Active and passive holographic optical based curved surface elements

Abstract

Disclosed is a curved surface element (e.g., light bulb, ornament, light pipe, etc.) which has at least a portion thereof (inner or outer surface) covered with a holographic diffraction grating which was constructed to be essentially distortion free on said curved surface, whereby such diffraction grating diffracts light to emit color to the observer. The diffraction grating can take for form of a holographic optical element (HOE) attached to the curved surface or a diffractive holographic optical pattern (HOP) embossed into the curved surface.

1 . A curved surface element having at least a portion thereof covered with a holographic optical element (HOE) diffraction grating which was constructed so that is it essentially distortion free when applied on said curved surface, whereby such diffraction grating diffracts light to emit color to the observer.  
     
     
         2 . The curved surface element of  claim 1 , wherein substantially all of said surface is covered with said diffraction grating.  
     
     
         3 . The curved surface element of  claim 1 , wherein said diffraction grating diffracts the same wavelength of energy to emit the same color to an observer.  
     
     
         4 . The curved surface element of  claim 1 , wherein said diffraction grating diffracts different wavelengths of energy to emit a rainbow of colors to the observer.  
     
     
         5 . The curved surface element of  claim 1 , wherein said diffraction grating is transparent and a light source is associated with said curved surface element.  
     
     
         6 . The curved surface element of  claim 5 , wherein said light source flickers.  
     
     
         7 . The curved surface element of  claim 1 , which is configured as an orb.  
     
     
         8 . The curved surface element of  claim 7 , wherein a light source is associated with said orb.  
     
     
         9 . The curved surface element of  claim 8 , wherein said light source is housed within said orb.  
     
     
         10 . The curved surface element of  claim 1 , wherein said HOEs range in size from about 0.1 to 10 mm.  
     
     
         11 . The curved surface element of  claim 1 , which has an inner and an outer surface, at least one of such surfaces being at least partly covered with said HOE diffraction grating.  
     
     
         12 . The curved surface element of  claim 7 , which has an inner and an outer surface, at least one of such surfaces covered with said diffraction grating.  
     
     
         13 . The curved surface element of  claim 1 , wherein said diffraction grating comprises a plurality of small diffractive HOEs.  
     
     
         14 . The curved surface element of  claim 1 , which is a fiber optical strand or a flexible plastic tube.  
     
     
         15 . The curved surface element of  claim 14 , wherein said strand or tube is greater than about 5 microns in diameter.  
     
     
         16 . The curved surface element of  claim 15 , wherein said diameter ranges between about 5 microns and 10 mm.  
     
     
         17 . The curved surface element of  claim 16 , wherein said diameter ranges between about 6 and 10 mm.  
     
     
         18 . The curved surface element of  claim 14 , wherein said strand or tube is flexible.  
     
     
         19 . The curved surface element of  claim 14 , wherein only a portion of the diameter of said strand or tube bears said diffraction grating.  
     
     
         20 . The curved surface element of  claim 1 , wherein said element comprises a bulb having lengthwise extent and inside of which is disposed a light source, wherein said bulb retains a HOE diffraction pattern along its lengthwise extent adjacent a reflective strip which runs along its lengthwise extent.  
     
     
         21 . The curved surface element of  claim 20 , wherein there are more than one set of alternating diffraction patterns and reflective strips.  
     
     
         22 . The curved surface element of  claim 20 , wherein said reflective strips are aluminized strips.  
     
     
         23 . The curved surface element of  claim 21 , wherein said reflective strips are aluminized strips.  
     
     
         24 . The curved surface element of  claim 20 , wherein said bulb is glass or plastic.  
     
     
         25 . The curved surface element of  claim 1 , wherein said element comprises a bulb having a curved top and inside of which is disposed a light source, wherein the top bears a HOE diffraction grating and an outer reflective strip, whereby light diffracted by said diffraction grating is reflected downwardly by said reflective strip.  
     
     
         26 . The curved surface element of  claim 25 , wherein said reflective strip is an aluminized strip.  
     
     
         27 . The curved surface element of  claim 25 , wherein said bulb is glass or plastic.  
     
     
         28 . The curved surface element of  claim 1 , wherein said element is glass or plastic.  
     
     
         29 . A curved surface element having at least a portion embossed with a holographic optical pattern (HOP) which is constructed to be essentially distortion free on said curved surface, whereby such HOP diffracts light to emit color to the observer.  
     
     
         30 . The curved surface element of  claim 29 , wherein substantially all of the surface is embossed with said diffractive HOP.  
     
     
         31 . The curved surface element of  claim 29 , wherein said HOP diffracts the same wavelength of energy to emit the same color to an observer.  
     
     
         32 . The curved surface element of  claim 29 , wherein HOPs which diffract different wavelengths of energy are embossed into the outer surface of said ornament to emit a rainbow of colors to the observer.  
     
     
         33 . The curved surface element of  claim 29 , wherein said HOP is transparent and a light source is associated with said curved surface element.  
     
     
         34 . The curved surface element of  claim 33 , wherein said light source flickers.  
     
     
         35 . The curved surface element of  claim 29 , which is configured as an orb.  
     
     
         36 . The curved surface element of  claim 35 , wherein a light source is associated with said orb.  
     
     
         37 . The curved surface element of  claim 36 , wherein said light source is housed within said orb.  
     
     
         38 . The curved surface element of  claim 29 , which has an inner and an outer surface, at least one of such surfaces is at least partly covered with said HOP.  
     
     
         39 . The curved surface element of  claim 35 , which has an inner and an outer surface, at least one of such surfaces being covered with said HOP.  
     
     
         40 . A curved surface decorative ornament having at least a portion of its outer curved surface retaining a holographic image which was constructed to be essentially distortion free thereon and a reference light source which illuminates the interior of said ornament, whereby such essentially distortion free holographic image is displayed to the observer by said reference light source.  
     
     
         41 . The decorative ornament of  claim 40 , wherein said holographic image is deposited on the curved exterior outer surface of said ornament.  
     
     
         42 . The decorative ornament of  claim 40 , wherein said holographic image is deposited on the curved interior outer surface of said ornament.  
     
     
         43 . The decorative ornament of  claim 40 , wherein a plurality of holographic images are retained by said curved outer surface to display different images to the observer at different view points.  
     
     
         44 . The decorative ornament of  claim 43 , wherein said holographic images are retained on the curved exterior or the curved interior of said outer surface.  
     
     
         45 . The decorative ornament of  claim 43 , which rotates by a drive affixed thereto.  
     
     
         46 . The decorative ornament of  claim 45 , wherein said drive comprises an electric motor.  
     
     
         47 . The decorative ornament of  claim 42 , wherein a photoresist bears said holographic image.  
     
     
         48 . The decorative ornament of  claim 47 , wherein said photoresist bears more than one holographic image.  
     
     
         49 . An improved light bulb having a curved surface outer bulb and an inner light emitting filament, the improvement which comprises: said outer bulb being embossed with a diffractive holographic optical pattern (HOP) which was constructed to be essentially distortion free on said curved surface.  
     
     
         50 . The light bulb of  claim 49 , wherein substantially all said curved surface outer bulb is embossed with said diffractive HOP.  
     
     
         51 . The light bulb of  claim 50 , wherein said HOP diffracts the same wavelength of energy to emit the same color to an observer.  
     
     
         52 . The light bulb of  claim 50 , wherein a plurality of said HOPs are embossed into said curved outer bulb, each of said HOPs diffract different wavelengths of energy are embossed into the curved surface outer bulb to emit a rainbow of colors to the observer.  
     
     
         53 . The light bulb of  claim 50 , wherein said filament flickers.  
     
     
         54 . The light bulb of  claim 50 , wherein said bulb is made from a glass.