Electro-optic Patents (Class 359/315)
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Patent number: 6031658Abstract: High speed low cost billion point optical scanner using a binary optical polarization sensitive cascaded architecture network having binary switchable optical plates for scanning in one dimension(x-direction), two dimensions(x and y directions) and three dimensions(x, y and z directions). The scanner has a fast microsecond beam switching speed and low control power and realizes high space bandwidth products of up to one billion points using minimum control signals and hardware. The binary switching optical plates are modules for the x, y, and z directions. For each of the directions, each module contains an active polarization switches and passive beam steering devices. The switches can be high speed flat panel thin film polarization switches such as ferroelectric liquid crystal devices or multiple quantum well binary polarization rotation devices or nematic liquid crystal(NLC) polarization rotator devices.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1998Date of Patent: February 29, 2000Assignee: University of Central FloridaInventor: Nabeel A. Riza
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Patent number: 5930044Abstract: A deflecting element (1) includes a first substrate (3) and a second substrate (5). The two substrates (3) and (5) enclose a liquid crystalline material (7) which is switchable. A surface (13) of one of the substrates (3) facing the liquid crystalline material (7) is provided with a grating structure (15). The other substrate (5) is provided with a plurality of microlenses (21) on a surface (23) facing the liquid crystalline material (7).Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1998Date of Patent: July 27, 1999Assignee: U.S. Philips CorporationInventor: Johannes J. H. B. Schleipen
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Patent number: 5894363Abstract: An electro-optical element such as a light deflection element which allows high speed random accessing and can provide a large deflection angle and wherein a plurality of of functions can be integrated stably with a high degree of accuracy in a single element. The electro-optical element includes a ferroelectric substrate, electrodes provided on principal faces of the ferroelectric substrate, and function sections each having a polarization reversal domain formed in a predetermined shape in the ferroelectric substrate such that a light beam passes through the domain. The function sections may have a function of for converging at least part of the light beam, another function for diverging at least part of the light beam, a further function for deflecting a propagation direction of at least part of the light beam or/and a still further function for switching a propagation direction of at least part of the light beam, in response to a voltage applied to the electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 1997Date of Patent: April 13, 1999Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Masahiro Yamada, Tsuyoshi Ogawa
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Patent number: 5850308Abstract: An access system based on piezo-electric transducer assembly or electro-optic device light beam deflector assembly which on application of electric signals deflects light beams, which are then passed through total internally reflecting surfaces to increase the separation between beams, is described. The light beams fall on large area information storage surface, such as optical disk or magnetic disk, for the purpose of reading and writing. The access time to the information is very fast. The nature of the reflected light from the memory surface is detected to read the digital signals stored on the surface as is conventionally done in the art. Except for the small friction-free movements of the piezo-electric transducers there are no moving parts for access to the storage surface. Instead of the memory surface a screen may be placed when tthe light beams can be used after large separation to form a fast display.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1995Date of Patent: December 15, 1998Inventor: Pranab Dastidar
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Patent number: 5786926Abstract: An electro-optical device such as an optical deflector comprising a ferro-electric substrate, electrodes provided on principal surfaces of this substrate and an inverted domain having a polygonal, e.g. triangular shape formed in the substrate, at least one of the domain walls of these domains being effectively perpendicular to the principal surfaces of the substrate, and a light beam passing through at least two of the domain walls, thus permitting fast random access, wide deflection angle and high resolution.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1996Date of Patent: July 28, 1998Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Masahiro Yamada
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Patent number: 5774259Abstract: A photostrictive device controller and a photostrictive device control method, which can produce a fast response without causing a sharp temperature rise when driving the photostrictive device. The photostrictive device controller comprises: a light source 2 for applying light to the photostrictive device 1 that, upon receiving light, produces a photostrictive effect; an illumination optics 3 for introducing light from the light source 2 onto the photostrictive device 1; and a control device 4 for controlling the energy density of light applied to the photostrictive device 1. The control device 4 of the controller controls the illumination optics device 3 to lower, at a point close to where the photostrictive effect of the photostrictive device 1 is saturated, the energy density of the irradiated light to a level at which the elongation caused by heat can be ignored.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1996Date of Patent: June 30, 1998Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TopconInventors: Susumu Saitoh, Michiko Nakanishi
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Patent number: 5768006Abstract: An inventive array of thin film actuated mirrors is provided with an active matrix having an array of switching devices, an array of actuating structures and an array of mirrors, wherein each of the actuating structures is cantilevered on the active matrix, and each of the switching devices is positioned on the active matrix beside the position at which each of the actuating structures is cantilevered. In the array, during the operation of the array, since each of the mirrors is connected to the actuating structure through a recessed portion thereof, the mirror stays planar, allowing more accurate and effective reflection of the light beams, which will, in turn, enhance the overall optical efficiency of the array.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1996Date of Patent: June 16, 1998Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yong-Ki Min, Yong-Bae Jeon
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Patent number: 5768010Abstract: The disclosed acousto-optic scanning device includes a thin film waveguide of piezoelectric material (2), a transducer (3) for generating surface elastic waves, and a high frequency signal generator (4) for generating high frequency signals to be applied to the transducer. Additionally, the device includes a light source (10), light source driver (11) for driving the light source, a prism or grating input and output light couplers (7, 8 or 27, 28) for introducing light emitted from the light source into the thin film waveguide and for outputting light transmitted through the thin film waveguide therefrom. Further, the device includes non-coupled light photodiode detector array (14) for detecting the position and intensity of light which is not coupled by the output light coupling means, and a signal processor for processing information detected by the non-coupled light detector array and generating control signals to correct the position and intensity of coupled light.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1996Date of Patent: June 16, 1998Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tsuyoshi Iwamoto
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Patent number: 5729378Abstract: An optical device includes a semiconductor optical modulator element (46) which is connected to an end of a signal line (42) in form of a microstrip high-frequency line and whose other electrode is connected to a ground electrode (48) by a bonding wire (50). The signal line (42) includes first and second line portions (42a, 42b). The first line portion (42a) nearer to the entrance of a high-frequency signal has a width W1 determined to adjust its characteristic impedance to 50.OMEGA. and a length L1 equal to an integer multiple of 1/4 of its own guide wavelength. The second line portion (42b) has a width W2 determined to adjust its impedance to an intermediate value between the impedance of the optical modulator element 46 and the impedance of the first line portion (42a), and a length L2 equal to an integer multiple of 1/4 of its own guide wavelength.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1996Date of Patent: March 17, 1998Assignee: Kokusai Densin Denwa Kabusiki KaishaInventors: Hideaki Tanaka, Yuichi Matsushima
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Patent number: 5668657Abstract: The unique properties of quadratic lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) compositions make feasible the development of phased array optical scanners. Two implementations of integrated PLZT phased array scanners as two-port and three-port devices are presented. The three-port offers a significant reduction in the maximum electrode voltage required to effect a specific scan angle. The maximum electrode voltage of the PLZT phased array scanner is characterized in terms of the resolution of the scanner.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 1996Date of Patent: September 16, 1997Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventor: Pierre J. Talbot
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Patent number: 5585958Abstract: A device comprising a clear substrate (24) supporting at least one thin, clear, electronically conductive work electrode (23); a substrate (5, 3) supporting at least one electronically conductive counter electrode (2); at least one intermediate layer (25,26) providing electrochromism; and a means for supplying current to the ends of the electrodes (23) and counter electrodes (23) and counter electrodes (2), optionally combined with a means for supplying current into said clear electrodes (23) and/or counter electrodes. An array of counter electrodes configured in fine lines and/or an additional current supplying means may be formed by means of a fabric, lap or grid assembly of conductive (2) and non-conductive (3) wires (3) being arranged with respect to wire (2) in such a way that the latter are kept apart, and/or that the strength of the assembly is promoted.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 1994Date of Patent: December 17, 1996Assignee: Compagnie Generale d'Innovation et de Developpement CogidevInventor: Andre Giraud
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Patent number: 5561549Abstract: An optical element consists of an LN or LT crystal doped with MgO or ZnO. A +z surface and a -z surface of the crystal are connected to each other by means of a metal jig and an indium sheet. The +z surface and the -z surface may also be connected to each other by means of an electrically conductive wire material. The optical element may be a bulk crystal, an optical waveguide type electro-optical modulator, or a bifurcated interference type optical modulator. In this way, an optical damage resistant property of the optical element is improved.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1994Date of Patent: October 1, 1996Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd.Inventors: Masami Hatori, Kiichi Kato
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Patent number: 5539567Abstract: A phase shift illuminator (700) is comprised of a light source (704) and a phase modulator (716), typically a flexure beam micromirror array, which transversely modulates the incident light beam. When a flexure beam micromirror array is used as the phase modulator (716) a polarizing beam splitter (712) and a quarter-wave plate (714) are used to separate the incident and reflected light beams. The phase modulated light beam (720) from the optical illuminator may be used in optical lithography by passing the light beam through a lithography mask (724), typically after the light beam is phase modulated, and focusing the light beam onto a target wafer (726).Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1994Date of Patent: July 23, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Tsen-Hwang Lin, Shane R. Palmer, Steven C. Gustafson, Jay M. Brown
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Patent number: 5528707Abstract: A modulating optical element having ports wherein either port can output or receive light signals. An electrooptic effect is applied to the optical element to allow the light signals to pass or not pass through the optical element. Due to the electrooptic effect in preventing signals from passing through the optic element, light signals radiate out of the optical element and are absorbed by the substrate of the optical element assembly. Rather than being lost, the energy from the light signal is converted to current which may be used for other purposes in the modulator system, such as bias stabilization.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1994Date of Patent: June 18, 1996Assignee: Honeywell Inc.Inventors: Charles T. Sullivan, Mark P. Bendett
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Patent number: 5526172Abstract: A microminiature, variable electrical device, such as a capacitor (40a), comprises an elemental DMD SLM (40'), which includes a substrate (43) and a member (145) spaced therefrom and mounted for movement by appropriate facilities (42, 44). A control signal (102) is applied to the movable member (145) to produce an electric field between it and either the substrate (43) or an associated control electrode (46a). The field moves the member (145) toward or away from either the substrate (43) or an associated output electrode (46b) to selectively adjust the spacing therebetween. The field is produced by addressing circuitry (45) associated with the substrate (43). The movable member (145) and either the substrate (43) or the output electrode (46b) function as capacitor plates, and the spacing determines the capacitance thereof. The capacitor (40a) may be placed in series (FIG. 4) or in parallel (FIG. 3) with an input signal (114) applied to the movable member (145).Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 1993Date of Patent: June 11, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Brad Kanack
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Patent number: 5444567Abstract: A light control device including an electro-optical material, a light refraction device mounted on the surface of the electro-optical material and electrodes provided on respective front and back major surfaces of the electro-optical material. A waveguide layer may be formed on the electro-optical material, with one electrode formed on an upper major surface of the waveguide layer and another electrode on the lower major surface of the electro-optical material. A prism or a diffraction grating may be used as the light refraction device. The light control device is particularly useful in laser printers and optical disk devices.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1992Date of Patent: August 22, 1995Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventor: Keiji Kataoka
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Patent number: 5430561Abstract: The invention provides an optical space switch device which provides variable interconnection of one- or two-dimensionally spatially multiplexed optical signals. The optical space switch device comprises a plurality of optical space switch stages stacked to form a multi-input multi-output optical space switch. Each of the optical space switch stages comprises a plurality of 2-input 2-output optical switches, each of which comprises a polarization control layer and an optical path shifting layer. The optical path shifting layer has a bypass mode in which it outputs beams of light along optical axes and an exchange mode in which it shifts beams of light by diffraction.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1992Date of Patent: July 4, 1995Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Masayuki Kato, Hiroyasu Ito
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Patent number: 5379357Abstract: An apparatus and method for optical telecommunication includes introducing a laser beam emitted from a light source at a first station into an optical fiber, providing an ultrasonic wave obtained by modulating a voice signal by a signal-applying-device at a work section to the optical fiber, modulating a polarized light passing through the optical fiber in amplitude and frequency, receiving the polarized light with the shifted wave plane at a light-receiving section in a second station, detecting at the light-receiving section in the second station the polarized light which has been modulated by the signal-applying device in the work section, and demodulating the polarized light to obtain a voice signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 1993Date of Patent: January 3, 1995Assignees: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., The Tokyo Electric Power Company, IncorporatedInventors: Shintaro Sentsui, Akira Fujisaki, Haruki Ogoshi, Morinobu Mizutani, Mitsuo Miyazaki
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Patent number: 5373393Abstract: An interferometric optical switching device for switching substantially coherent light beams includes a plurality of interferometric switching cells arranged in matrix form. Each interferometric switching cell is independently controllable to selectively direct received light beams along at least a selected one of two axes. The device can be three-dimensionally expanded to increase the number of ports to which the light beams can be selectively switched, in which case the matrices can share integrally constructed interferometric switching cells. The device is further capable of providing bidirectional communication between predetermined ones of the ports thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1993Date of Patent: December 13, 1994Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael C. DeJule, Nabeel A. Riza, Donald E. Castleberry, Thomas L. Credelle
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Patent number: 5317446Abstract: A scanning device having: (i) an electrooptic planar waveguide or bulk material capable of propagating light beams with minimum beam distortion, (ii) an electrooptic prism array defined on said electrooptic planar waveguide or bulk material, comprised of at least one pair of antiparallel-poled ferroelectric domain regions and, (iii) control means to apply a spatially uniform electric field throughout said electrooptic prism array using a pair of electrically-addressable continuous electrodes, so as to induce an electrically-controlled deflection to a light beam propagating through the device.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1992Date of Patent: May 31, 1994Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Jose M. Mir, Daniel Stancil, Tuviah E. Schlesinger
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Patent number: 5299054Abstract: An optical medium, which may be nonlinear, is provided with a matrix of conductors ("select lines") parallel to a face (planar surface) of the optical medium. The select lines are preferably superconductive, and are arranged in a two offset planar, preferably orthogonal sets. Adjacent pairs of select lines in both sets of select lines define discrete volumes, or "cells" within the optical medium. Light directed through the cells is refracted at angles determined by the quiescent optical properties of the optical medium, and may be "steered" to different angles by current passing through the select lines.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1992Date of Patent: March 29, 1994Assignee: PetroLaser, Inc.Inventor: Allen R. Geiger
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Patent number: 5255118Abstract: A technique for reducing interpixel crosstalk in an electrooptic total internal reflection light modulator image bar. A particular electrode length is selected to tailor a portion of the spatial frequency response of the image bar. The pixel size and quality resulting from a voltage difference between electrodes are determined primarily by the overall image bar spatial frequency response, and a set of preferred physical parameters can be determined by selecting parameter values to provide the desired spatial frequency response. It has been found that a desirable frequency response is one that approximates sin(.pi.Pf) for absolute values of f less than about 1/P, where f is the spatial frequency and P is the minimum pixel pitch. Further, it has been found that a particular electrode length provides the desired response for small absolute values of f. The particular electrode length is approximately E.sup.1/2 P/.gamma.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1991Date of Patent: October 19, 1993Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: David L. Hecht
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Patent number: 5243457Abstract: Flexible visibility enhancing material is provided which combines the advantages of a light reflective component and a luminescent component. The material includes a first layer of prismatic light reflective plastic material having an underlying surface formed with a plurality of minute prism-like formations projecting therefrom at regular spaced intervals and an overlying substantially smooth light transmissive surface. Bonded as by heat sealing to the first layer is a second layer of plastic luminescent material contiguously and integrally attached to the underlying surface of prism-like formations and generally coextensive therewith. The visibility enhancing material simultaneously radiates luminescent light from the second layer through the underlying surface of prism-like formations and through the smooth light transmissive surface and reflected light from the prism-like formations through the smooth light transmissive surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 1992Date of Patent: September 7, 1993Assignee: American Ingenuity, Inc.Inventor: Andrew B. Spencer
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Patent number: 5218469Abstract: A technique for reducing interpixel crosstalk by selecting particular illumination conditions and thus tailoring a portion of the spatial frequency response of an optical image bar. A desirable frequency response is one that approximates sin(.pi.Pf) for absolute values of f less than about 1/P, where f is the spatial frequency and P is the minimum pixel pitch. A skew angle of zero and a grazing angle that is approximately twice the interorder diffraction angle provides the desired cutoff of the response for absolute values of f above about 1/P. The desired frequency response for absolute values of f near zero can be achieved by selecting appropriate values for other physical parameters.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1991Date of Patent: June 8, 1993Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: David L. Hecht
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Patent number: 5212583Abstract: An adaptive electroopical lens system for use in optical data storage systems, optical phased arrays, laser or other optical projectors, and raster scanning devices, and the like. The invention provides an electrooptical means for scanning an optical beam or moving an optical storage or retrieval point. Beam movement is achieved electrooptically, by changing the index of refraction of an electrooptical material by controlling electric fields applied thereto. A plurality of electrodes are disposed on one surface of the electrooptic material and a ground electrode is disposed on the other. The electrodes are adapted to apply electric fields derived from a voltage source to the electroopic material that selectively change its index of refraction and provides for a predetermined index of refraction profile along at least one dimension thereof, thus forming a lens. By appropriately forming the electrode pattern and properly controlling the voltages applied thereto, differing lens shapes may be formed.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 1992Date of Patent: May 18, 1993Assignee: Hughes Aircraft CompanyInventors: Victor Vali, David B. Chang, I-Fu Shih, Bruce R. Youmans
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Patent number: 5208697Abstract: A travelling-wave Mach-Zehnder electro-optic modulator (10) for operation at microwave electrical input signal frequencies has an electrical modulation electrode structure (26,34) which constitutes a coplanar waveguide (24). An electrical input signal connector (80) is coupled to a microstrip line (38) having an output impedance which is significantly different from the input impedance of the waveguide (24). A Chebyshev impedance matching transformer (50) couples the input signal from the input connector (80) to the modulation electrode structure (26,34), while matching the output impedance of the microstrip line (38) to the input impedance of the waveguide (24) to maximize the coupling efficiency and minimize return loss. The modulatoGOVERNMENT RIGHTSThis invention was made with Government support under Contract No. N66604-87-C-1126 awarded by the Department of the Navy. The Government has certain rights in this invention.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1990Date of Patent: May 4, 1993Assignee: Hughes Aircraft CompanyInventors: James H. Schaffner, Robert L. Joyce, Caroline M. Gee, James M. Schellenberg
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Patent number: 5198920Abstract: A spatial light modulator comprising a solid state light valve comprising a high density two-dimensional array of "Kerr-cell" like pixels formed in a solid state electro-optical composition such as lanthanum modified lead zirconium titanate (PLZT). Transverse electrodes are deposited on a layer of PLZT the composition of which may provide for memory mode or non-memory mode operation. Pixels are defined in the electro-optic materials in regions between adjacent electrodes deposited on the electro-optic material. The array may be addressed optically or electronically to generate an electric field in the electro-optic material, and thus activate pixels.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1991Date of Patent: March 30, 1993Assignee: Plztech, Inc.Inventors: Garth W. Gobeli, Thomas M. Toor
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Patent number: 5175642Abstract: A light source unit comprises a laser unit for emitting a laser beam; a deflection element for deflecting the laser beam emitted from the laser unit and for outputting a deflected laser beam, a deflection angle of the deflected laser beam being controlled by a control signal supplied from an external controller to the deflection element; and a shading member for partly or entirely shading the deflected laser beam output from the deflection element, a spot size of a laser beam passing through the shading member being changed in accordance with the deflection angle of the deflected laser beam. The light source unit outputs the laser beam passing through the shading element.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1990Date of Patent: December 29, 1992Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Hiroyoshi Funato
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Patent number: 5159351Abstract: A light deflecting device comprising a transparent member having an electro-optical effect, and a first and a second electrode provided on opposite surfaces of the transparent member. When a voltage is applied to one of the electrodes, an uneven electric field is formed inside the transparent member.This uneven electric field varies a refractive index distribution through the transparent member. As a result, light entering the transparent member is deflected inside the transparent member. This light deflecting device may be used in an optical printing head, a rangefinder or a color checker.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 1991Date of Patent: October 27, 1992Assignee: Minolta Camera Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Hotomi, Keiji Okuda
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Patent number: 5150241Abstract: The disclosed deflector includes a thin film of liquid crystal on either side of which there is positioned at least one plane of electrodes, the assembly forming an array of elementary, quadripolar phase-shifters placed side by side, their electrodes being taken to different control potentials, generating a spatial modulation of the phase of the beam going through the deflector.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1990Date of Patent: September 22, 1992Assignee: Thomson-CSFInventors: Pascal Joffre, Gerard Illiaquer, Jean-Pierre Huignard
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Patent number: 5130849Abstract: Enhanced energy transfers are achieved between optical beams by operating at wavelengths in the near-bandgap region of a photorefractive material, and employing an electrorefractive effect previously proposed only for single beams. An electric field is applied across a photorefractive medium of sufficient intensity to induce an electrorefractive coupling and consequent energy transfer between the beams. Gain enhancements are possible by orienting the photorefractive medium to obtain an electro-optic as well as an electrorefractive effect, and by a moving grating technique. The direction of energy transfer between the beams is controlled by the electric field direction, and can be reversed by reversing the field. Operation in the infrared region is made possible with semi-insulating materials. Applications include optical switches, amplifiers and phase conjugators.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1989Date of Patent: July 14, 1992Assignees: Hughes Aircraft Company, University of Southern CaliforniaInventors: George C. Valley, Marvin B. Klein, Afshin Partovi, Alan Kost, Elsa M. Garmire
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Patent number: 5122894Abstract: An optical deflection device for manipulating optical beams employs a set of layers having the configuration NUPUN . . . , where the N and P symbols refer to N-type and P-type dopants and the U symbol refers to an electrooptically active optical guide layer having an index of refraction sufficiently higher than that of the N- and P- layers that light is guided within it and a free electron concentration low enough that the guide layers are depleted, so that light is guided within the layers with low loss, while the N- and P- layers have an appropriate bias applied to establish a differential phase shift between layers to deflect emitted radiation along a desired angle.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1989Date of Patent: June 16, 1992Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Daniel H. Grantham
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Patent number: 5101293Abstract: An electrooptic modulator includes structure defining a single crystal substrate upon which are positioned, in succession, an inside reflector formed by a set of epitaxial single crystal layers, a resonator layer and an outside reflector formed by another set of epitaxial single crystal layers. A first part of the structure, including one or more of the inside reflector, substrate and resonator layer, is electrically conductive (either p-type or n-type conduction) and a second part, including the outside reflector and/or the resonator layer, is electrically conductive (either n-type or p-type conduction, but a different to the first part).Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 1990Date of Patent: March 31, 1992Assignee: Australian Telecommunications CorporationInventor: Peter C. Kemeny
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Patent number: 5093747Abstract: A practical means for electrically addressing the extremely large number and high density of phase shifters needed for operation of an optical phased array beam steerer. The array of phase shifters is subdivided into identical subarrays which completely fill an optical aperture. All subarrays are connected electrically in parallel by electrically interconnecting corresponding electrodes of each subarray. Methods are disclosed herein for providing an enhanced number of beam steering positions for the subaperture-addressed beam steerer.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1991Date of Patent: March 3, 1992Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventor: Terry A. Dorschner
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Patent number: 5071232Abstract: An optical deflection element receives incident beam and deflects the incident beam with an arbitrary deflection angle. The optical deflection element includes a plurality of unit members which are successively stacked and each including an electrooptic layer, an electrode layer formed on a surface of each electrooptic layer, and an insulator layer formed on the surface of each electrooptic layer adjacent to the electrode layer, where a boundary between the electrode layer and the insulator layer is inclined to an optical axis of the incident beam.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 1990Date of Patent: December 10, 1991Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Masayoshi Kato, Toshiyuki Inokuchi
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Patent number: 5061048Abstract: An electro-optical light deflector utilizing layers of a non-linear electro-optically (NLO) responsive polymer for directing an exiting light beam in a given direction. Sandwiched between each NLO layer of a multi-layer array is a thin film electrically conductive layer that is connected to a voltage source. By applying an electric field across an NLO layer, a change in refractive index is induced and the phase of that portion of the optical beam passing through it is either retarded or advanced. Each layer in the NLO array sees a slightly different electric field and therefore produces a slightly different phase change in the portion of the propogating optical beam. This results in directing the reconstructed beam in a different direction. By applying different voltages to the electrodes, both beam shaping and changing beam direction are possible.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 1990Date of Patent: October 29, 1991Assignee: Unisys CorporationInventors: L. M. Hayden, Gerald F. Sauter
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Patent number: 5055770Abstract: A voltage in a selected area of an object is measured by launching an input light beam into an electrooptic material whose refractive index is changed in accordance with an electric field created by the voltage in a selected area of an object to be measured, and detecting a change in polarization or in a deflection angle of an output light beam from the electrooptic material. A medium having a dielectric constant greater than the air is placed between the area to be measured and the electrooptic material.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1990Date of Patent: October 8, 1991Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K. K.Inventors: Hironori Takahashi, Shinichiro Aoshima, Yutaka Tsuchiya
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Patent number: 5053168Abstract: This invention provides nonlinear optical media which have a stable noncentrosymmetric array of side chain polymer molecules, such as an electric field poled and stabilized medium of a 50/50 copolymer of N-methyl-4-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethenyl]phenylamino-2-ethyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate and 4-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyenyl]phenylthio-2-ethyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1990Date of Patent: October 1, 1991Assignee: Hoechst Celanese CorporationInventors: Hong-Tai Man, Hyun-Nam Yoon