A system includes a plurality of optical identifiers and a reader for the optical identifiers. Each optical identifier has an optical substrate and a volume hologram (e.g., with unique data, such as a code page) in the optical substrate. The reader for the optical identifiers includes a laser, and a camera. The laser is configured to direct laser light into a selected one of the optical identifiers that has been placed into the reader to produce an image of the associated volume holograms at the camera. The camera is configured to capture the image. The captured image may be stored in a digital format by the system.

A method for producing a hologram (1), (1) for security elements (1a) and/or security documents (1b). One or more virtual hologram planes (10) are arranged in front of and/or behind one or more virtual models (20) and/or one or more virtual hologram planes (10) are arranged such that they intersect one or more virtual models (20). One or more virtual light sources (30) are arranged on one or more partial regions of the surface (21) of one or more of the virtual models (20). One or more virtual electromagnetic fields (40) are calculated starting from at least one of the virtual light sources (30) in one or more zones (11) of the one or more virtual hologram planes (10). In the one or more zones (11), in each case, a virtual total electromagnetic field (41) is calculated on the basis of the sum of two or more, of the virtual electromagnetic fields (40) in the respective zone (11). One or more phase images (50) are calculated from the virtual total electromagnetic fields (41) in the one or more zones (11). A height profile (60) of the hologram (1) is calculated from the one or more phase images (50) and the height profile (60) of the hologram (1) is incorporated into a substrate (2) to provide the hologram (1).

A system includes a plurality of optical identifiers and a reader for the optical identifiers. Each optical identifier has an optical substrate and a volume hologram (e.g., with unique data, such as a code page) in the optical substrate. The reader for the optical identifiers includes a laser, and a camera. The laser is configured to direct laser light into a selected one of the optical identifiers that has been placed into the reader to produce an image of the associated volume holograms at the camera. The camera is configured to capture the image. The captured image may be stored in a digital format by the system.

There are provided volume holograms and combinations of lenticular lenses and holograms in particular for security applications. In embodiments, a volume hologram comprises a holographic medium (102) including a first optical interference structure which, upon illumination, replays a first image (110); wherein the first image includes a lenticular lens layer (111) including an array of lenticules and a lenticular image layer (113) including first (114) and second (115) interlaced images corresponding with the array of lenticules.

Information is recorded in quick response codes. A hologram is made from quick response codes and provides three dimensions of information in a two-dimensional hologram. The holograms are used for recording large amounts of information in two dimensions. Multiple quick response codes containing copious information are created using different light wave frequencies in different quick response encoders. The multiple quick response codes are combined in a two-dimensional hologram that is used on labeling. The hologram is read by a hologram reader. Each quick response frequency layer is separated from the hologram. The quick response code is extracted from each layer. A quick response reader provides the information that has been recorded.

A system includes a multiplexed optical identifier and a reader for the optical identifier. The multiplexed optical identifier includes an optical substrate, and a plurality of volume holograms in the optical substrate. The reader includes an illumination source and a camera. The illumination source is configured to direct light into the optical identifier to produce an image of a corresponding one of the volume holograms at the camera, and the camera is configured to capture the image, which is stored in a digital format by the system. The multiplexed optical identifier contains more than one code page, wherein each of the code pages is used for a different purpose.

A system includes a plurality of optical identifiers and a reader for the optical identifiers. Each optical identifier has an optical substrate and a volume hologram (e.g., with unique data, such as a code page) in the optical substrate. The reader for the optical identifiers includes an illumination source (e.g., a laser), and a camera. The illumination source is configured to direct light into a selected one of the optical identifiers that has been placed into the reader to produce an image of the associated volume holograms at the camera. The camera is configured to capture the image. The captured image may be stored in a digital format by the system.

A system includes a plurality of optical identifiers and a reader for the optical identifiers. Each optical identifier has an optical substrate and a volume hologram (e.g., with unique data, such as a code page) in the optical substrate. The reader for the optical identifiers includes a laser, and a camera. The laser is configured to direct laser light into a selected one of the optical identifiers that has been placed into the reader to produce an image of the associated volume holograms at the camera. The camera is configured to capture the image. The captured image may be stored in a digital format by the system.

An optical data-recording system comprises a laser, a dynamic digital hologram, an electronic controller, and a scanning mechanism. The dynamic digital hologram includes a plurality of holographic zones, and is configured to direct the irradiance received thereon to an optical recording medium. The electronic controller is operatively coupled to the dynamic digital hologram and configured to control the irradiance directed from each of the holographic zones. The scanning mechanism is configured to change a relative positioning of the laser versus the dynamic digital hologram so that each of the holographic zones is irradiated in sequence by the laser.

A computer-implemented method for tracking laboratory resources is disclosed. The laboratory resource comprises an identification feature. The method comprises an identification step comprising detecting the laboratory resource in the laboratory with an imaging sensor of an augmented reality device and identifying the laboratory resource with an identification unit of the augmented reality device by receiving identification information from the identification feature, a data retrieving step comprising retrieving information about the identified laboratory resource from a data server via a communication interface of the augmented reality device, and a tracking step comprising generating and displaying augmented reality information on a display device of the augmented reality device. The augmented reality information comprises a hologram comprising the retrieved information about the identified laboratory resource and/an instruction depending on the retrieved information about the identified laboratory resource.