Test System for a Holographic Optical Element
This application discloses a system and method for measuring the optical performance of an HOE or a population of HOEs in a single or mass production environment using light.
1 . An automated system for analyzing performance of a holographic optical element comprising: (a) one or more laser sources, (b) a detector, (c) a rotation stage, and (d) one or more translation stages.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein a position of the holographic optical element is monitored and adjusted for by rotational and translational stages.
3 . The system of claim 1 wherein operation of the system is triggered by machine-vision reading of a fiducial mark on the holographic optical element to begin analysis of the holographic optical element.
4 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a computer for storage and analysis of data.
5 . The system of claim 1 wherein means of spatially measuring diffracted light comprises a power meter or a photodiode.
6 . A system for measurement of optical performance of a holographic optical element comprising a broadband light source, a means of spatially collecting diffracted light, a spectrometer, a rotation stage, and one or more translation stages.
7 . The system of claim 6 wherein the broadband light source comprises an LED light.
8 . The system of claim 6 further comprising an integrating sphere to capture spatially dispersed light and light diffracted by the holographic optical element.
9 . The system of claim 1 wherein the holographic optical element is positioned on a web that is moving past each component of the system wherein each component takes multiple analyses of the holographic optical element.
10 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a marking mechanism for the holographic optical element.
11 . The system of claim 1 wherein the spectrometer comprises a spectral range in the ultraviolet, visible or near infrared and spectral accuracy of less than or equal to 0.5 nm or less.
12 . The system of claim 8 wherein the integrating sphere has a size small enough to register sensitivity of the holographic optical element but large enough to eliminate angular dependence in data collection.
13 . The system of claim 1 wherein the light comprises a beam of about 3 mm or less.
14 . The system of claim 1 further comprising fiber optics to connect the light source and the spectrometer.
15 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a narrow band filter that reduces light incident on the holographic optical element to a bandwidth of about 2-3 nm.
16 . The system of claim 1 that is mounted on base.
17 . The system of claim 1 wherein the holographic optical element comprises a collection of holographic optical elements with matching performance characteristics.
18 . A method of measuring optical performance of a holographic optical element comprising one or more steps of: measuring a diffraction efficiency, a diffraction angle, an incident angle, and an angular bandwidth of a holographic optical element.
19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the holographic optical element comprises a collection of holographic optical elements with matching performance characteristics.
20 . A method of preparing a population of holographic optical elements comprising obtaining an optical power measurement and an angular dependence of emission measurement for each member of a population of holographic optical elements.