Thermoplastic holographic media

Abstract

The present invention provides an article comprising: a binder component, a polymerizable component; and a photoinitiator component comprising at least one photoinitiator that causes the polymerizable component to form a polymer or co-polymer when a portion of the polymerizable component is exposed to a light source. The present invention also provides a method for making such an article, and a method and a system for holographically recording a spatial light distribution to such an article. The present invention also provides an article comprising: a binder component and a photoactive component, a method of making such an article, a method of recording to such an article and a system for recording to such an article.

1 .- 66 . (canceled)  
     
     
         67 . A method for making a solid article comprising the following steps: 
 (a) mixing together a binder component, a polymerizable component and a photoinitiator component to form a mixture;    (b) heating said mixture to form a substantially homogeneous liquid; and    (c) cooling said liquid to form said solid article, wherein said binder component comprises at least one thermoplastic, wherein said polymerizable component comprises at least one photoactive monomer that is soluble in said binder component, wherein said photoinitiator component comprises at least one photoinitiator that causes said polymerizable component to form a polymer or co-polymer when a portion of said polymerizable component is exposed to a light source, and wherein said article is capable of recording spatial light distribution via a spatial refractive index change.    
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said article is volatile compound free.  
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said article has a melting point at least 10° C. greater than room temperature.  
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising the following steps: 
 (d) heating said article to form a flowable material; and    (e) forming said flowable material into a product having a different form than said article.    
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein step (e) comprises molding said flowable material to form a molded product.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein step (e) comprises forming said flowable material into a free flexible film.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein step (e) comprises depositing said flowable material as a film on a substrate.  
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein step (e) comprises extruding said flowable material as an extruded product.  
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein step (e) comprises forming said flowable material into a sheet of material.  
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein step (e) comprises forming said flowable material into a stiff sheet.  
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein step (e) comprises infusing said flowable material into a porous substrate to form a composite product.  
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein said porous substrate comprises glass.  
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein said porous substrate comprises paper.  
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein said porous substrate comprises plastic.  
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein said porous substrate comprises cloth.  
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising the following steps: 
 (d) sub-dividing said article to form a particle material.    
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82 , further comprising the following steps: 
 (e) heating said particle material to form a flowable material; and    (f) forming said flowable material into a product.    
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein said particle material comprises a powder.  
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein said particle material comprises a plurality of chips.  
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 82 , further comprising coating a substrate with said particle material to form a coated product.  
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising molding said liquid mixture to form a molded product comprising said article.  
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising forming said liquid mixture into a free flexible film comprising said article.  
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising depositing said liquid mixture as a film on a substrate, wherein said film comprises said article.  
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising extruding said liquid mixture to form an extruded product, wherein said extruded product comprises said article.  
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising forming said liquid mixture into a sheet of material comprising said article.  
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising forming said liquid material into a stiff sheet comprising said article.  
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising infusing said liquid mixture into a porous substrate to form a composite product comprising said article.  
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 93 , wherein said porous substrate comprises glass.  
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 93 , wherein said porous substrate comprises paper.  
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 93 , wherein said porous substrate comprises plastic.  
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 93 , wherein said porous substrate comprises cloth.  
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said article is substantially optically flat.  
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said liquid is deposited between two substrates.  
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein said substrates have antireflective coatings coated thereon and wherein said article is substantially optically flat.  
     
     
         101 . A method for holographically recording a spatial light distribution via a spatial refractive index change to a holographic recording medium comprising: 
 providing said holographic recording medium; and    forming holographic gratings in said holographic recording medium by holographically recording said spatial light distribution via said spatial refractive index change to said holographic recording medium, wherein said holographic recording medium comprises:    a binder component comprising at least one thermoplastic;    a polymerizable component comprising at least one photoactive monomer that is soluble in said binder component; and    a photoinitiator component comprising at least one photoinitiator that causes said polymerizable component to form a polymer or co-polymer when a portion of said polymerizable component is exposed to a light source.    
     
     
         102 . A system for holographically recording a spatial light distribution via a spatial refractive index change to a holographic recording medium comprising: 
 said holographic recording medium; and    means for forming holographic gratings in said holographic recording medium by recording said spatial light distribution via said spatial refractive index change to said holographic recording medium, wherein said holographic recording medium comprises:    a binder component comprising at least one thermoplastic;    a polymerizable component comprising at least one photoactive monomer that is soluble in said binder component; and    a photoinitiator component comprising at least one photoinitiator that causes said polymerizable component to form a polymer or co-polymer when a portion of said polymerizable component is exposed to a light source.    
     
     
         103 .- 106 . (canceled)  
     
     
         107 . A method for making a solid article comprising the following steps: 
 (a) mixing a binder component with a photoactive component;    (b) heating said mixture to form a substantially homogeneous liquid; and    (c) cooling said liquid to form said solid article, wherein said binder component comprises at least one thermoplastic, wherein said photoactive component comprises at least one photoactive molecule, and wherein said solid article is capable of recording spatial light distribution via a spatial refractive index change.    
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 107 , wherein said spatial refractive index change is caused primarily by mass diffusion and wherein said article has a melting point at least 10° C. greater than room temperature.  
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 107 , wherein said photoactive component is photoreversible and wherein said binder component contains photobinding receptors.  
     
     
         110 . A method for holographically recording a spatial light distribution via a spatial refractive index change to a holographic recording medium comprising the following steps: 
 (a) providing said holographic recording medium; and    (b) forming holographic gratings in the holographic recording medium by holographically recording said spatial light distribution via said spatial refractive index change to said holographic recording medium, wherein said holographic recording medium comprises: a binder component comprising at least one thermoplastic; and a photoactive component comprising at least one photoactive molecule.    
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein said spatial refractive index change is caused primarily by mass diffusion, and wherein said article has a melting point at least 10° C. greater than room temperature.  
     
     
         112 . A system for holographically recording a spatial light distribution via a spatial refractive index change to a holographic recording medium comprising: 
 (a) said holographic recording medium; and    (b) means for forming holographic gratings in said holographic recording medium by recording the spatial light distribution via said spatial refractive index change to said holographic recording medium, wherein said holographic recording medium comprises: a binder component comprising at least one thermoplastic; and a photoactive component comprising at least one photoactive molecule.    
     
     
         113 . The system of  claim 112 , wherein said spatial refractive index change is caused primarily by mass diffusion and, wherein said article has a melting point at least 10° C. greater than room temperature.