Abstract: In an electrooptical unit 100 mounted in a mobile phone, a flexible board 70 is mounted to a liquid crystal panel 400 by means of an anisotropic conductive film, and rear-side terminals of the flexible board 70 are electrically connected with the terminals of the liquid crystal panel 400 formed from ITO film. In the flexible board 70, capacitors 91 are mounted by means of soldering with front-side terminals 72 which are electrically connected with the rear-side terminals via through holes. The front-side terminals 72 are compressedly connected to connector electrodes of a rubber connector for electrically connecting with a circuit board.

Abstract: An optical device having a first input for at least one input optical signal having a random state of polarization and a first optical element capable of dividing, in space, the input optical signal into a pair of optical signals which are substantially parallel and have a predetermined state of polarization perpendicular to each another. The optical device also having a first crystal element for propagation, in free space, of at least the pair of optical signals coming from the first optical element, and the first crystal element being devoid of internal separation planes, and having electro-optical properties and being associated with electrodes so as to apply a voltage in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of propagation, along the first crystal element, of the at least one pair of optical signals.

Abstract: A light collimating film has a sheeting having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side includes a series of prisms, and the second side includes a plurality of subwavelength optical microstructures. Another embodiment includes a back lighting display device having a lighting means, a display panel, and a sheeting having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side includes a series of prisms, and the second side includes a plurality of subwavelength optical microstructures. A preferred embodiment includes a back lighting display device having a first collimating film having a first surface with a subwavelength optical microstructure thereon and a second surface with linear prisms having an included angle of greater than about 95 degrees, and a second collimating film having a first surface with a subwavelength optical microstructure thereon and a second surface with linear prisms having an included angle of less than about 85 degrees.

Abstract: A signal image is transmitted by write light from a transmission type liquid crystal element 4 to an optically-addressed type parallel-aligned nematic-liquid-crystal spatial light modulator 6. The numerical aperture NAL of a relay lens 5, the pitch P of the pixel structure of the transmission type liquid crystal element 4, and the wavelength &lgr; of light from the write light source 1 are set with the condition 1/2P<NAL/&lgr;<1/P. As a result, the signal component caused by the pixel structure can be erased. Furthermore, no degradation is generated in the entire range of the spatial frequencies of the signal image that can be produced by the transmission type liquid crystal element 4.

Abstract: According to the voltage-current characteristic of the diode (4) mounted on a high-frequency circuit substrate (2), a waveform of applied electric signal is shaped into desired waveform and applied to the electroabsorbing type light modulating semiconductor element (1). Thus the waveform of the modulated output light released from the optical modulator of the present invention is highly improved while the extinction characteristic of its light modulating semiconductor element is not linear.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for quickly producing all possible linear polarization states of light at the output of a length of optical fiber. Linearly polarized light is input and is transmitted through a fiber. Due to the birefringence of the fiber, light at the output of the fiber is elliptically polarized irrespective of the input polarization. The elliptically polarized states of light at the output are generated as an arbitrary circle on an output Poincare sphere. This arbitrary circle is then manipulated to produce a final circle substantially coinciding with the equator of the Poincare sphere. This final circle represents all possible linear polarization states at the output of the fiber. The invention eliminates the need for determining transformation matrices and performing point-by-point calculations in order to obtain input polarization settings for polarization-based, passive optical network (“PON”) testing.

Abstract: An electro-optic probe having a laser diode for generating a laser beam based on a control signal from an oscilloscope body; a collimator lens for making the laser beam into a parallel beam; an electro-optic element having on an end face thereof a reflective coating, with optical characteristics which are changed by propagating an electrical field via a metal pin provided at the end face on the reflective coating side; an isolator provided between the collimator lens and the electro-optic element, which passes a laser beam generated by the laser diode and isolates a reflected beam which is reflected by the reflective coating; and photodiodes which convert the reflected beam isolated by the isolator into electrical signals. The electro-optic element is integrally affixed to a probe head which is rotatable with respect to a probe body on which the probe head is mounted.

Abstract: For characterizing polarization transformers or PMD compensators, a polarization transformer to be characterized is operated as a mode converter with full mode conversion and variable orientation. A polarization control sees to it that a further polarization transformer assures the desired, overall polarization transformation. Conclusions about the precision with which the polarization transformer to be characterized works can be drawn from the nature and strength or, too, from the absence of changes of control signals of this further polarization transformer, and this can be improved. The method is particularly suited for the automatic follow-up of DC drift in polarization transformers or PMD compensators with lithium niobate components.

Abstract: A light modulating or switching array (10) having a plurality of discrete protrusions (16) formed of electro-optic material, each of which is electrically and optically isolated from each other. The protrusions (16) have defined a top face (20), a bottom face (30), first and second side faces (22, 24), and front and back faces (26, 28). There are a plurality of electrodes (34) associated with each of the protrusions (16), these electrodes (34) being capable of inducing an electric field in the electro-optic material for independently modulating a plurality of light beams which are incident upon one of the faces (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) of the protrusions (16). The electro-optic material may be of PLZT, or a member of any of the groups of electro-optic crystals, polycrystalline electro-optic ceramics, electro-optic semiconductors, electro-optic glasses and electro-optically active polymers.

Abstract: A small sized electro-optic voltage sensor capable of accurate measurement of high levels of voltages without contact with a conductor or voltage source is provided. When placed in the presence of an electric field, the sensor receives an input beam of electromagnetic radiation into the sensor. A polarization beam displacer serves as a filter to separate the input beam into two beams with orthogonal linear polarizations. The beam displacer is oriented in such a way as to rotate the linearly polarized beams such that they enter a Pockels crystal at a preferred angle of 45 degrees. The beam displacer is therefore capable of causing a linearly polarized beam to impinge a crystal at a desired angle independent of temperature. The Pockels electro-optic effect induces a differential phase shift on the major and minor axes of the input beam as it travels through the Pockels crystal, which causes the input beam to be elliptically polarized.

Abstract: A spatial frequency converting device in which the amount of conversion of spatial frequency characteristics is variable. An optical system using the spatial frequency converting device is a variable-focus optical system in which the depth of field can be enlarged by fixed signal processing. A pupil modulation element provided in a fixed-focus optical system includes a plurality of elements. At least one of the elements is rotated about an optical axis. In the variable-focus optical system, a movable lens placed on the object side of a pupil modulation element is moved along an optical axis.

Abstract: A highly efficient electrooptic means and method of light modulation utilizing slow wave optical propagation is provided. A grating structure (35) integrated with a single mode optical waveguide (32) on an electrooptic substrate (30) induces coupling between forward- and reverse-propagating light waves. This contradirectional coupling leads to a reduction in the optical propagation speed in the forward direction. Electrodes (38a and 38b) are provided for applying an electric field to modulate the light propagating in the waveguide (32) via the linear electrooptic (Pockels) effect. In a preferred embodiment, a modulating radio frequency or microwave signal applied to the electrodes (38a and 38b) propagates in the same direction as the modulated light wave at substantially the same velocity.

Abstract: A light modulating or switching array (10) having a plurality of discrete protrusions (16) formed of electro-optic material, each of which is electrically and optically isolated from each other. The protrusions (16) have defined a top face (20), a bottom face (30), first and second side faces (22, 24), and front and back faces (26,28). There are a plurality of electrodes (34) associated with each of the protrusions (16), these electrodes (34) being capable of inducing an electric field in the electro-optic material for independently modulating a plurality of light beams which are incident upon one of the faces (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) of the protrusions (16). The electro-optic material may be of PLZT, or a member of any of the groups of electro-optic crystals, polycrystalline electro-optic ceramics, electro-optic semiconductors, electro-optic glasses and electro-optically active polymers.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical switching method and apparatus by which the response time of a variation in refractive index of light can be further reduced. An electric field applied to a light passing element made of a substance containing conjugated system electrons is controlled to vary the condition of electrons of the substance of the light passing element to vary the refractive index of the light passing element. Then, the outgoing direction of light introduced into the light passing element is controlled to deflect the outgoing light from the light passing element, and the deflected outgoing light is introduced so as to be irradiated upon a selected control object element to control the control object element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a probe for an electro-optic sampling oscillator.

Abstract: An optical modulator is provided to control the intensity of a transmitted or reflected light. In a transmission mode, a separator splits arbitrarily polarized light into two polarization rays and one is made to travel a separate path from the other. A recombiner causes the two rays to recombine at an output unless an electro-optic phase retarder changes the polarization of the two rays, in which case, both of them miss the output by an amount which is a function of the voltage on the retarder. A normally-off version with low polarization mode dispersion is obtained by changing the orientation of the recombiner. A normally-on version with low polarization mode dispersion is obtained with a passive polarization direction rotator. Similar results can be obtained in a reflection mode where the input and output are on the same side of the modulator. Versions using a GRIN lens are particularly suited to modulation of light out of and back into fiber-optic cables.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical modulator which, with a relatively simple configuration, eliminates phase modulation of output light from the semiconductor optical modulator by applying a voltage to a light absorption layer on the modulator. A nonlinear optical material layer changing refractive index is located in the direction of light propagation and cancels, in the output light, the phase modulation that is generated due to light intensity variations in the light absorption layer.

Abstract: A microscanner composed of a semiconductor wafer, having formed as a part thereof a cantilevered portion and having mounted thereon at least one laser diode. The cantilevered portion has electrically interfaced thereto a plurality of interconnects capable of delivering varying voltages. The cantilevered portion is deflected in response to the varying voltages and therefore produces a scanning action about an "x" axis, a "y" axis, or an "x" and "y" axis dependent upon the external varying voltage applied thereto and the design of the cantilevered portion. This scanning action operates to scan the light emitted by the at least one laser diode. The microscanner operates to generate a resultant integrated scanned image. This image can be implemented as either a virtual image display or a projected image display.

Abstract: A surface light source device of side-light type enables concentrated output of illumination light to a frontal direction. A flux having clear directivity is outputted from window portions 1w on an emitting surface 5 of a light guide plate 1 with emitting directivity. This flux is represented by a beam C01 outputted in a direction at an angle of 70.degree.. A flux C02 incident on reflection portions 1r is returned to the light guide plate 1 and is given an opportunity of output from the window portions 1w again. The flux C01 having escaped from the window portions 1w to an air layer AR is obliquely incident on flat regions 14g of a propagation direction characteristics modifier 14, and a degree of parallelization of the flux in a propagation direction is improved. The flux is blocked by the reflection portions 1r from being incident on a notch portion (uneffective area) between the flat regions 14g.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a polarization scrambler wherein the polarization of linearly polarized signal light can be rotated to facilitate obtaining a minimum degree of polarization, and wherein scrambling operation is possible even if signal light of optional polarization states is input. Accordingly with the polarization scrambler, a polarization rotation section is provided on an input side on a chip on which is formed an optical waveguide, and a polarization scrambling section is provided on an output side. With the polarization rotation section, the polarization of linearly polarized signal light which is transmitted by the optical waveguide is rotated by means of an acousto-optic effect due to an elastic surface wave generated by an electrode, so as to become 45.degree. with respect to a vertical direction of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an optical transmission modulation apparatus is provided for modulating light transmitted through the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a metal film having a periodic array of subwavelength-diameter holes provided therein, and a supporting layer. At least a portion of the supporting layer has a selectively variable refractive index, the selectively variable refractive index portion being substantially adjacent to the metal film such that the metal film and the supporting layer form a perforated metal film unit. Selective variation of the refractive index of the selectively variable refractive index portion modulates the intensity of the light transmitted through the perforated metal film unit without substantially changing the direction of the light. Flat panel displays, spatial light modulators and tunable optical filters based on the optical transmission control apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: A polarized-light converting elemental device which can produce an accurately unidirectionally and circularly polarized light with a minimized loss of light and a projection-type display device using said unidirectionally-polarized-light converting elemental device are provided. A polarized-light converting elemental device comprises a mirror glass portion consisting of an array of mirror glass blocks each having a first reflecting optical element and a second reflecting optical element and a cholesteric-liquid-crystal glass portion including a cholesteric liquid crystal layer for reflecting either clockwise circularly polarized component or anticlockwise circularly polarized component and transmitting the other. Natural light from the left side is split into two directions by the first reflecting optical element. Light reflected from the cholesteric liquid crystal is reflected by the second reflecting optical element to alter its rotation direction and then transmitted through the cholesteric liquid crystal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wavelength insensitive passive polarization converter which can rotate the direction of optic axis of waveguide by employing poled electro-optic polymer waveguides and a method for controlling the optic axis direction of the poled polymer waveguides. A passive polarization converter of present invention is equipped with poling electrodes at top and bottom of a planar waveguide consisting of three layers of electro-optic polymer, and it comprises: a polarizer in which poling-induced optic axis aligned horizontally; a polarization rotator in which the azimuth angle of the optic axis is slowly changed along the propagation direction from horizontal to vertical direction; and, an analyzer in which poling-induced optic axis aligned vertically.

Abstract: An electro-optic modulator is described which uses periodic inverted domain regions to permit it to be able to handle high powered optical light.

Abstract: A polarization independent optical phase modulator comprises first and second substrates. A reflector is disposed between the first and second substrates and a quarterwave plate is disposed between the reflector and the first substrate. A polarization dependent electrooptic layer is disposed between the quarterwave plate and the first substrate. The quarterwave plate has an optic axis which is aligned at 45 degrees to the polarization whose phase is modulated by the electrooptic layer.

Abstract: A split reciprocal polarization switch (SRPS) for use in constructing high performance switching devices used in fiber optics. The SRPS allows selective changes in the polarization of one or the other of two optical rays passing therethrough along first and second bi-directional ray paths of the SRPS so that they emerge therefrom with the same polarizations. The SRPS includes a switching section for selectively changing the optical polarization of optical rays according to a selected state of the switching section, and a split section including a first and second sections having different polarization changing characteristics.

Abstract: A switchable wavelength router has a first polarization-dependent routing element (e.g., a birefringent element, polarized beamsplitter, or angled polarization separator) that decomposes and spatially separates an incoming WDM optical signal into two orthogonally-polarized beams. A first polarization rotator selectably rotates the polarization of one of the beams to match the polarization of other beam, based on an external control signal. A wavelength filter (e.g., stacked waveplates) provides a polarization-dependent optical transmission function such that the first beam decomposes into third and fourth orthogonal beams, and the second beam decomposes into fifth and sixth orthogonal beams. The third and fifth beams carry a first spectral band at a first polarization and the fourth and sixth beams carry a second spectral band at an orthogonal polarization. A second polarization-dependent routing element spatially separates these four beams into four horizontally polarized and vertically polarized components.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A traveling-wave electro-optic modulator using reflected signals to achieve a one-time rephasing. For a given crystal length, the interaction length is effectively doubled and a 3-dB gain is automatically achieved compared to a conventional traveling-wave modulator.

Abstract: A programmable wavelength router having a plurality of cascaded stages where each stage receives one or more optical signals comprising a plurality of wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) channels. Each stage divides the received optical signals into divided optical signals comprising a subset of the channels and spatially positions the divided optical signals in response to a control signal applied to each stage. Preferably each stage divides a received WDM signal into two subsets that are either single channel or WDM signals. A final stage outputs optical signals at desired locations. In this manner, 2.sup.N optical signals in a WDM signal can be spatially separated and permuted using N control signals.

Abstract: Method for optical energy transfer and energy guidance 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 are applied to the poled structures to control routing of optical energy. Techniques include frequency-selective switchable- and adjustable-tunable reflection, splitting, directional coupling, frequency-tunable switching and efficient beam combining, as well as polarized beam combining. 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. In one embodiment, the present invention is a method of switching a grating which consists of a poled material with an alternating domain structure of specific period.

Abstract: A Faraday rotator capable of maintaining a Faraday rotation angle always constant regardless of temperature variations. The Faraday rotator includes a magneto-optic crystal provided in a light propagation path, a permanent magnet for generating a magnetic field parallel to the light propagation path, and an electromagnet for generating a magnetic field orthogonal to the light propagation path. The strength of a synthetic magnetic field by the permanent magnet and the electromagnet is set to a magnitude large enough to magnetically saturate the magneto-optic crystal. The electromagnet is driven by a drive circuit. The Faraday rotator further includes a temperature sensor provided adjacent to the Faraday rotator, and a controller incorporating data on temperature dependence of a Faraday rotation angle of the magneto-optic crystal to control the drive circuit so that the Faraday rotation angle becomes constant according to a temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A receiver device is intended to detect a beam of electromagnetic entry signals of a known geometry, arriving at a variable entry angle of incidence. It comprises an optical lens, comprising at least one aspherical surface capable of correcting the geometry of an incident beam according to a correction formula chosen in accordance with the entry angle of incidence, for transforming it into an incident beam and applying it to a quadratic detector. This tends to suppress the divergences of the energy received by the detector cording to the angle of incidence, and makes it possible to render substantially constant the signal-to-noise ratio of the detection and the detected signal, irrespective of the entry angle of incidence of the incident entry beam.

Abstract: A compound having nonlinear optical properties of the general formula:Ar.sup.1 CR.sup.1 .dbd.CR.sup.2 (Ar.sup.2 CR.sup.3 .dbd.CR.sup.4).sub.n Ar.sup.3 (I)wherein, n represents a whole number; R.sup.1, R.sup.1, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 groups are independently selected from H, branched aliphatic, straight chain aliphatic, branched silane or straight chain silane; Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.3 are aromatic radicals having a substituent in at least one position adjacent to a site of attachment of the C.dbd.C double bond and having at least one electron withdrawing or electron donating substituent in at least one of the remaining positions; Ar.sup.2 is an aromatic radical having a substituent in at least one position adjacent to a site of attachment of the C.dbd.C double bond; with the proviso that the substituent in at least one position adjacent to the site of attachment of the C.dbd.C double bond and R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 groups are sufficiently large to cause Ar.sup.1, Ar.sup.2 and Ar.sup.

Abstract: Method for optical energy transfer and energy guidance 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 are applied to the poled structures to control routing of optical energy. Techniques include frequency-selective switchable- and adjustable-tunable reflection, splitting, directional coupling, frequency-tunable switching and efficient beam combining, as well as polarized beam combining. 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. In one embodiment, the present invention is a method of switching a grating which consists of a poled material with an alternating domain structure of specific period.

Abstract: A switchable wavelength router has a first birefringent element that decomposes and spatially separates an incoming WDM optical signal into two orthogonally-polarized beams. A first polarization rotator selectably rotates the polarization of one of the beams to match the polarization of other beam, based on an external control signal. A wavelength filter (e.g., stacked waveplates) provides a polarization-dependent optical transmission function such that the first beam decomposes into third and fourth orthogonal beams, and the second beam decomposes into fifth and sixth orthogonal beams. The third and fifth beams carry a first spectral band at a first polarization and the fourth and sixth beams carry a second spectral band at an orthogonal polarization. A second birefringent element spatially separates these four beams into four horizontally polarized and vertically polarized components.

Abstract: Novel optical modulators and other high performance Faraday-Stark magneto-optoelectronic devices (MOE's) are disclosed that allow electrical adjusting of the polarization (or other optical properties) of an excitation light at high modulation bandwidth and deep modulation depths through the Faraday-Stark effect. The high performance Faraday-Stark magneto-optoelectronic devices of the present invention include a Faraday-Stark cell having at least one quantum well formed in a semiconductor or other material defining transition energies and wavefunction overlaps that correspond to the presence and/or magnitude of magnetic and electric fields that may be present to the quantum wells of the cell.

Abstract: Digital data is stored using optical means exclusively in a storage media which is characterized with a soft-phonon mode. Electric dipole domains in the storage medium are caused to reverse in polarity in response to the impinging thereon of an optical pulse. The optical pulse, which may be formed of a plurality of colliding optical pulses, must have sufficient energy to cause the reversal of the polarization of the electric dipole domain, or the reorientation thereof, without providing sufficient energy whereby the dipole reverts to its initial condition. Any material which exhibits structural phase transitions associated with soft-phonons which can couple directly or by non-linear processes to incident irradiation are candidates for optical domain-switching.

Abstract: The device of the present invention for an optical rotator and a half-waveplate rotator comprises a retarder or polarization modulator interposed between two crossed or parallel quarter-wave plates, depending on being used as optical rotator or half-waveplate rotator, oriented such that the fast or slow axis of the retarder or modulator is at angle of 45.degree. relative to fast or slow axes of the quarter-wave plates. The rotation angle of the optical rotator and half-waveplate rotator is equal to one-half the retardance of the retarder or modulator and electrically adjustable when using a polarization modulator.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Apparatus for rotating polarization of polarized light includes an input of linearly polarized light, a variable retarder for retarding the phase of one quadrature component of such linearly polarized input light an amount relative to the phase of the other quadrature component, and an analyzer for converting such quadrature components to linearly polarized light having a plane of polarization that is a function of the amount of such phase retardation. By changing the electrical input to the retarder the amount of rotation can be altered.

Abstract: A submersible lens fiberoptic assembly for PDT treatment includes an optical fiber, a fiber jacket, a ball lens made of zirconia and a housing. This fiberoptic assembly is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and has a high quality of output light beam. A submersible lens fiberoptic assembly for PDT treatments is also disclosed which uses a hemisphere ball lens for treatment of areas inaccessible to a normal "forward looking" lens.

Abstract: An improved backlighting apparatus comprising a slab waveguide that accepts light rays generated by a light source and transmits the light rays via total internal reflection. Attached on one face of the slab waveguide is an array of microprisms, with each microprism having an light input surface parallel to a light output surface and at least one sidewall tilted at an angle from the direction normal to the surface of the waveguide such that light rays escape from the slab waveguide, reflect off the tilted sidewall and emerge from the microprism as a light source substantially perpendicular to the light output surface. An array of microlenses may be positioned to accept the output of the microprisms so that the light exiting from the microlenses is substantially more perpendicular. The backlight apparatus is advantageously used as a backlighting means for flat panel electronic displays.

Abstract: An optical switching device for switching arbitrarily polarized optical signal beams includes a plurality of polarization-independent switching cells arranged in matrix form. Each polarization-independent switching cell is independently controllable to selectively direct received optical beams along at least a selected one of two axes. The device can be three-dimensionally expanded to increase the number of output ports to which the optical beams can be selectively switched, in which case the matrices can share integrally constructed polarization-independent switching cells.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A haze-free light modulating polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) material is disclosed which comprises a polymer which is birefringent and possesses anisotropic optical properties similar to those of the dispersed liquid crystal such that the PDLC material in its transparent state exhibits a refractive index that is matched for all directions of incident light providing for an optically clear, scatter-free film for all angles of view. Electrooptic light shutters are possible from this material which are transparent in the field OFF-state and opaque in the field ON-state or vice versa, depending upon the liquid crystal phase structure and configuration of the light shutter device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high performance nonlinear optical device by utilizing an optical medium of large second order nonlinear optical effects, which has acceptable processability and stability. The second-order nonlinear optical device of the present invention comprises an optical element of a monoclinic crystal of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-4'-nitrostilbene represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## said crystal belonging to space group P2.sub.1, point group #4, said optical element having at least one substantially optically smooth surface.

Abstract: A method of controlling the domain of a nonlinear ferroelectric optics substrate to form an inverted-domain structure in one major surface of a single-domain nonlinear ferroelectric optics substrate. A first electrode is formed in a first major surface of a nonlinear ferroelectric optics substrate in a pattern corresponding to a desired pattern of an inverted-domain structure to be formed, a second electrode is formed on a second major surface opposite the first major surface in a pattern corresponding to that of the first electrode or in a solid film, a dc voltage or a pulse voltage is applied across the first and second electrodes to form local, inverted domains in the desired pattern in the first major surface of the nonlinear ferroelectric optics substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing domains in ferroelectric crystals from depoling by providing compressive stress along a preferred crystallographic axis.