Electro-optic modulator

Claim 2

An electro-optic modulator for modulating a light beam in accordance with input voltages, said modulator (12) comprising an electro-optic element (16), electrode means (17, 18, 19) associated with the electro-optic element, and means (31) for applying a light beam (32) to the modulator, characterised in that the electrode means comprises a two dimensional planar array of individually addressable electrodes (17a-17i, 18a-18i, 19a-19i) intimately associated with said electro-optic element for coupling electric fields into said electro-optic element in response to a two dimensional set of input voltages, whereby said light beam is spatially modulated in accordance with said input voltages.

Claim 3

The electro-optic modulator of claim 1 wherein said electrode array is a rectilinear array, whereby said light beam is spatially modulated along a plurality of transverse axes in accordance with said input voltages.

Claim 4

The electro-optic modulator of claim 2 wherein said electro-optic element has a reflecting surface (21), said light beam is applied to said electro-optic element at a grazing angle of incidence relative to said reflecting surface for total internal reflection therefrom, said electrodes are closely adjacent said reflecting surface to proximity couple electric fringe fields into said electro-optic element in response to said input voltages, and said light beam illuminates said reflecting surface over an area which is substantially coextensive with said array, whereby the internally reflected light beam is spatially modulated in accordance with said input voltages.

Claim 5

An electro-optic line printer comprising the electro-optic modulator (12) of any one of claims 1 to 3; means (33) for collimating said light beam laterally of said electro-optic element; a photosensitive recording medium (13); means for advancing said recording medium at a predetermined rate in a cross line direction relative to said electro-optic element; a rectilinear array of said electrodes including a plurality of separate rows (17, 18, 19) and columns (a-i) of electrodes, with the electrodes of each row being spaced apart laterally of said electro-optic element; means for applying respective sets of data samples to the electrodes of each of said rows, each of said data sample sets representing picture elements for a respective line of an image, whereby said electrodes couple electric fields into said electro-optic element to spatially modulate said light beam along a plurality of transverse axes- in accordance with the picture elements for respective lines of said image; and read out means (41) optically aligned between said electro-optic element and said recording medium for imparting an intensity profile to said light beam corresponding to the spatial modulation thereof, whereby said recording medium is exposed in accordance with said picture elements for said lines of said image. -

Claim 6

The electro-optic line printer of claim 4 wherein said data sample sets represent picture elements for adjacent lines of said image, and further including means (54, 55) for shifting each of said data sample sets from one of said electrode rows to the next as said recording medium advances a predetermined line pitch distance relative to said electro-optic element, whereby said recording medium is repeatedly exposed to substantially registered images of each of said lines.

Claim 7

An electro-optic display terminal comprising the electro-optic modulator (12) of any one of claims 1 to 3; means (33) for collimating said light beam laterally of said electro-optic element; a two dimensional optical display means (64); a rectilinear array of said electrodes including a plurality of separate rows and columns of electrodes, with the electrodes of each row being spaced apart laterally of said electro-optic element; means for applying successive sets of data samples to the electrodes of each of said rows, each of said data sample sets representing picture elements for a respective line of an image, whereby said electrodes couple electric fields into said electro-optic element to spatially modulate said light beam along a plurality of transverse axes in accordance with the picture elements for successive lines of said image; readout means optically aligned with said electro-optic element for imparting an intensity profile to said light beam corresponding to the spatial modulation thereof; and beam scanning means (62) optically aligned between said readout means and said display means for scanning said light beam in a cross line direction relative to said display means to display said image.

Claim 8

The electro-optic display terminal of claim 6 wherein said data sample sets represent picture elements for adjacent lines of said image, and further including means (54, 55) for shifting each of said data sample sets from one of said electrode rows to the next as said beam is scanned a predetermined line pitch distance relative to said display means, whereby said display means is repeatedly exposed to substantially registered images of each of said lines.

Claim 9

An electro-optic beam focussing and data tracking device for an optical memory having a recording medium (74) with at least one spatially predetermined data track; said device comprising the electro-optic modulator (12) of any one of claims 1 to 3, said input voltages representing a predetermined phase factor, thereby imparting a wavefront profile to said light beam, and a focussing lens (77) optically aligned between said electro-optic element (16) and said recording medium (74) for bringing said light beam to focus at a point (70) which shifts forward and back and side to side relative to said recording medium in dependence on said phase factor for beam focussing and data tracking, respectively.

Claim 10

An electro-optic device for optical data processing, said device comprising the electro-optic modulator of any one of claims 1 to 3; means for applying data to said electrodes in the form of said input voltages, whereby said light beam is spatially modulated in accordance with said data; and a focussing lens optically aligned with said electro-optic element for bringing said modulated light beam to focus, thereby providing an optical Fourier transform of said data.

Claim 11

The electro-optic device of claim 9 further including read out means optically aligned with said electro-optic element for imparting an intensity profile to said light beam corresponding to the spatial modulation thereof for image plane optical processing, said read out means including said focussing lens.