Abstract: A new class of energy interaction devices, particularly optical energy transfer devices and energy guiding devices, use an energy field, particularly an electric field, applied to a poled structure to control energy propagation in a solid material. The poled structures, which may form gratings in thin film or bulk configurations, may be combined with waveguide structures to guide energy beams such as optical or acoustic beams. Electric fields applied to the poled structures, such as electrically-activated gratings, control routing of optical energy. Optical devices include but are not limited to, frequency-selective switchable- and adjustably-tunable reflectors, splitters, directional couplers, frequency-tunable switches and efficient beam combiners, as well as polarized beam combiners, am and fm modulators, mode selectors, energy transfer devices, optical data readers, panel display devices, and waveguide/reflector switching arrays.

Abstract: A projection display is based on a new switching technology for routing laser light among a set of optical waveguides and coupling that light toward the viewer. The switching technology is based on poled electro-optical structures. The display technology is versatile enough to cover application areas spanning the range from miniature high resolution computer displays to large screen displays for high definition television formats. The invention combines the high brightness and power efficiency inherent in visible semiconductor diode laser sources with a new waveguide electro-optical switching technology to form a dense two-dimensional addressable array of high brightness light emissive pixels. This invention provides an all solid-state, full color, high resolution projection display suitable for displaying computer generated information and full motion HDTV.

Abstract: A flat panel display is based on a new switching technology for routing laser light among a set of optical waveguides and coupling that light toward the viewer. The switching technology is based on poled electro-optical structures. The display technology is versatile enough to cover application areas spanning the range from miniature high resolution computer displays to large screen displays for high definition television formats. The invention combines the high brightness and power efficiency inherent in visible semiconductor diode laser sources with a new waveguide electro-optical switching technology to form a dense two-dimensional addressable array of high brightness light emissive pixels.

Abstract: A new class of optical energy transfer devices and energy guiding devices uses an electric field to control energy propagation using a class of poled structures in solid material. The poled structures, which may form gratings in thin film or bulk configurations, may be combined with waveguide structures. Electric fields applied to the poled structures control routing of optical energy. Devices include splitters, parallel and Y couplers, mode converters and energy leakage attenuators.

Abstract: A projection display is based on a new switching technology for routing laser light among a set of optical waveguides and coupling that light toward the viewer. The switching technology is based on poled electro-optical structures. The display technology is versatile enough to cover application areas spanning the range from miniature high resolution computer displays to large screen displays for high definition television formats. The invention combines the high brightness and power efficiency inherent in visible semiconductor diode laser sources with a new waveguide electro-optical switching technology to form a dense two-dimensional addressable array of high brightness light emissive pixels. This invention provides an all solid-state, full color, high resolution projection display suitable for displaying computer generated information and full motion HDTV.

Abstract: A poled dielectric structure, such as is useful as a frequency doubler, is fabricated by creating a uniform potential, such as a ground by means of an electrode surface, adjacent a first surface of a polable dielectric material, such as a piezo-electric or lithium niobate, and then applying an electric field adjacent a second surface of the polable dielectric material, where the electric field is spatially-modulated according to a three-dimensional modulation pattern with a field amplitude level at selected locations sufficient to cause atomic rearrangement within predefined regions in the polable material, and where the modulation amplitude level of the modulation pattern is controlled according to a modulation parameter. The control mechanism of modulation amplitude level may be protrusions of an electrically-conductive material extending toward the polable material or by modulated variations in the dielectric constant of a dielectric material separating the polable material from an electrode plate.

Abstract: A new class of optical energy transfer devices and energy guiding devices uses an electric field to control energy propagation using a class of poled structures in solid material. The poled structures, which may form gratings in thin film or bulk configurations, may be combined with waveguide structures. Electric fields applied to the poled structures control routing of optical energy. Devices include splitters, parallel and Y couplers, mode converters and energy leakage attenuators.

Abstract: Optical energy transfer devices and energy guiding devices use an electric field to control energy propagation using a class of poled structures in solid material in a channel dropping filter and splitter applications. The poled structures, which may form gratings in thin film or bulk configurations, may be combined with waveguide structures. Electric fields applied to the poled structures control routing of optical energy. In a particular embodiment, an electrode confronts a solid material and bridges at least two elements of a grating disposed transverse of two waveguide segments and overlaps evanescent fields of optical energy in one of the waveguide segments. A switchable grating which consists of a poled material with an alternating domain structure of specific period. In a further embodiment there may be an optically active cladding between a grating and a waveguide. Additional electrodes may be provided for independent tuning of the cladding and the grating structure.

Abstract: A flat panel display is based on a new switching technology for routing laser light among a set of optical waveguides and coupling that light toward the viewer. The switching technology is based on poled electro-optical structures. The display technology is versatile enough to cover application areas spanning the range from miniature high resolution computer displays to large screen displays for high definition television formats. The invention combines the high brightness and power efficiency inherent in visible semiconductor diode laser sources with a new waveguide electro-optical switching technology to form a dense two-dimensional addressable array of high brightness light emissive pixels.

Abstract: A poled dielectric structure, such as is useful as a frequency doubler, is fabricated by creating a uniform potential, such as a ground by means of an electrode surface, adjacent a first surface of a polable dielectric material, such as a piezo-electric or lithium niobate, and then applying an electric field adjacent a second surface of the polable dielectric material, where the electric field is spatially-modulated according to a three-dimensional modulation pattern with a field amplitude level at selected locations sufficient to cause atomic rearrangement within predefined regions in the polable material, and where the modulation amplitude level of the modulation pattern is controlled according to a modulation parameter. The control mechanism of modulation amplitude level may be protrusions of an electrically-conductive material extending toward the polable material or by modulated variations in the dielectric constant of a dielectric material separating the polable material from an electrode plate.

Abstract: One or more lasers are combined with optical energy transfer devices and energy guiding devices which use an electric field for control. The optical energy transfer devices may form gratings, mirrors, lenses and the like using a class of poled structures in solid material. The poled structures may be combined with waveguide structures. Electric fields applied to the poled structures control routing, reflection and refraction of optical energy. Adjustable tunability is obtained by a poled structure which produces a spatial gradient in a variable index of refraction along an axis in the presence of a variable electric field.

Abstract: Optical energy transfer devices and energy guiding devices arranged in an array use an electric field to control energy propagation. The energy transfer devices and guiding devices use a class of poled structures in solid material to realize a high-speed matrix switch, such as is known as an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch used for routing communication signals. The poled structures, which may form gratings or total internal reflection devices, are combined with waveguide structures. Electric fields applied to the poled structures control routing of optical energy.