tho.se
corridors which could be created by the removal of single
elements or columns of spheres can also be utilized ~or
the distribution of propagating enerj~y fr~m interior to exterior
and vice versa. Referring again to Figure l~l, the central
cavity could be thought of as being defined by concentric,
pyramidal layers of elements. The numbers of such layers
could determine both the number and the geometric distribu-
tion of these radiating axes as,well as the numbers and. , ;
location of the excitation apertures in the system.
' ; 1 ' `' ' ; ~,
With analog control of the angle at which radiation , ,
enters waveguide/element combinati.on 142 o~'Figure 11,
the exact positioning of propagating ener~ transmitte~
through the system to a central area may'be accurately
determined. Just as information may enter along the X3 -axis,
information may enter along the y~ or t1-axes and also
enter the central location o~ the distribution in a
precisely determined position and angle. This particular
embodiment could form the heart of an analog optical '
computer with, for'instance, three-dimensional optical ,
storage means in the central area of intersectïng axes.
78
., ~ .~ . ;, . ... .. . ~ , .......... ..
7~ -
~ ures lla t1lrnup~h 11~l ~serve to illustrate ~n embodimen~
I! wherein fiber oPtic effects ~re utilized to inter~,3ce the
external li~,ht sources (~,uided throup,h f:iber-o~tic conductors,
such as described previously in relation to 1~2 in Fi,~,ure 11
and illustrated in Fi~ures lla throu~,h lld as 142 a-d)
i with the internal veometry of the svstem The utilization
of fiber optic elements would provide means for the inter- ¦
connecting of t~Jo or more distinct t.hree-dimensional ele-
ment distribution systems which could be separated by a
. considerable distance. Fiber optic waveguides may also
be utilized in combination with said distribution systems
to feed back propagating ~energy from one portion of said
syste~ of elements arranged in an ordered three-dimensional
geometrical distribution to another po.rtion of said system
of elements. Figure lla illustrates
!I the diver~,ence of the beam as it encounters the spherical
. _ ,
surfaces as well as illustratina, the path that is the result
of its encounter with differin~, indices of refraction between
acrylic spheres and air. Fi~ure llb illustrates another
confi.~,uration where the fiber o?tic 142b has a spherical
end and Fi~,ure lld shows a similar confi~,uration where
the end of the fiber.optic conductor is faceted. Clearly,
the faceted end will permit directional positionin~ of the
. .~ ~ beam without diver~ence which is si~nificant in the
¦ inter~acing of~internal geomet.ry and extern~l lioht sources
a~d vice versa such as when the li~ht sources are internal to
the entire system used as a projector to an extern~l system
¦ of detectors or resolvers wherein tlle interface is accomPlished
1~ by the distribution of fiber optic conductors. Fi,o,ure llc lllustrates
another embodiment wherein an opaque ~er~orated mask i.s
positioned alon~, the ~ath to selectively edit the input beam.
The selection is thus determinerl by the geometry of the
perforation pattern which could be of a macro-size, as illustrat-
ed, or the mask could be a holo~,ram with a maskin~ pattern in
the molecular domain which would introduce a refinement to
the selection by reCraction ca~ability OL this interface
confi~,uration. Figure llc also illustrates the use o~
electro-optic media w~ich:~nction as a real time light gate which m~y hAve'
refractive and/or polarization modulation characteristics
In one embodiment, electro-optic media is composed o a lasing
media such that the location or presence of a point source
may be controlled. In one.embodiment, the lasin~ medium
is composed of a medium having internal distributed feedback
characteristics that permit electro-optic control of the
presence, position, direction, amplitude, frequenc~, and
phase o the beam enterin~ each axial distribution system.
Such a medium is described in U. S. Patent No. 3, 771, 065
(L. S. 501dberg, J. M. Schnur) and is one of the many methods
of beam control that could be integrated with the geometry
of the previously described systems of radiation control b~ I
three-dimensional distributions of modulators and/or detectors.
Figures lla-lld show some of the presently available materials
that couLd be used in combination with the above-mentioned
distribution-by-geometry systems. It is only when these
materials are used in combination with the system~s herein
disclosed that form the conditions upon which the claims are
based.
~ 3~7~r~
distribution-by-three-dimensional-geometry systems. It is
only when these materials are used in comblnation with the
three-dimensional geometric distributions of elements herein
disclosed that form the conditions upon which the claims are
based. Such systems herein disclosed may be capable of the
amplification of incident propayating energy by stimulated
emission. These systems further comprise:
a lasing medium capable of amplifying propagating
energy by stimulated emission, disposed in close proximity to
said elements,
means for allowing propagating energy to be incident
on at least a portion of said ordered geometrical distri-
bution, and
means for allowing at least a portion of the energy
resulting from stimulated emission of said lasing medium to
leave the system.
Such systems may further comprise a lasing medium
capable of distributed feedback utilized in combination with
both reflective and refractive elements wherein said lasing
medium capable of distributed feedback is selected from the
group consisting of liquid crystal materials and organic dyes.
Other such lasing systems may be designed wherein: ;~
said lasing medium is selected from the group con-
sisting of liquids, gases and solids;
said lasing medium is disposed in the voids between
said elements;
said lasing medium is confined to geometrical planes
disposed within said distribution;
- 81 -
~i3~
said lasing medium is confined to substantially thin
cylindrical axes disposed within said distribution;
the elements comprise the lasing medium.
Such lasing systems may conveniently interface with
fiber optic materials to provide means to interface with
electrooptic inputs to computers or to be otherwise utilized
as described herein.
A medium such as a distributed feedback lasing
medium (as described ahove) wherein the interatomic distances
are electronically modulated provides means to control the
space and interelement angles between at least two atomic
sized elements. Such means may be utilized with larger sized
three-dimensional, axially distributed systems of elements
which converge on a central area of the system. Such a medium
would provide a high degree of control over the directing,
conducting or transmitting of propagating energy from the
interior of said ordered three-dimensional geometrical distri-
bution to the exterior thereof and vice versa.
:
- ~2 -
.. . . , , .... , . . ... .... ... . . .. ~ . ~ ~ .
~ 7~
~ t should be pointed out that instead of a single
fiber optic, 142 may designate a fiber optic bundle in
an orderly distribution such that the presence or absence
of radiation in any one fiber would emit a bit of digital
information which may be transmitted through the system
and recorded or otherwise utilized in the central area.
The distribution of the fibers in each bundle could be
a micro distribution with proportions similar to the planar
distribution of the entire systetn as projected on a piane
perpendicular to the axis with which the bundle is associated.
This would provide a system for:possible use as a digital
optical computer where a great number of input channels
could be accessed in one relatively small.area.
Such processing could be performed by the si~ultaneous
presentation of information from one such axial distribution
system and from more than one of such systems so that the
area of sphere 135 in Figure ll would contain the information
from one or more inputs in the form of three-dimensional
radiation distributions which could be rec.orded or otherwise
utilized.
Such a multi-channel op~ical correlator could be
utilized in the real-time processing of information by
utilizing one or more input channels to excite one or
more output channels. For example,.wave guides e and el, in
Figure 14 can be utilized in combinatlon with acrylic
spheres on their respective z-and x-axes to excite the
center cavity formed by reflective spheres, with one output
corridor being formed by the removal of spheres along the
tl-axis. A camera or other radiation sensitive recording
means positioned on the tl-axis could photograph the
integration of these two inputs, which would
~IIL3~79r7
be formed by variations of the pattern created by such a
multiple reflecting cavity. Keep in mind that Figure lh
is a cross-sectional view of what would be a cavity with 2
sets of 3 concentric pyramids of elements defining the cavity. One
set of 3 concentric pyramids is shown as PI~Pz~P? in
Figure 14; the other set of three opposes the first on the
z-axis and is displaced thereon.
.'
31L31.3~7r~
In the embodiment described above where high resolu~ion
radiation sensitive recording means would be placed in the center o~ the
distribution 129 in Figure 14, interference information
resul~ing from comparison of coherent radiation being
transmitted along any of the axes would produce a recordable
information pattern capable of 'being developed and reilluminated
from an appropriate angle to reproduce the information
which has entered the system along these axes In this
event such a recording medium could be planar, in which case
it would be a limiting factor in the recording of information
in system 129, due to the~fact that it could only record '
information with reasonable accuracy from either one of two
broad directions. In a more idealized system, element 209
would be present and coa-ted with a radiati~lsensitive e~ulsion
which would record the interference information present
from all directions and which could subsequently be
developed and embody a composite record of
information provided to or incident on system 129 from all
directions simultaneously. Such a spherical recording
surface as described above, in addition to being capable of
recording such information from any angle could also, upon
reillumination outwardly through the recorded images, reproduce
the information which'was recorded and could'be used to proiect
it back in the direction along each of the many axes from which
it'came. Such a spherical record, as, for example, one in
the form of a hemisphere, could be illuminatRd preferably
by a spherical coherent wavefront from within for such a
projection. '
~L~377~3~
A similar function could be performed in the Pvent
that acoustical radiation and acoustically sensitive elements
were utilized. In this instance, for example, sound fields
may be recreated by the appropriate positioning of acoustical
recording devices in the central area of distribution 129.
, . , . .: . :
~ '7~7
While the above system is described with respect to
electromagnetic radiation which may, for example, utilize
acrylic wave guides as well as other acrylic modulators, other
possible types of propagating energy such as acoustical, may
be used. In this case the elements, for example, may be
composed of water predominately, or, in the case of magnetic
energy, where a plurality of electromagnets might replace
wave guide 142 in ~igure ll and steel or ferro-magnetic
elements would replace the acrylic optical elements deseribed
above.
In such an embodimen~, this i.nvention is found to
provide means ~or controlling the rotation or oscillation
of single elements or arrays of elements utilizing natural
or artificial ~echanical :~low energy such as
water flow or ~ir flow en~rgy. The use of an array of
spheres such as shown in Fi~,ure 1~ would provide an array
of voids whose flow and turbulance characteristics would
be controlled by dire.cting such wavefr.onts at various
pressures through the openings between the spheres which remain
stationary, as in system 129. In the individual~cavities
thus formed, the t.urbulance pattern is designed to controllably ro-
tate or oscillate various mechanical or .electro-mechanical elements
which may have 1 or 2 axes of freedom or total freedom to
oscillate in sync with its neighboring elements. The size,
shape, composition, distribution, and specific gravity of the movin,~
elements could be chosen to match the turhulance characteristics
to maximize the eificiency of mechanical motion.
,'
L3~7~
¦IIn this embodiment, nearly spherical perManent magnets,
such as F, with diameters l.ess than the smallest dimension
of the cavity are placed in the cavities for~ed by a fixed
or stationary array of spheres which contain or are com- I
posed of conducting metals which are cut by the ma~ne~ic
lines of force of the rotating spheres. The control of
the oscillation or the rotation of the magnetic elements
within the cavities of the stationary array may be achieved
by utilizing specific ordered three-dimensional distribu-
tion geometries for th.e directing o'f fluids.under pressure
into the system at variou$ specific angles to create
various specific turbulance patterns. The movement of
such magnetic elements may create electrical potentials
which may be conducted away through conductors associated,
. for example, with individual stationary elements. Such
_ a system may utilized natural or artificial flow energy
which may comprise- j
¦ a plurality of elements capable of controlled oscil-
I lation in response to said'mechanical flow energy, said
¦elements being dispo.sed in an ordered three dimensional
geometrical distribut'ion, and mea~s for extracting oscil-
latory energy from said elements, and wherein at least
one of said elements comprises a permanent magnet, and .
wherein said oscillation comprises.'mechanical rotation of
¦¦at least one of said elements.
11 . . I
¦¦ Such a system may provide means for extracting oscil-
latory energy which comprises elec~rically conductive ele-
ments capable.of removing electrical energy produced by
I the oscillation of at least one of said elements in a mag-
netic field and may utilize mechanical flow energy which
comprises a natural flowing water source or a natural
Il l
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3~q ~ ~
¦flowing air source and may further comprise a plurality
of elements which remains substantiall~ stationary in said
mechanical flow,and which produces specific turbulence
patterns of flow within said ordered three-dimensional
distribution. A system which may utilize said mechanical
flow energy and which further comprises said plurality
of elements with said capabilities and dis~ributed in
three-dimensional distributions and means for extracting
~¦oscillatory energy from said elements may comprise: ¦
¦ at least two types of surfaces having similarities
~in their three-dimensional geometries but di.ffering in
the characteristic that one set of surfaces remains sub-
stantially stationary with respect to said mechanical
wavefronts while a second set of surfaces is per~itted
¦at least one axis of rotation and oscillation with respect
to said mechanical wavefronts whereby useable electrical,
magnetic or mechanical energy is produced.
. i
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1 89
1~ 797
. .
The s:ignificance of intersecting axes of elements
in ordered, three-dimensional distributions as
discussed above is embodied in the optical system
described below. This.system, which is pictured in Figure
20, is designed to utilize the.intersecting radial ~istri-
bution of sy~etrical axes of elements in order to
generate and contro-l imagery~ Audio signals or other
electronic signals which can be processed to modulate or
generate audio signals are used to cbntrol the primary
x-axis and y-axis deflections and are ~hus in synchronization
with the three-dimensional video imagery, providing a format
which is capable of producing, among other displays,
extremely unique audio-visual illusions. These systems
may be termed Audio-Vidio, Electro-Optic, Macro-Holographic
systems. A-V-E-O-M-H-S :
These systems are based on methods of distri~uting
electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum such
that three-dimensional imagery will be perceived. The control
over the parameters that create such imagery is acbieved
by the selective excitation of modulator elements which are
distributed on surfaces that in turn are distributed in
various three-dimensional arrangements. The nature of some
of the methods used to achieve this selective excita~ion and
modulator-element distribution forms the basis of some of the
embodiments herein disclosed.
.' . ' . ,
. . .
~3l37'~9~ ~ ~
`` , ~ . I
In the following description, the intersecting axes
of symmetry or resonance, of which there are 26 primary
axes, are described as bein~ those formed by the intersection
of axes formed by the centers of spherical elements ali~ned
in columns in a regular stacking of spheres of uniform
diameter in a pentra~edral square base, 5149' face-to-
base pyramid. The geometry o the distribution of the cerlters
of such spheres in such stackings provides a coordinate
system for the distribution of modulating elements which may
be used with an associated,selective excitation system, or
it may be used with random, incidental, or casual excitation,
as the sun, for example, may provide.
One of the characteristics o~ this coordinate system
is that it contains 26 sets of parallel planes of points;
each point in this svst~mrepresents the intersection of a
line perpendicular to each set of 26 sets of parallel planes.
These sets of parallel planes of points and the set of
associated intersecting perpendicular lines constitutes
a coordinate system where ~x= 1.05d and ~y= 1.05d when ,
~z= .669d and where ~x is the distance between the planes
perpendicular to the x-axis, and similarly ~y and ~z to
their respective axes. The distribution of spherical elements
of unit diameter d, based on this three-dimensional
proportion where such spheres are centered on such point
distributions, produces a matrix or lattice wherein lie
the 26 unique, major sets of parallel planes and their
associated perpendicular axes which share a common intersection
point. Each point in such a matrix has associated with it
3~7~
its unique 26 sets of parallel Dlanes and their associated
perpendiculars of intersection.
Another property of this arrangement of spheres
stacked at incllnes of 51~ 49' to the horizontal is that
it contains 2 other major sets of points integral with ancl ,
identical to the above stated matrix, based on the centers
of such spheres. They are (1) the matrix of points based
on the points of contact of the spheres and (2) the matrix
of points based on the geometric centers of the voids
between the spheres. It i.s hy virtue of the simultaneous
occurence of these matrices that selective excita,tion
is possible.' The orderly distribution of interconnecting
voids in the array permits the selective excitation of
each of the modulators in the array by permittiny restricted
access to each modulator by even casual, incidental, or ¦,
random propagatin~ energy.
Figure 5 is a pers~ective representation of such
a distribution of,points. This Figure 5 could represent
each of the three matrices mentioned above wherein is
sho~n the 26 axes intersection at polnt 26. For the purp,oses
of simplicity, this matrix will be said to have interfacial
angles of 51 49'.
It is known that spheres stack in orderly distributions
in the range of interfacial angles between approximately
54 to ,approximately 39. Though many of the principles
herein revealed include those that result from 'interfacial l -
angles other than 54~ 49', the latter is preferred in the
following embodiment since it has been found to produce a
particular org^rlizotton and assoclated imagery which is
il ' . ~' .
92
,
3~ 7
considered disti.nct in many ca9e.5 from th~t producel hy
otber interfacial angles between 39 and 5~ Fi~ure 4
is a perspective view of a 26-sided polygon the faces of
which have perpendiculars intersecting point 26. Each
face has a parallel opposin~ face; both faces consequently
have a common perpendicular. There are thirteen such pairs
of common axes intersecting point 26.
Consider the resonance characteri.stics of such a reflective
structure. ~ point light source inside that structure
will produce in the reflected visual field 13 intersecting
axes of points converging on that point source. Such a
distribution of reflectiv~e planes would provide a 360 field
of internal reflections. Upon such mirrored planes are
placed circular modulators preferably circularly ruled
diffraction gratings with a distribution in each plane
which is appropriate to the orientation of that plane with
respect to the distribution coordinate system mentioned
above where x = 0 y = 0 z = 0 corresponds to point 26 in
Figure h. Such a distribution geometry as shown in Fi~ure
21a would be appropriate to planar distributions on mirrors
set parallel to the x or y axis in Fi~ure 4 Figure ~a
would relate to the distribution on planes per~endicular to
the z-axis in Figure 4 A medium that could reflect or
refract light coming from a number of directions would .resolve
images that the selective distribution sy.stem would determine.
Such a resolving medium that itself is selective in its
reflection or refraction would provide for some de~ree
of image control. Randomly distributed condensed vapor
such as steam or smoke or other media so distributed
placed inside or immediately outside such an optical distributio~
. I
I .
~ 93
7i7~7
could function as resolving znedia; however, other media
that would more conveniently lend themselves to ordered
distribution would be preferred due to the greater control
possible therewith. A randomly distributed resolving
medium comprises a first material having a first velocity of
propa~ation of said pronagating energy dispersed within a second
material having a differing velocity of propagation of
said propagating energy. Such a system of randomly dis-
tributed elements may be combined with a system which
comprises a plurality of axial distributions of elements
and may utilize ~ropagating energy from the sun such that
said axial distributions so disposed gather energy from
the sun as the sun moves in the sky, while the total system
remains substantially stationary. Such radially disposed
axial distributions may comprise at leas~ ~wo spherical
transmissive or spherical reflective or spherical refrac-
~t~ve ele en ~;
l l
~1 9~ ~
:;
37~
Resolving meclia composed o~ or~erec~ t~lree-dimensional
arrays of modulators n~y be constructed as large as buildings
and integrate.d therewith. For example, ~,lass and steel
structures may be used to support ordered arrays of modulators
which could be excited by the sunlight and vie~.~able inside
as well as outside of the structure. .Such larp,e systems may
be constructed from many materia;Ls and building techniques
which include geodesics as well as inflatable structures.
It is also possible to construct miniature resolving systems
that would be suitable to wearin~, as a pair of eye glas.sses
or a visor that woul~ be ~ade of a three-dimensional distribution
of modulators suitable for casual or controlled excitation.
Such distributions may be synthetically generated and recorded
holo~raphically; the resultant hologram.is then capable of
providing means for the display of vari.ous input parameters,i.e.,
electronic, photographic, electro-optic, etc. The use of such
a geometry ~or the storage and categorization of information
by geometric location in hologra hic media ~ermits later
recons.truction and/or decoding in miniature scale suitable in
.. ¦size to be integrated into eye-glass type magniication and
movable (in three-dimensions) adjustable retrieval mechanics.
The use of holographic recording media and the element-array
geome~ry in combination with an eye-glass presen.tation format
provides a cheap and convenient format for informa~i.on storage
and retrieval.
ll l
Il .
1~ 95 . 1~
~377~
Another embodiment utilizes variou,s real-tlme electro-optic
media for use itl an eye-p,lass or visor for~at for real-time
electronic audio displays integrated with the various axial
distribut :~n ol-tical ~v6tem ror ~dio t vldeo conversion.
1~ ~
'. . '' , 1.
11 ' i
Il ' ' ' ' '' .
gr~
Additionally, costumes for dancers may utilize di.stri- ,
. butions oE modulators that integrate with the geornetry If
of the resolving media for special theatrical effects.
Three-dimensional arrays of elements, supported by
various films, planes, or shaped surfaces may be utilized
in the construction of outdoor billboard designs so
oriented as to utilize the light from the sun as the
primary source of illumination, Such an ordered three-
dimens'ional distribution of elements may further comprise
a resolving surface disposed in proximity to said distri-
buti~on whereby propagatin~ energy affected by said dlstri-
bution may be intercepted by and resolved by said resolving
surface and may function as a screen which is also com-
posed of a further plurality of elements. Said screen
. may be disposed in a separate ordered geometrical distri-
._ bution which is a continuation of the geometry of said
ordered three-dimensional geometrical distribution. Said
llscreen elements may comprise circularly r~led diffraction '
¦ gratings, A system of ordered three-dimensional distri-
butions of elements may be used with propagating energy ,.
. ¦which comprises laser r.adiation, and wherein said system
: is utilized in the formation of holographic recordings
¦which are capable of being converted to white light holo-
graphic ~ecordings and whereby such holographic whi~e
~light recordings could be utilized as solar window dis-
. ¦plays.or. as solar ill.uminated billboards. Such holographic ¦Irecordings may also be utilized as resolving means for
¦propagating ene-rgy which may also be utilized in combin-
~lation wit~ controlled excitation systems. Other light
lisources may also be utilized to illumninate such surfaces
i of modulators. Such billboards may be viewable on eitherside due to the selective transmission ar reflection by
¦multiple diffraction as previously described in relation
to Figure 21b. .
3~ 7 '
I¦In a preEerred embodlmell~, circularly ru].ed, reflective
~or transmissive diffraction gratings of diameter si.~ilar to
those of the excitation system are fixed to a transparent
planar surface. The ordering of these modulators o.n the
axis of excitation that is determined ~y the distribution
geometry o:E the excitation system mentioned ahove permits
selective excitation as well as selective resolution. In
such an embodiment the excitation sys-tem would extend from
~he resolution system itsel to infinite space. The total
siæe of such a resolving medium composed of distributions
of diffraction gratings distributed on transparent planes,
such as glass or plastic sheet, could vary from the size '
of one element to many planes of elements which extend to
the surface o~ the mirror-plane, excitation distributions,
thus achievin~, a visual integration of resolvina, medium and
exciting medium. One interior resolving surface would be
sufficient to resolve three-dimen~sional excitation,from
these 26 surfaces, and such a planar distribution ~70uld
best be viewed perpendicular to ~hat plane. Twelve such
resolving surfaces 'placed perpendicular to the 13 axes of .
intersection would be sufficient to resolve imagery view-
able f,rom'any direction. Such a distribution of planes can
be reduced in number by the appropriate use of mirrors
which can produce symmetrical reflections, which will
simplify the construction of such a system when full 3~0
viewing is not necessary. Such a reduced system is illustrated '
in Figure 20. '
I . 1,
I . ,. '' i.
. ~ ,7
The geometry of some components of the following
system is in accordance with the distribution based on the
module of the dimensions 1.05 inches x 1.05 inches x .669
inches as described above in Figure5. The geometry of
the figure shown therein, that is, the points, lines,
and plane.s, whether curved or flat, is utilized to place
modulators in order to provide a distribution'of light
along the axes created by the spaces between the modulators.
Shown in Figur'e 20,is one preferred system in accordance
with the present invention which comprises a radiation source
300, such as a laser or appropriate apparatus for generating
radiation otherwise obtained, and an x-axis and y-axis
deflection means shown at 301 which may either be a single
apparatus or may comprise two separate devices each for
deflection along a single axis, an external distribution of
modulating elements 302, an organization of one or two ' '
expander surfaces shown as 303-312, an.internal distribution
o~ modulating elements 313, resolving means 314 and 315, a
.mirror multiplier 316 and preferably .audio spea~ers 317
and 319. Any one or more of these latter components may
be omitted or more completely developed'depending on
the characteristics desired.
Radiation source 300 is preferably a balanced white
light source of a spatially coherent nature, such as an argon/
krypton gas laser, or.may alternatively be a sun derived
source and even the sun itself, if a suitable.collection and
directlo ppara~us is utllized. Addltionall~, a sun-pumped
3~ 7
laser as described in U. S. Patent Nos. 3, 732, 505,
(Freedman), 3, 808, 428 (Barry et al.), 3, 297, 95
(M. Weiner), and 3, 451, 010 (T. H. Maiman), may also
be utilized. In such instances where solar radiation
itself is the radiation source, resolving means 314 ancl
315 either together or in combination with the mirror
multiplier 315 is specifically utilized in order to assist
integration of three-dimensional imagery in the viewing
area 321.
The x and y deflection means 301 may be any device as
known in the art which is~used to direct a radiation beam
in a controllable x verses y distribution. This may consist
of one or more devices and these means are basically
considered in most cases to be radiation encoders of an
electro-mechanical or an electro-optical nature, since these
are two of the pr-imary types of radiation deflection
devices known on the art. External distribution 302,
expander surfaces 303, 30~, 305, 306, and/or 307, 308, 309,
310, 311, 312 and internal distribution 313 are considered
to be encoders of an optical nature and may comprise
distributions of modulating.elements of any of the types
described in the present application. Each of these
components would in most cases be a distinct distribution
of elements which is also integrally related with the
previously described unifying geometry, for example, the
type of element, element spacing, element size, inter-element
angles, i er-planar angles, as well as the posi~ionin~ and
loo
7~r~ ~
snaein~ oE eaeh o:~ the distinet distributions. I'his oDtical
eneoder portion o-~ ~he present ,system which ineludeæ 303-31.~
would be desi~ned in the present instance to accept radiation
which has been defl.ected in the x-y plane by defleetion means
301. This arrangement would present information in encoded
patterns to the resolving ~eans 314 and 315 whieh will be
utilized to deeode such encoded information patterns.
l~hile both electro-mechanieal and electro-optieal
defleetion means may be utilizecl, 301 would in most .ea.ses
be an eleetro-meehanical type sueh as re1eetive surface/
speaker diaphrag~ eombination where eleetronic aeoustical
signals.are utilized to produee movement o.f the refleetive
surfaee in order to deflect the radiation in accordance
with audio si~nals. Additional.ly, various raster types I .:
of eleetro-mechanieal defleetion means sueh as spinnin.~ ¦
or oseillatinp, refleetors, refractors, or de:Eraetors, also
well known in the art, may be utilized.
Among the possible eleetro-optical cleflection mean.s
are liquid erystals and various inor~anie materials, sueh as
sodium niobate. . ,
The x-y raster or defleetion pattern ~ay be cc>nsidered
to be eomposed of two sets of binary information,.a positive
and negative x-axis eomponent, a positive and negative
y-axis eomponent, as well as the ~-axis, which is in most
cases a function of the x eomDonent and/or the y eomponent.
l~len sueh an x-y dlstribution of points of racliation
ineidents are projected on a plane perpendieular to one
!
;
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101
.,
~3 a~7~
axis oE symme~ry as in the plane containinP, ex~an(ler
surface 312, a re~solvin~ medium such as shown at 31~ and
315 will transform that pro.jection so as to provide
amDlitude, phase, and frequency information--proceqsed to
provide space and time coordinate vi.suali7,ation visible
in the viewing~area 321.
In most cases, the size ancl shape of the x-y d~flection
pattern which is projected into optical encoder means,
i.e., al]. surfaces that precede 314 and 315, is of a n~atu~e
which is programmed or predetermined to integrate or to
be compati'ble with the geometry of the whole svstem and
particularly, with the ~,eometry of the various distributions
which form the optical encoder section, i.e., 302-313.
In this wa~, control over additinnal distribution parameters
may be gained throu~,h the deflection means as well as the' '
particular placement of the element distributions.
T~ith attention to the optical encoder portion
of the present system 302-313, external distribution 3n2
would take ~he form of a system of modulating elements
which would distribute radiation,-in ~ost cases visible ,
radiation, in an encoded information pattern. It is
'possible for external distribution 302 to be utilized alone
as the optical encoder, in which case the information
-thereb~l impressed on incoming radiation would then be
decoded by resolving means 314 and 315 without the use
of expander surfaces 303-312 or internal distribution 313.
As noted, such distributions of modulatlng ~lements would
~ 'I
1 102
`J
9 7
preEerably be ~,eomet~ically inte~rate~l with the ~,eomet~y
of the total system i.n order to facilitate better control
In this case, control of the ra~iation beam path wouId be
of primary concern since it would determine the organization
of the information processecl hY external distribution 302
and subsequently proce.ssed b~ resolving means 314 and 315.
This would be true even in the case of exPander surfaces
303-312, as well as internal distribution 313 being present
in the system.
The modulators to be utilized in any of means 302-315
maY be o~ a polarizing, reEractive, re:E].ective, dif~ractive
or transmissive nature and any of these modulating elements
either singly or taken in any combination may be utilized.
The or~anization of o~tical encoder elements of the
system may furthermore be of a relatively simple or of a
relatively com~lex nature. In a simple form, for example,
distribution 302 would consist of a single,clear, spherical
element which would simply perform the unction of enlargin,~
the beam diameter and the size of ~he x-y raster which
was projected thereupon bY deflection means 301. Thus,
the enlarp,ed x-y raster or x-y deflection pattern produced
would subsequently be incident on whatever other components
of o~tical encoder systems which were present, such as
internal distribution 313, which may also consist of one
or any number of elements. Additionally, expander surfaces
303-312 may be either absent or present in any combination
of several or a large pluralit,Y of modulating elements
working in combination with sin~le element 302. Alternative-
1Y, suct a single element as 302 may also prDcess radi~tion
.' 11
!l
, ~ . . .. .
~ 79~7
which would subse~luen~ly be processed directly by the
resolving means 314 and 315 in t~e absence of any elements
303-313. In such an instance of 302 being a single
element, it may, instead Of being a clear spherical
element, take the form of a transmissive diffraction grating,
for example, a circularly ruled diffraction grating which
would diffract the x-y raster or deflection pattern, thereby
expanding and/or otherwise transforming such projected
information, which may sNbsequently be resolved at 314
and 314, or may be intermediately processed by any one or
combination of elements 3~3-313. .
Thus, the functlon Of external distribution 302
may vary from the processing of a radiation pattern
by a single element which may be of any of the types
previously discussed; or to the processing of such an
information pattern by a plurality of such elements
disposed in any desired combination and/or configuration, I
The expander surfaces designated as 303-312,
which may be said to function also as optical encoders,
y be various organizations Of modulator elements, also
of various types previously discussed, In one preferred
embodiment, surfaces 303-312 may be made of a translucent
material which would function as an arrangement Of rear-
projection screens, upon which the x-y deflection pattern
or raster is projected, The control of, for example, a
point distribution Of radiation sources on such a screen
by x-y de ection me~ns 301 woul' iacilitate he placement
.
.
. , .
. l~l3 ,J 7~3!7
of such point sources, or mo~In~ con~3 o~ radiation, with
respect to time, in rela~ion to resolvinp~ means 314 and 315.
While the novement or placement of such movin~ cones of
radiation may be somewhat restricted by the geometry of
the surfaces 303-312, in some embodi~en~s, the displacement
of such a point source of radiation by the x-y deflecti.on
means 301 would still be capable of producin~ an ~rganiæed
system of such point sources with respect to time so that
illusions of three-dimensional inormation would be produced
which are capable of being perceived as such due to
resolving means 314 and 3].5.
The geometry of the projection screens or expander
surfaces 303-312 would prefera~ly be able ~o reference
point source distributions to the geometry of resolvin~
means 313. Expander surfaces or screens 303-312 ~ay
take the form of flat surfaces, curved surfaces, a series
o.f planar sur~aces that may entirely surround the
resolvinn means 314 and 315, or any combination of the
above as desired, which would produce various effects in
the resulting three-dimensional ima~e syntllesis process.,
Some embodiments may utilize the surfaces of a room or any
other structure, such as a geodesic formation which
~ould be desi.gned to find integral relationship with the
geometry of resolving means 314 and 315.
The expander surfaces 303-312 may also utilize ordered
arrays of distributions of.modulators which would e.ffectively
transform the x-y information pattern produced by deflection
means 301 and/or 302 such that radiation incident upon
resolvin~ means 313 would apparently converge from any
~ I ~:
105
.. .. . ..
~ 77~7
desired point in the area arotlnd resolvint7 means 31~l ~nd
315. In such an embodi~ent, 303-312 ~ay comprise ~n
ordered three-dimensional distribution of diffractive,
re1ective or refractive elements in any homogeneous or
anv heterogeneous orderly distribution and may include
elements which are absorbers of radiation specifically
and strate,gically placed in such a distribution. In particul~r,
. I ~
circularly ruled, planar diffraction ~ratings may be advan- ¦
ta~P.,eously distributed in plural layers such as to form a
three-dimensional organized distribution thereof.
Such a distribution pf circularly ruled diffraction
elements in shown in Figures 21a and 21b. The centers
oE the p].anar circular elements lie on the points of intersec-
. ".1, . .,
tion of the axes of a geometrical arrangement of point
locations where the interacial an~les between plane.s of
such points or locations are between 39 and 5/~ . This is
similar to the previously discussed distributions of
spherical elements where they would be arran~,ed such that the
centers of the spheres were coincident with the points or
locations of such a distribu~ion. It is in this manner
that most distrihutions considered in the preferred embodiment's
invention are based on a three-dimensional ~eometrical !1~ ¦
arran~ement o loci or ordered distribution of points wherein
planes of such points are defined as planes intersectin~
at angles between approximately 39 and 5~. Such an
o~ganized distribution of ele~ents would be appropria~e to
the expander~surfaces 307, 309, 311, and 31~, which are ,1~",
perpendicular or parallel to the x-axis in Figure 20,
A distribution of points that would be appropriate to the
surfaces 311 and 312 of Fi~ure 20 is sh~wn in Figure 21a and b.
l ll
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~377~
Utiliæing the x-y raster or information pattern
which may also be produced utilizi,ng bias signals for
shifting the effective center of such patterns, the
expander surfaces would direct light to discrete areas of
resolving means 314 and 315 from any particular grating
of expander surfaces 303-312. Thus, for example, with
reference to Figure 20, a laser 300 and x-y and deflection
means 301 would project information in the form of a point
source having a position varying wlth time onto a rear
projection screen system which may comprise a distribution
of expander surfaces 303,~304, 305, and 306 as discussed
abov.e. ~nother preferred arrangement would be made with
mirror surfaces 303 310 and transparent surfaces 3~1, 312,
314, and 315 where all of ~he~:e surfaces support the appropriate
distributions of circularly ruled diffraction gratings;
indeed, they would function harmoniously as distributors,
expanders, and resolvers. In such an arrang.ement, surfaces
314 and 315 may be placed inside expander box with mirror
sides 307-310; placed parallel with transparent surfaces
312 and 311; and placed equidistant from 312 and 311 as well
as equidistant from each other. With regards to Figure 4
and 5, Figure 2~ represents a distribution of elements
relative to one axis, namely the y-axis. More complex
systems, with distributions of elemen~s relative to all
26 axes would provide more highly resolved and integrated
image information display. The synchronization of such
a multipl xial distribution system could be accompli~hed
107
1~3'~
by any of the methods or combinations oE methods known
in the art s~lch as beam splitting, electronic beam swi~ching,
electro-optic, and electro-acoustic modulation, etc Each
axis system could be controlled separately with independant
control over the 26 point sources
In Figure 20, the x-y deflector 301 directs the beam
from laser 300 such that, through time, point sources
or cones of radiation impinging on resolving medium 314 and
315 having a variable point of origin, direction of projection
as well as angle of divergence, all of which originate
from the previously described organized system of diffractive
gratings generally at 303-312. It should additionally
be pointed out that the type.of diffractive grating
distribution shown as 328 in Figtlre 21b may also be used
to perform the function of resolving means 314 and 315 in
Figure 20 and it should be clear that expander surfaces
303-310 as well as resolving means 314 and 315 and/or
312 and 311 may advantageously employ such an organized
distribution of diffractive gratings and particularly circularly
ruled planar diffraction gratings as shown in Figure 21b.,
In using the distribution 328 in Figure 2].b, it can be seen
that a single cone of radiation.as shown at 325 may be
diffractively divided, for example, by incidence on diffractive
element 327 into more than one beam of radiation such as
those subsequently incident on diffractive elements 329 and
331. A portion of such radiation would subsequently pass
through diffractive dis~ribution 328 in this instance as
108 ...
~ 3779~
beams 333 and 335 as an expanded or more co~plex organiza~ion
of radiation which may then be incident on resolving means
314 and 315 from at least.two symmetrical directions.
Resolving means 31~l and 315 would be capable of resolving
information by permitting the possible superimposition of
two or more of a plurality of such divergent radiation
components as would be produced by the scanning or
distribution of cone 325 over the remaining diffractive
elements of distribution 328.
It should be pointed out that beams 333 and 335 would
be two portions of one annular beam of radiation first
diffracted from element 327 and then by certain portio~s
o~f elements 329 and 331. Similar varying radiation components
would result as radiation cone 325 impacted on the remaining
elements of the distribution 328, thus producing a plurality
of relatively symmetrical radiation beams which would then
be intercepted by resolving means 314, 315, and/ or 311, 312.
The superimposition of two or more such radiation components
or wavefronts would be interpreted by an ohserver a:s a three-
dimensional image due to the manner in which we perceive ,
depth by comparing orientation from two divergent viewpoints
sepa.rated in human beings by several inches. As shown in
Figure 21a, which is a front view of circular diffraction
grating distribution 328, ~he use of multiple layers of such
diffraction gratings forms a three-dimensional distribution
which may be substantially opaque as far as ra~iation passing . .
unmodified therethFough, bu~ which is capable of processing
109 .
~ 7~9i~7
radiation or transformin~ it by multiple diffraction
described above in conjunction with the side view,of
distribution 328. It i9 preferable for such a distribution
of planar elements either to be oriented perpendicular to
the major axis of symmetry, i.e,, y-axis, of ~he optical
system shown in Figure 2~ or at some specific angle of
rotation, such as 38181 as shown, which bears symmetric
relation to the geometry of the resolving means, In this
manner, the symmetrical x-y raster or def.le'ction pattern
of radiation could be projected from external distributlon
302 to surfaces 314, 315,~and/or 311, 312; such a projection
would maintain its symmetry with respect to the main
axes of distribution of the system, or with respect to . .
some basic angle thereof,
rn one useful form, the expander surface would be
a pyramidal array of planar surfaces 303, 304, 305, and 306
each composed of distributions of elements appropri'ate to
their respective positions with the vertices of these planar
surfaces making contact:and forming a pyramidr the apex of' .
which would be aligned with the major axis of the system,
This would allow the x-y deflection raster which would be
projected by external distribution 302 to encounter four
separate but integral and symmetrical triangular surfaces
303-306. It is furthermore possible for deflection 301 to
multiplex the production of four separate but integral
patterns or rasters, each of which would be centered on one
~13~7~
of the four triangular surfaces of the expander. In this
instance, each of the triangular components may be composed
of a plurality of layers of diffraction gratings. It would
be obvious that the exact angle between such components, that
is, the interfacial angles of the distributions, should be
of specific orientation to the major axis of the system and
would produce multiple distributions of radiation wlth respect
to that angle which would also be related to the angle
of diffraction of the individual triangular elements.
It is also possible in the present system for expander
.surfaces 303, 304, 305, 3~6 to receive radiation either
as.discussed above from .the direction of external distribution
302, or from the opposite direction from means such as
internal distribution 313. The composition or element
characteristics of expander suraces as well.as the geometry
thereof will determine.the type of transformation or process-
ing which will occur.to radiation information which is
subsequently incident on resolving medium 314, 315 and/or
311, 312. .
. ' . . ''.
It is possible in one embodiment for internal distribution
313 to comprise an axially symmetrical distribution of
circularly ruled difraction gratings, and Figure 22a and b
illustrates one preferred embodiment of such an axially
symmetrical distribution. Shown in Figures Z2 a and b is an axial
view,Figure 22a, and a side view, ~igure 22b, of an axial
distribution of diffraction gratings which form internal
. . ::
~13~7~
distribution 313, Diffract:ive elements, shown in 337,
have a certain diameter circular hole punched in each
element, creating annular, circularly ruled difraction
gratings which are sho~m to be aligned parallelto one
another and sequentially distributed alonp, the axis 339
of the distribution, perpendicular thereto. In this
embodiment, a reflective sur'face such as a mirror is
provided at .341 at one end of the di.stribution, which,
along with the remainin~, elemen~s, may be supported by
an open-ended tube.343. It is.possible and in most cases
preferable for each of the elements 337 to consist of
two annular diffractive surfaces back to back so that a cone
of radiation 345 may either be diffracted when first
contactin~ one of the elements as at 347 or from the opposite
direction after being reflected fro~ surface 341 as shown
¦at 34g. In either case, openings could be present in the
tube 343 specifically located to allo~ such diffracted
radiation exit from the distribution.
l~hen aligned axially along the major axis of the system
in Figure 20, the plurality of diffractive'elements of
distribution 313 performs the function of transforming and '
distributing the x-y raster or deflection pattern originatin~
from 301 into a radial distribution of radiation which
may be next resolved by res'olving medium 314.,.315 or further
processed by expander surfaces 303, 304, 305, and 306, to ~hen
be resolved by means 314, 315.
., ,'
.
'I
112
Another possible configuration for internal dls~ribution
313 would be a column or multiple columns of spherical
elements, such as diffraction gratings, or transparent or
refractive spherical elements arranged in 'order to conduct
and distribute radiation in accordance with the specif.ic
arrangement thereof. Some such axial arrays of transparent
spheres are shown in Figure 11 alonp the X3, t7, and y3 axes
and would perform the function of internal distr'ibution.
The distribution along the x -axis.of Figure l'l would be the
one most appropriate for use in an internal distribution such
as 313 in Figure 20.
It is also possible for a plurality of such sym~etri-
cal axial distributions of elements as described above to
be positioned along several axes in the geometry of the
.' total system, thereby providing a di~ferent and distinct
system of distribution for each axes of symmetry in the
optical system.
It can.be seen from the above that there are many ¦
possible configurations of optical enco~ing distributions
which may be placed in integrated re'lationship to form ''
¦ the total system'shown in Figure 20.
, . ',' , I.
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. 1 113
3 ~73~ ! ¦
Many embodiments utilizing multiple surfaces describe
a system for controlli.ng propagating energy comprising a~
least six surfaces capable of affecting such propagating
energy, said surfaces being arranged in an ordered three-
dimensional geometrical distribution, said distribution
of said surfaces being a function of at least two parallel
planes, oE a set of parallel planes, distributed on each
of at least three non-parallel axes wherein no t~o planes
lie in the same plane and no more than two of said axes
lie in one plane. Such embodiments describing systems
utilizing such a distribution geometry of surfaces may: j
., . 11.
(1) be a function of one or more geometrical char-
acteristics of a~ least one of said surfaces.
_ ¦ (2) comprise at least one surface which substan-
¦ tially polarizes, reflects, transmits, or refracts said
propagating energy.
~, ,,' 'I
(3) comprise any combination of such sur~aces; for'
example, a system which combines at least one surface
. ¦ which substantially transmits said propagating energy and
¦ at least one surface which substantially reflects said
I propagating energy.
. . I
(43 comprise at least one surface which substantially
transmits said propagating energy and at least one surface
which substantially diffracts said propagating energy.
¦(5) comprise at least one surface which substantially
~¦ reflects said propagating energy and one surface which
j substantially diffracts said propagating energy.
1~
Il 114
3~ 9r~ 1
i (6) comprise a llquid cxystal material for one o~
i said suraces.
(7) comprise at least one of said surfaces in the
¦ form of a border between at least two materials each of
which affects the velocity of propagation of said p~opa- j
gating energy differently.
. ........................................... I
(8) comprise surfaces defining a cavity having means
for propagating ene.rgy to enter and exit. Such a cavity
may comprise surfaces which are substantially reflective
and said cavity is of a size sufficient to contain at least
one human being, and may further comprise reflective mylar,
and may further comprise means to create a pr~ssure dif-
ferential on either side of at least one of said modulating
surfaces so as to allow the shape of said surface to be
altered.
(9) comprise suraces which may be selected from
the group consisting of spherical, planar, elipsoidal, ' I
cylindrical, hyperboloidal, toroidal, paraboloidal, and
coniçal.
, -- , I
(10) comprise a lasing medium. I
. ' . I
~11) comprise surfaces, the posi~ions of which coin-
cide with the ~is~ribution of points, said distribution
¦¦ being determined by distributions of elements being arranged
~l in an ordered three-dimensional geometrical distribution.
l .
...
I
11
115
~3~7~
!
A related system may comprise a plurality of elements
capable of affecting propagating energy and disposed in
an ordered three-dimensional geometrical distribution in
sufficient proximity to one another to insure the multiple
. modulation of any propagating energy incident upon said
distribution.
Another related system may comprise an ordered three-
dimensional geometrical distribution comprising a plurality
'of propagating energy affecting surfaces disposed in suf-
.. I ficient proximity'to one another to cause propagating energyaffected by a first one'oE said surfaces to be also affected
¦ by a second one of said surfaces.
The system as illustrated in'Figure 20 represents
a system designed ~or the orderly distribution.of light
I such that the many variable characteristics of light may
be ordered or controlled in space and time. Such variables
include phase, frequency, amplitude, and direc.tion. The
distribution of the size of, the shape of, as well as the
composition of the elements in such a system determines
the light distribution properties of such a system. The
circles shown in Figure 21a may represent various
¦ types of elements.which may reflect, lase, transmit, polar-
ize, absorb, defract, refract,'or perform'combina~i'ons of
: such functions on propagating energy.even though circular
diffraction gratings are pre.ferred for use in the laser
projection system of Figure 20.
: I' . '
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....... 1 116 , I
. ~ . . ~, . ,. ~ .
l.lL3~ ~J 7~!7
In the present embod~ment, resolving means 314, 3].5 and/or
311,312 may be predomi.nately opaque to radiation parallel
to the major axis of the system. However, by relating the
geometry of the x-y deflection pattern produced at 301
to the geometry of the various e:Lement distributions on
314, 315 and/or 311, 312, the radiation incident on resolving
means 314, 315 and/or 311, 312 may be processed in such a
manner as to utilize the specific geometry of the same to
control wavefronts distributed by the various optical encoders
302-310,` and resolve or otherwise transform such wavefronts
as desired.
While a modulator element distribution whlch is substantially
opaque to perpendicularly oriented radiation may be simply
achieved with a two layer distribution of, for example, the
planar circular diffraction gratings described above in
Figures 21a and 21b, configurations with more than two layers
may also be utilized in resolving means 314, 315 and/or 311,
312 in order to achieve a variety of sensitivities to the
input wavefronts which may be encountered in the present system.
A variety o mixed modulator distributions may also be ut~ilized
to achieve greater sensitivity in the resolving means, which
functions as a decoder component of the present system;
additionally, various types of media may be utilized to
support such distributions of modulators. In one preferred
embodiment, both transparent and a mirrorized plastic film
support the modulators which may be cemented or otherwis.e
affixed to the surface thereof in the desired configuration;
and the f m showD at 207 Fi~ure 21b may be stre~ched and
I
~ 117 ' I
-. :. . . .,: , . ~ . :
L3~7~7
supported by metal frames.
The resolving means 314, 315 and/or 311, 312 may be
used either alone or in combination with reflective
surfaces in order to utilize, ~or example, the sun as
an input to the system. Mirrors may be positioned such
that the sun's radiation may be received by such resolving
means directly, as well as by reflection from such reflective
surfaces. Comparison of such direct and reflected radiation
would be possible by such resolving means.
Reflective surfaces or mirrors could be positioned so
as to direct multiple images of the sun or other radiation
sources toward the resolving means. With a variety of
reflective surfaces, the distribution of which is integrated
with the geometry of the present system, a high degree of
complexity of imagery may be achieved and controlled by
the integration of the geometries of the various components
of the system.
The element distribution shown in Figures 21a and ~lb
may process radiation from the sun. In the event such a
two-layèr distribution of planar, circular diffraction
gratings were used, the backs of such diffraction gratings
may exhibit a black,non-reflective radiation absorbing sur- -
face which would ~unction in combination with the
circuIarly diffractive opposing s.urfaces of the elements.
Thus, for example, the diffractive surface shown at 351
would perform diffractive functions on radiations incident
from that side, while the back of the element 353 would
be black. Similarly, the same would occur with the diffractive
118
'7'-~9~ I
surface shown at 355, ~he back of which 357 would be black.
In this manner, stray interaction with radiation would be
minimized and more predictable behavior of such a controlléd
distribution would be achieved.
In such an arrangement as shown in Figure 21b, very little
or no radiation would pass unmodulated through the screen and
most radiation wou'ld be transmitted primarily by double
diffraction. This is shown by considering the collimated
light source of Figure 2].b shown at 359, which-emits a
collimated' beam of radiation 361, This beam of radiation
makes contact with diffr,active surface 353 and the radiation
would then be separated into annular beams o one or more
separate requencies by diffraction and would be incident
at least partially on diffractive surface 355--to be
subsequently diffracted to some degree through aperture
_ 363 to form radiation 'beam 365 which has thus been transmitted
through the screen by double diffraction.
¦¦ Such multiple diffraction would occur repeatedly and in
~¦combination with various other modulating elements shown
in Figure 21b to produce multiple beams o diffracted radiation ¦.
¦which may subsequently be directly seen in resolving means
314, 315 and/or 311, 312--or seen in the reflected image in
mirror multiplier 316 of Figure 2~, which is positioned
¦ between the viewing area 321 and such resolving means.
Mirror multiplier 316 may broadly comprise a plurality of
reflective surfa es: spherical, planar, or otherwise arranged
in any orderly distribution, the geometry of which finds'
correspondence with the distribution of components previous-
ly discussed above. This mirror multiplier component of
the presert system woul d be positioned
~, .
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, 119
,, ,:
~377~7
between vlewing area 321 and resolving means 31~, 315 and/or
311, 312 and would comprise a system of modulatoPs functioning
to further enhance or mutliply the imagery or complex radiation
emitting from such resolving means. In a preferred embodiment,
316 would utilize four flat mirrors arranged in two sets
parallel or nearly parallel so as to multiply, by multiple
reflection, images which have been resolved or otherwise
transformed by the resolving means. Once again, it is preferred
for the geometry, e.g., the disposition of the surfaces,
etc., of mirror multiplier 316 to be integrated or other-
wise find correspondence ~to the geometry of the resolving
means as well as the other components of the system. Keeping
this in mind, mirror multiplier 316 may very well be integrated
into the structure of a building such as a geodesic or
rectangular structure. Compound curved surfaces in such
structures collld also be generated by vacuum or pressure
adjacent to fluid deformable reflective surfaces in order
to possibly create large planar, spherical or spheroidal
reflecting, ellipsoidal, hyperboloidal, toroidal, para-
boloidal, parabolic, hyperbolic, cylindrical, conical, et'c.,
surfaces or combinations of such, the geometry of which i.e.,
surface function, radiu6 of curvature, focal length, eccen-.
tricity, etc., would preferably be integrated with the
geometr`y of the resolving medium as well as some of the
other components.
Il . ' , ' ,, .
!l
lzo
11~77~7
Shown in Figure 14 is a cros~ sectional view taken
through the x and the y-axis of ~he modulatin~ element arr~y
that is illustrated in perspective in Figure 10. The
arrangement in Fi~ure 14 can be seen to comprise both refractive
or magnifying elements and reflective elements 202 as well
as voids or positions where modulating elements have been
removed, and in particular a central void shown as 201. Various
svstems of transmission, absorption, resonance, and detection
of ra~iation can be constructed around such a central void
(or itl other embodiments around a central modulating element)
by- arran~ving symmetrical orP,anizations of modulatin~ elements
around such a central location. Thus in the embodiment in
Fi~ure 14, symmetrical pyramidal shells of spherical modulatin,~,
elements determine, by their composition, size and by their
interrelational geometry, the nature of various oPerations
which may be performed on radiation incident on some ~ortlon
of such a system.
:` I , . ' ' , .
Figure 11~ illustrates a central void 201 surrounded by
three pyramidal shells with a single sphere-removed from
each of these shells in positions which provide viewin~ of
the central void or cavity along one axis of symmetrY of the
arran~ement. This axis of symmetry is onc of twenty-six
¦ possible ones in a pyramidal arran~,ement illustrated as line
¦~ P-26-U in Fi~ure 5 and discussed nreviously.
1~ :
121
7~
¦l It is possib].e to construct various ima~,e form~ts by
omittin~ certain modulators in such an orclered arrangement
and providing radiation sources in combination ~7ith recordin~
means ~ositioned in such a manner as to ohtain the desired
image ormat. Thus, shown in Fi~,ure ll~, is a c~mera 203
which is pointed in this instance along an axis of symmetry
designated as the tl axis ! from which the above-mentioned
modulating, elements have heen removed in order to provide
a view oE the central area of the array. F'i~ure 17 is a
photograph of the ima~e pattern formed in such a cavity
in a close-packed arrangement of reflective spheres.
. I
Radiation sources may be positioned, for example, as shown
at 205 in Flgure 14, and the positionin~ of such a radiati.on
source may be varied as may be the nature of the source. In
the instance where a motion picture camera is ~ositioned as
203, radiation o~ any desired frequency and prefera~ly
multiple frequencies is positioned at various points around
the arrav and may be, in this instance, of an incoherent nature.
Alternatively, photographic or holographic film may be po,sition-
ed either on an exterior portion of the array as shown at 207
or in the central area of the array as sho~7n by 208. In the
event that holo~raphic film is utilized, the radiation source
or sources, one of which is shown at 205, is preferably
coherent and the positions thereof are ~referably coordinated
with that of the photo~raphic recordin~ medium;
An embodiment of the present invention which utilized
a motion picture camera and substantially the arrangement of
I . . I
~ 1,
1 122
l3~7 7r~ 7
il sphe~ical, reflecti.ve modulatinp, elements shown at ] 29 in
Fi,nure 14 w~s u~ i%e~l to produce .1 color L6 ~m mot:ion fiJ.m
C~EVE ~ ~ ! F.lec .rovisual ~roduc tionfi, Ltd ., 197 ~ ) .
. i
. '' ' ' . I,
.
I
1l 123 _____
.
,: . . ,, :
3~9~7
This film premiered ~ctober 26, l~76 at the ~llrshhorn
l Museum and Sculpture ~,arden in l~lashin,~7ton D.C. Prior to
¦ the evening showing, a lecture was presented by Charles R.
Henry, disclosing the general nature of the ontical techni.~ues
¦ involved in making the film, as well as related research. The
¦ film was directed by C. Henry with filming assistance of
¦ Steven Roberts; film was produced by C. Henry and IJilliam
¦ Robinson. In this film, both the camera and external light
sources were at some times subject to movements and so~etimes
were keDt still relative to each other. By the same apparatus,
various photographs and holograms were also made; a print of
one of these photographs is shown in Fi~,ure 17.
.
I . Il ,
I . I
~ ,' ' ' ' ' i
Ij . ' I
1~,
Ij ~13~7~'7
¦ It can be seen in Fip,ure 17a that by the removal o' a row or
colu~n of elements :t-'rom the t~-axi.s of the arrangement shown
in Figure 14, a cavity or chamber is formed which allows
multiple reflections of radiation from the various ele~ents
forming the walls or limits of such a reflective cavity.
. In the case of the central cavity, which is formed as
a result of the removal of one central sphe~e from a stacking
of reflective spheres, twenty-six axes of symmetry are
intercepted at this point wnich is illustrated: in Fi~ure 5
at point 26, in Fi~ure '14 at 201, and in Figure ].0 in the
void caused by the sphere center'ed on 5~,and as noted,
li~ht sources, recording mediums as well as other elements
may be placed most advantageously along, or pernendicular to,
one or more of these axes. A vlew from such a central cavity
of re1ective spheres as .sho~7n in ~i~,ure l~ at 2nl would
_ ¦ reveal a geometric distri~ution of modulating elements.alon~
¦! these axes of resonance. This geometrically symmetrical,
selectively magnifying and reflecting chamber is capable of
producin~ imagery or resonant pa~terns which can be photogra~hed-
from inside or outside of the system. Fi~ure 17b is a ph,oto- ¦
graph taken perpendicular to the z-axis of an arrangementSo~
. ¦'reflective spheres as shown in Figure 14 but with the spheres
i ¦-above the x-y axis plane removed.' The patterns seen in these
reflectivesurfaces vary as the external or internal radiation
source varies in phase, amplitude, frequency, direction, etc.
The most ideal recordin~ medium in such a system is shown in
Fi~ure 14 as 209 and is a spherical layer of photo~,rapllic
or preferably holographic emulsion placed'conc'entrically to
¦the center point of the pyramidal.array: this emulsion would
¦be capable of recordin~, wavefronts relative to any or all of
~l 125'
.; : , . ; ~ . ;
3t'~7
the c~xes racli~tinn Era~ 20~ o tl~e sys~m. Insteclclof a spherical
~hape, an ellipsoidal or slmilar con~inuous closed surface
sha~e may be e~fective,this :Eunction de~endinp on the geometry
of the system. Also, other surCaces mi~,ht be employed in
certain circumstances, such a.s ~ortions of the surface o~ 1,
a cone, a ~araboloid, a hyperboloid, or a parabolic hyperboloid, 1,
etc., such a surface having description as a mathematical
function involving x, y, 7, variables. S~ch an emulsion
could easily be in the form of a cast, 2-piece shell which
.would fit together forming the closed surace.fi~,ure or may
even be an emulsion coated on tlie exterior of suc~l a shell.
e shape upon which the emulsion is placed may take many orms
de~ending on the nature o~ the operation for which it i5
desip,ned. Dependin~, on the type of modula~ors placed alon~
such axes of symmetry and the types oE modulatin~, elements
encountered elsewhere on the array, the input to the resonant
cavity--and thus the information present at such a recording
or resolving medium--may be controlled.
., i ' ' ` ~ .
With regard to radiation sources, it is possible to
i utilize sources either interior and/or exterior to the
¦ distribution which may be in ~he form of:
¦ . (1) point sources
~ (2) ~lanar wave.cronts
j (3) planar distributions of point sources
¦ (4) colli~ated beams
¦ (5) images projected on the system
(6) ima~es projected on screens adjacent to or
I near the system
126
7~
¦ (7) T.. aser scanner and/or distributor, æuch as
described in Figures 22a'and 22b where difCractive
or re~ractive circular gratings are uséd
(8) Laser scanner and/or distribution system as
clescriked in Figures 18 and 19 where distribution
' and transformation is achieved by the'use of
one spherical refractive element
(9) Laser scanner distributor systems that utilize
the transmission characteristics of co].umns
of spheres such as described previously'in ' I
relation to Figures 9 and 11 and ~hoto~raphically
illustrated in Figure 13 where beam L~ is
¦ transmitted through three spheres
¦ .(10) Various ali.gnments and/or distributions o
¦ . light sources positioned such as to utilize
the l~,eometric distribution of mod.ulators and/or
. ¦ ' detectors for the purpose of transforming,
translatin~" decodin~, detecting, communicatin~,
~ or otherwise utiliæin~ the radiation wavefront
_ I that results ~rom the interaction between'the
array and'radiation
1i , ............................................ .
Such distributions can be oriented with respect to the
¦ various axes of s~mmetry of the system in order t~ control the
¦¦ radiation field within or the reflected field outside of the
~ recording emulsion.
: ~ `
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:
!
` 11 1
~ 127
37~79~ 1l
A simpli:Eied sys~em of arran~,ement o~ ~lodulatin~,
¦ elements is sho~ ln Fipures lSa and 15b where 8iX reflective
spheres have been arranged in order to form a cavi.ty havin,~, !
three axes of resonance all at right ane,les to one another.
¦These spheres are shown at 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, and 221 ',
in Figures 15a and 15b. It is the lines joining the centers
of spheres 213 to 217, 219 to 215 ancl 221 to 211 that determine
the axes of resonance in the void or cavity. Clearly, Figure
15a is a side view and 15b a top vie~ of the arrange~ent. Also
shown are six refractive spheres which nest in the cusps
formed by each combinatio~ of three o the re1ective spheres
and six of these refractive spheres are shown in ~igures
15a and 15b designated as numbers 223, 225, 227, 229, 231,
and 233. It can be seen that sphere 233 is absent from Figure
. 15a and would be positioned in the CUSD formed by reflective
_ spheres 211, 213, and 215. .~imilarly, refractive sphere 231
! is not sho~n in Flgure 15a, since it is positioned behind
l reflective sphere 218. Two more refractive spheres not
¦¦shown in either Fi~ure 15a or 15b would be positioned in one
¦¦instance behind reflective sphere 217 in Fi~ure 15a in th~e cusp
¦¦formed by spheres 219 and 221 and in the other instance in
~front o sphere 217 in the cusps formed there~Tith by spheres
211 and 2I5.
. ~ The ei~,ht refractive spheres discussed above could be
: utilized in colnbination with, for example, an X-Y deflection
means as shown in Fi~ure 1~ in order to direct radiation into
the cavity formed by the elements in Fi~7ures 15a and 15~.
¦¦ Thus, this simplified svstem ~a~ accept up to ei~,ht such
¦¦X-Y deflection inputs, each comprisint~ a radiatlon source
1 . I
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128
7S~7
having independent phase, amplitude, and frequency control
if desired--ancl even an independent focal point and full
positional control relative to its particular axis of
symmetry. It is also possible to use stroboscopic means
in combination with the various radiation sources of such '
an embodi~ent or recorded information, such as in the case
of movie ilm animation techniques utilizing these distri-
butions--thus introducing another controlla'ble parameter
of visual information perception which can be processed by
such a system.
One embodiment utilizes means to record microscopic-
ally with movie,~ilm, holgraphic film, or other types of
propagating energy or energy field sensitive media images
which can be utilized in combination with three-dimensional
distributions of elements which may further process such
imagery for certain purposes--viewing, for example--the
purposes of which may vary from the scientific to the aes-
thetic.
. .
1 129
73~ ~
,
Clearly, any electronlc si~nal cfln be used to create
three-dimensiona]. au~io and visual displays uti.lizing
electro-optic materials and audio systems in coml~ination
with conventional microsco~ic recordi.ng media and/or presented
in real-time, utilizing video cameras, for exa~le. J.n the
case of liquid crystal being the dis~lay medi.um, the methods of
modula~ion are well known in the art.
I !
. 1 130
The present ~eometric distribu~ion system may also
be used in the formation of, removal of, placement of, or
the movement of magnet bubbles in substrates such as garnet
or other such magnetically sensitllJe materials. In such a
¦system, which would also utilize electromagnetically shaped
optical microstructures, such as those that can be formed in
holographic emulsions, a high degree of selectivity in
detection is achieved--thus permitting a high degreee of image
storage and retrieval capability. This system would produce
electromagnetically formed microstructuresin ~arnet substrate
material which may replace holographic film placed at 208 in
Figure 1~ when an array of spherical magnets 2~0 and/or 202
is used as a recording distributor The decoding could be
laccomplished by interferometric comparisons with polarized
¦¦holograms ormed at 208 or 207 by a similar arrangement o:F
~ ¦ optical modulators 200 and/or 202. This system would allow
I for a high de~ree of three-dimensional in:Eormation stora~e,
jlcategorization, and retrieval capability which could be
¦¦modulatable in real-time if a similar ma~netic ield control
¦¦of the three-dimensional fIeld of ma~netic bubbles is emp~loyed.
Such magnetic field control would provide ~eans for shaping
and detecting zones of polarization in ~he microstructure of
such magnetically or electromagnetically sensitive materials.
. . ' . I
In one embodiment, movie film could be employed to record
the images created by the electronic signals made by music
or other audio frequency information ~hich can be simultaneously
recorded for a synchronized sound track. The use of such three-
dimensional microscopic displays forms the basis of other em-
i
1 131
bodiments whic~l utilize multiple-track audio si~n~].s to
~,enerate synchronous three-di~ensional dis~lays suitable
for recording pho~o~raphically or by video tape with appropriate
magni.~ying lenses. ~tereo microscopic movies could be made
in thls manner and viewed by traditional cross-~olarization,
eye-glass techniques-in comhination wit:h multiple speaker arranvei.nents
or earphones so desi~ned to reconstruct a three-di~ensional audio
environment. In many cases such information stora~e ca~ability
would be greater than that offered hy current cylindrical
shape field control. The movement of multi-shaped bubbles
would allow for ~reater versatility in the categorization of
such information so recorded.
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¦~lowever, since this embodiment de6cribes new methods of
modulatin~ magnetic bubble distribut:ions utilizing three-
dimensional arrays of electromagnets, these new methods, as
well as the conventional methods, could-be utilized to
modulate the microstructure of ].iquid crystal media or ',
any electro-optic media synchronous with audio information or
. other electronic informatlon converted to audio information for
(1) recording on:
¦ a. Photographic emulsion
¦ b. Video tape-Audio tape 'I
c. Holo'graphic emulsion '
d. any other image-audio recording media
(2) real-time projection which utilizes the modulation
i of laser li~ht for:
_ a. Direct projection on conventional movie
¦ screens
b. Direct projection on conventionAl movie
¦ screens in conjunction with various
resolving media composed of three-dimensional'
' ordered arrays of modulators described
previously '
¦ c. Direct'pro~jection on various resolving
' ' media composed of three-dimensional
li ordered arrays of modulators described
¦ ' previously
One embodiment specifies the use of various detectinP~, transducing,
~¦¦ and frequency converting methods for use in conjunction with
the various audio-video,three-dimen~ional display systems
133
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herein clescri.bed; they include but are not limited to
¦ (1) Biological Parameters:
¦ An EEG, for example, is used to modulate
an electro-optic liquid crysta]. cell which is
. bein~, photo micro-graphed in stereo movie
film while the sound track, which utilizes
the EEG electronic signals to control an
audio s~nthesizer, is being recorded by the
audio recording system
¦ (2) Bio-Physical Movement or Form Parameters:
A distribution of proximity detectors, for
example, is used to electronically track
the movements of a dancer; the signals
from this would be used to control the
_ three-dimensional image and sound fields
. (3) Geo~Physical Movement:
For example, seismic, thermal, gravitational,
magnetic, electromagnetic, and pressure
. ¦ variables can be utilized .
(4) Radiation Parameters:
: For example, solar, stellar, artificial,
: controlled, or casual, coherent, or I `:
incoherent, acoustic, electromagnetic,
and magnetic, etc., variables can also be
; utilized
;
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In the above-described embodi.men~ shown in Fi~ures 15a
and 15b, the centr~l C~vitY o th~ s~stem is formecl bv 9iX
rer~lective modulatin~, çlements clustered in a manne~ to 7,~roduce
a r)lurality of s~herical reflective faces oPPOsinY or facinv~ !
one another. ~i~ures 16a and 16'b i'llustrate a further
embodiment of the ~resent invention also of a relativelY
simple nature bu~ in this case nroduced b~7 the clusterin
OL ten reflective.spheri.cal modulatinv elements,,thus
T)rovidin~ a ~eometry whicll differs from the above-described
six reflective sphere embodiment.
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. ~ho~m in Fi~ure 16a are two r)yrami:dal clusters of five
balls each with the base oE each ~ramid o~osin~ the other.
! Thus the toD ~ive-ball ~Yramid is formed of reflective s~herical
¦l ~odulatin~ elements 235, 237, 239, 249, and ?.5I, while
¦~'the bottom ~yramid consists o reflective sPheres '241, 243,
245, 247,.and 253. It can be seen tllat the -two ive-ball
¦Pyramids are rotated 45 so that each of the four balls in
lthe base of"each nyramid ~ests in a cusp formed by two balls
¦¦of the base of the oPT)osin,~ PYramid. Thus, for examPle,
. jreflective s~herical modulatin~, element 243 nests in the
.. cusp between spheres 237 and 239, sphere 237, for examPle,
.' nests in the cusP,formed by s~h'eres 241 and 243, etc.
It will be noted that sPhere 235 and sPhere 247 each nest
~lin a cusP formed by the four respective sDheres makin~.
contact therewith and the interfacial an,~le of eac,h of the
~ pyramids thus formed i.s, in this embodiTaent, a~Proximately
: j~51 ~9'. lnte~facial anvle is meant that an an,ole of
,. ,.
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j 135
~ l37~7
51 ~19' is :formecl bet~7een the plane conta-inin~ the cen~ers of, I
for exam~le, s~here,s 235,23~, and 251 arld the r)lane containinP
the centers of ~he our spheres Eorminp, the base o:E that ~yramid
2~9, 251, 239, and 237. This an,~le is illustrated at 255
in Fi~,ure lha. Once more, it should be pointe~ out that any
plurality of spheres mav be stacked in pyramids where the
interfacial an~les may vary between a~proximately 39 and 54,
since anvles less than anproximately 39 and anv~les ~reater
than approximatelY 54 form random stackinlvs in which the
s~heres wi.ll tend to settle into random arran~ements Thus, ~l
the present invention is directed to ordered stackinvs
where, in the event such sr,herical elements are utilized,
the stacking angles are between a~proximately 39" ancl 54~,
and in one embodiment the interfacial an~,le is chosen to
be 51 and 4~
Also sho~7n in FiP,ures 16a and 16b are four of the
eight reractlve spherical modulatin~ elements which are
set in the cusps oE every three balls formin~ the ~,ide of
a pyramid. Thus, reractive spherical modulatin~ element'
257 is positioned it~ the cusp formed by three reflective
spheres 235, 239, and 251. Likewise, refractive sPherica~
modulatin,v, element 25~ is positioned in the cusp formed bet~een
reflective sphere.s 247, 243, and 245. Refractive spheres
261 and 263 alon~ with the ~Eour remainin,~ spheres omitted
from Fi~ures 16a and 16b would, for claritY, similarly nest
in the remainin~ three-ball cusp of the illustrated sYstem.
In Fi~ure 16a, the four omitted spheres would be behind
257, 261, 263, and 259, obscured from view in locations
symmetrical to the above four numbered spheres. Refractive
l
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L3'~7~7
I s~here 265 is ~ositioned in contact with s~here 261 and maY
pass information therethroup,h into the s~stem. These clear
s~heres set in the ei~,ht cusps o the lllustrated arran~ement
of reflective spheres can convey li~ht to the central cavity
formed by the cluster of ten reflective spheres. Furthermore,
when a deflect,ion system as, for exam~le, described in '
Fi,~,ure 18, is associated,with each of these refractive sPheres,
¦ each will transmit radiation through the aperture formed hy
its respective threé~ball cusp: control is thus achieved
, of the radiation field which may be formed ln the interior
of-the reflective ball cluster., This would provide for the
integration of the four inputs associated with one pyramid
j as opposed to the four inputs associated ~7ith the other
pyramid, where these two sets of inPUtS are aligned on
I axes of symmetry which do-not coincide with each other due
_ to the 45 rotation of the two pyramids. -This serves to
¦ concentrate a maximum controllable in~ut with a minimum
distribution of axes of s~mmetry, while the entire svstem
is still symmetrical with respect 'to the z-axis--thus
allowinp, for meaningful comparison or measurement of different
¦¦waveronts of radiation with res~ect to the z-axls o symmetry.
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j This text discloses these embodiments:
A system for controlling propayating energy comprising
a plurality of elements capable of affecting such propagating
energy, said elements being arranged in an ordered three-
dimensional geometrical distribution wherein:
, ,.
I. at least one of said elements comprises a surface
¦ coating comprising a material selected from the group
¦ consisting of natural oils, synthetic oils, a polymer, a
silicon oil, polarizing materials, liquid crystal media,
lasing media, crystal media, magnetic bubble media, radi-
ation sensitive emulsions, photoengravable materials, and
¦ etchable materials.
II. photographic recordings are utilized in the formation
of photographic transparencies which are subsequently
sandwiched between glass panes in order to form a window
design of unusual patterns.
III. said elements comprise spherical elements, and where-
in said spherical elements are disposed in parallel planes
of elements which are positioned substantially perpendicu~
l lar to the axis common to said propagating energy and to
I¦ said distribution whereby said parallel planes of elements
jl provide means for controlling space and time transforma-
tions of said propagating energy.
IV. a material comprised therein is disposed in the areas
between said plurality of elements which material may be
selected from the group consisting of gases, aqueous liquids,
organic liquids, solutions of organic materials, solutions
of inorganic materials, metals in liquid form, emulsions,
and polymeri~able monomeric materials wherein:
A. said elements may be substantially transmissive ,to
said propagating energy and said materiaI in the areas
between said elements may be mercury.
B. the material disposed in the areas between said
elements may comprise at least two of sald materials.
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1 138
J
j V, said distribution may comprise,e1ements disposed along
'a plurali-ty of at least three non-parallel axes where no
more than t~o of said axes lie in the same plane, and which
l axes all intersect a certaln central area whereon a plur-
I ality of axial distributions of elements converges wherein:
A. 26 of said axial distr:ibutions of elements may convergeand may be radially disposed from said central area of
the system which comprises ordered three-dimensional dis-
tributions of said elements, as'well as of empty voids
comparable in size to said elements, and whereon at least
2 of a set of elements ar~ distributed on each of said
nonparaIlel axes wherein:-
. (1) planar surfaces may be disposed in close proximity
to the exterior of said ordered three-dimension,al geo-
metrical distribution and perpendicular to each of said
26 axial distributions.
(2) ~lanar sur~'aces may be disposied in the interior
of said ordered three-dimensional geometrical distri-
bution perpendicular to each of said 26 axial ~istri-
j butions.
(3) planar surfaces may be disposed both inside and
outside of said ordered three-dimensional geometrical
distribution and two of said planar reflective surfaces
l may be disposed perpendicular to each of said 26 axial
! distributions wherein individual ordered distributions
! of elements may be associated with each of said planar
'I! surfaces wherein said individual ordered distribu~ions
jl may be a function of the axial geometry o'f the entire
system-
B~ said axial distributions of elements may be utilized
j, to direct, conduct or otherwise transmit propagating energy
from the interior of said ordered three-dimensional geo-
¦ metrical distribution to the exterior thereof and vice
I , versa.
I . I
~ C. controllable propagating, energy directing means,may
¦ be ass,ociated with each of said axial distributions,
j D. planar transparent surfaces having disposed thereon
distributions of diffraction gratings may be disposed
perpendicular to each of the axes.
E. reflective, refractive, translucent, transparent and
opaque surfaces may be used in combination with radially
, disposed axial dlstributions.
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F. the ~eometry o~ said axial distriblltions may also
be used to determine the location of planes positioned
perpendicular to the axes of such axial distributions
wherein a member selected from the group consisting of
reflective, refractive, polarizing, transmissive, absorb-
ing,scattering and opaque materials may be disposed in
at least one of said planes.
G. said system may comprise 13 axial distributions of
elements.
¦ ~l. said system may compriC;e ~6 axial distributions of
elements.
I. the geometry of each of~said axial distributions is
a function of at least one of the geometrical character- !
istics of at least one of the elements in each of such
axial distributions.
J. various multi-axial arrangements of microphones and
speakers may be used as record-playback means so that
acoustical information may be provided by and extracted
from said system.
K. various methods for recording, playing back, and dis-
playin~ electronic information may be utilized in conjunc- I
tion with a visual display system further comprising: !
(1) means for deriving a soundtrack for a visually
recorded imaging system whereby the soundtrack may be
_ derived from the same electronic signals used to modu-
¦ late said imaging system.
I (2) a recording mediu~ ~l~ich may ~e selected from the
¦ ~roup consistin~ Olc movie film, video ta1~e and radia- ;
tion sensitive media.
! L. said system may comprise integral axial distributions,
and wherein said axial distributions may be utilized to
generate synthetic holograms of atomic structures and
density distributions.
140
7~9
This text also discloses these embodimen-ts:
¦ A system for utilizing an energy field in the generation
of propagating energy comprising a plurality of elements sub- ¦
ject to the influence of said energy field, said elements
being disposed in an ordered three-dimensionaI geometrical
distribution wherei.n said energy field may comprise a mag-
netic energy field and wherein .said elements may be capable
of affecting said magnetic energy field wherein: '
I. one or more of said elements may comprise a ferromag- ¦
netic material. ~ I
II. said energy field may comprise a gravitational field.
¦ III. sa.id energy field may comprise an electrostatic
field
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rO~g~ 1
Clearly, this invention discloses methods whereby
Ithe interaction between ordered arrays o~ elements capable
¦of affecting propagating energy and/or energy fields ls
¦utilized for various purposes. The nature of the intended
Ipurpose would dictate the type o~ elements and the type of
¦propagating energy or energy field used. The degree of
¦similarity between the distribution, size, shape, and com-
¦position of the elements and the distribution of~the fre-
¦¦quency of, the amplitude of, and the phase'of the propa-
¦gating energy and/or energy 'field predicts'the resolving
¦ capability of the system. The control of phase, ~requency,
¦ and amplitude variables in many portions of the electro-
I mechanical, acoustic, optic, electromagnetic, and magnetic
I¦ spectra is highly developed and accessible. Various
l modulators and detectors appropriate to such propagating
¦ energy sources are also highly developed and accessible.
In as much as any speck of matter interacts by trans-
Il ~ission, refraction, polarization, reflection, or by ab-
¦l sorption with certain propagating energies, it i.s by degrees
jl of similarity be~ween the three-dimensional distribution,
¦ of modulators and the three-dime~sional distribution of
¦ such energies that interactions can be controlled or ot'her-
I wise u~ilized. The nature of the distributions of modula-
¦¦ tors or detectors in three-dimensional space would restrict
¦¦ any interactions to those that are a function of the ~eometry
¦l of the distribution of such modulators or~detectors in the '
¦ syste~. This aspect of spatially selective distribution,
¦ absorption, ~dul~tion and/or detection ?rovides a means
for new utiliæations of propagating energy and energy
field tec~mology and hardware.
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I~ 113~ 97
~ One embodiment utili7,es various conductor, semi-concluctor
¦ and/or insulator elements whose distributions determine
¦ the electronic properties of or the photo-electric properties
¦ of the system; the points of contact hetween the elements
determine t'ne electrical connections between the elements.
For example, a stackin~ of semi-conductors (,~rapllite spheres)
and/or conductors (copper spheres) mav utili7,e the various
voltages available at specific contact points within the
array when one or more voltages are applied to any number
of specific contact points within the array,~
141
¦~ .9nother embodiment utilizes the various multi~xial
¦l arran,~,ement (previousl~ menti.oned) oE micro~lones
and speaker sys tems for use alone as a record-playback
medium or in combination with an o~tica]. system similar
in its axial distrihution of li,~ht to provide a syncllronous
¦ environment of light and sound,
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144
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Another emhodiment employs the use o~ variou.s electronic
¦¦ s~Jstems (com~uter,synthesi~er, live musici~ns,multi-ch~nnel
¦¦tape recordin~,) that interface with the ~,eometrY of the
¦¦optical display system for theatrical presentations as well
as for various scient fic ~reSGntations
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3~7
ii
Another embodiment integrates magnetic fi.eld control
and electric char~e distribution (anode-ca~hode distribu~
tion) as well as optical field control wherein an array
of elements (mirrorized fero-magnetic. spheres) which is
¦limmersed in an intense electromagnetic or magnetic field w~ich
may thereby impress on the active medium (ionized gas, for
. example) highly resolved, optically and electrically inte- ,~
grated induced magnetic field control.
By taking advantage of the geometric channeling of
an expanding spherical wavefront originating in the central
i area 201 of Figure 1~, one embodiment utilizes the cate-
gorization by intensity, by frequency, by phase, and by
¦ distribution on the exterior of a systeim~Qf refilecti,ye ,.
¦spherical elements as a means to!.~cl~assify and/or;",caltego,~,i,z,e,
¦various characteristics (amplitude, frequency, phase, and
!origin) of such wavefronts. Such a system would-be useful
¦¦in various mathematical and/or geometric computer operations
¦¦which may utilize interferometric techniquesj utilizi~g 1~
¦Iradiation sensitive recording media thus providing~a,",fo,rm.,at ,~ "
¦ for geometrical-ma~hematical operations with extremely
Ihigh resolution capabili~y.
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3~7~ i
In the simpler embodiments of present invention,
I as few as three elements capable of affecting propagating
¦ energy may be utilized. In one instance, for example, a
toroidal eLement of a doughnut shape being symmetrical
~about an axis running through the center hole thereof may
¦be utilized in combination with, for example, two spherical
elements also disposed along the toroid's axis of symmetry
and on opposite sides of a plane lying symmetrically within
¦such a toroidal element. ~Such a simple system in accordance
¦with the present invention is shown in Figure 23a wherein
I a toroidal element shown as 501 may in the case o, for
lexample, visible electromagnetic radiation be composed of
¦¦ a solid or hollow synthetic material such as acrylic with
Ipreferably a smooth continuous symmetrical toroidal sur~ace
associated therewith. Such a surface may be reflective
, in this embodiment althou~h an element which is substan-
~l tially transmissive, defractive, etc. may also be utilized.
¦'Spherical elements 503 and 505 are disposed as mentioned~
along the axis of symmetry of said toroid which axis is
shown as 507 and it will be noted that the entire system
maintains a symmetry of rotation around axis 507. Shown
in Figure 23b is a section view taken perpendicularly to
¦the axis of symmetry 507 on a line b. It will be noted
¦that the diameter, d, of elements 503 and 505 is prefer-
l~ably greater than the diameter of the aperture, a, of
¦~toroidal element 501. Additionally, the spacing, s, along
¦Ithe axis of symmetry 507 betweeen the surfaces of elements
¦ 503 and 505 may be varied in accordance with the radiationinteraction effects desired rom such a system but in most
~casesJ s~would preferably be less than the thickness, t, of
the toroidal eLement.
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I' 147
V
It should be understood that the above dimensions
are only illustrative and such a system comprising a
toroidal element in combination with two spherical elements
may vary in size and relative spacing according to the
¦ type of propagating energy which might be utilized as well
¦ as the material and nature of the surfaces of the elements
themselves. Additionally, in some instances it may be
preferable to have a toroidal e].ement in combination with
two other elements of a diverse shape other than spherical,
such as elliptical, hyperboloidal, paraboloidal, etc.
I Furthermore, the toroid.itself may be non-symmetrical with
respect to some component of its geometry so as to cooperate
l with the secondary elements shown as 503 and 505 in the
Il event they are of a corresponding diverse geometry.
Although the present invention is presently illus-
trated and described in connection with certain specific
embodiments, it will be readily apparent to those skilled
in the art that many and varied changes in form, arrangeJ
ment and composition of the components of the systems
herein described may be made in order to suit the specific
requirements for the design of individual systems without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present inven-
tion as defined in the appended claims~
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148
