US3574441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Achromatic polarization rotator
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1968-11-22
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Granted: 1971-04-13
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Expires: 1988-11-22
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus is provided for effecting controlled alterations in the polarization of a multiwavelength beam of radiation. Plural stress responsive elements are arranged in cascade to receive the radiation from a source; the elements being arranged in differing predetermined directions with respect to the polarization of the radiation. Dependent on the stress applied to the elements, the apparatus is tunable for bandwidth response. When stress is applied, the apparatus operates to provide a second state of operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas J Harris
- 👤 Erhard Max
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:25
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/0136; G02F1/03; G02F1/0305; G02F1/0322
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
Apparatus for effecting the selective polarization rotation of a plurality of linearly polarized wavelengths of radiation provided by a source through the same fixed angle, comprising: a plurality of stress responsive devices having substantially identical retardation and dispersion of birefringence And equivalent in number to the number of wavelengths of radiation arranged in cascade to receive the radiation and normally operative to pass said radiation without effect on the polarization of said radiation and operative when stressed to rotate the polarization of the radiation incident on them; each device having an axis providing a greater speed of propagation of the radiation through the device, the devices being positioned such that said axes are arranged at differing predetermined angles with respect to the axis of the original incident radiation, the differing predetermined angles for said axes of the first and last of said devices including an incremental factor offset respectively in a positive and negative manner from said axis of original incident radiation; and means for selectively stressing all of the devices by the same amount to effect the rotation of the polarization of all of the wavelengths through said fixed angle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
Apparatus for effecting the selective polarization rotation of a plurality of linearly polarized wavelengths of radiation provided by a source through the same fixed angle, comprising: a plurality of stress responsive devices having substantially identical retardation and dispersion of birefringence And equivalent in number to the number of wavelengths of radiation arranged in cascade to receive the radiation and normally operative to pass said radiation without effect on the polarization of said radiation and operative when stressed to rotate the polarization of the radiation incident on them; each device having an axis providing a greater speed of propagation of the radiation through the device, the devices being positioned such that said axes are arranged at differing predetermined angles with respect to the axis of the original incident radiation, the differing predetermined angles for said axes of the first and last of said devices including an incremental factor offset respectively in a positive and negative manner from said axis of original incident radiation; and means for selectively stressing all of the devices by the same amount to effect the rotation of the polarization of all of the wavelengths through said fixed angle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
185 words
Apparatus for concurrently effecting the selective polarization rotation through the same fixed angle of a plurality of linearly polarized wavelengths of light of a band provided by a source, comprising: a plurality of electro-optic devices having substantially identical retardation and dispersion of birefringence and equivalent in number to the number of wavelengths of light arranged in cascade to receive the light and normally operative to pass the light without effect on the polarization of said light; each device having an electro-optic axis providing a greater speed of propagation of the light through the device, the devices being arranged such that said axes are arranged at differing predetermined angles with respect to the axis of the original incident light, the differing predetermined angles for said axes of the first and last of said devices including an incremental factor offset respectively in a position and negative manner from said axis of original incident light; and means coupled to said devices for selectively activating all of the devices in the same manner to effect the rotation of the polarization of all of the wavelengths through said fixed angle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
185 words
Apparatus for concurrently effecting the selective polarization rotation through the same fixed angle of a plurality of linearly polarized wavelengths of light of a band provided by a source, comprising: a plurality of electro-optic devices having substantially identical retardation and dispersion of birefringence and equivalent in number to the number of wavelengths of light arranged in cascade to receive the light and normally operative to pass the light without effect on the polarization of said light; each device having an electro-optic axis providing a greater speed of propagation of the light through the device, the devices being arranged such that said axes are arranged at differing predetermined angles with respect to the axis of the original incident light, the differing predetermined angles for said axes of the first and last of said devices including an incremental factor offset respectively in a position and negative manner from said axis of original incident light; and means coupled to said devices for selectively activating all of the devices in the same manner to effect the rotation of the polarization of all of the wavelengths through said fixed angle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the last named means comprises a variable source of potential, the potential activating said devices being substantially the half-wavelength voltage for said devices and for a wavelength substantially midway within said band, the band of said wavelengths being altered as said potential is varied.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
121 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fixed angle is 90* and the plurality of wavelengths is an odd number, the devices being arranged such that said axis of the centrally located device is at an angle of 45* with respect to the axis of the original incident light, said axes of the first one-half of the remainder of such devices being arranged to provide angles with respect to the axis of the original incident light according to the progression: and said axes of the second one-half of the remainder of such devices are arranged to provide angles with respect to the original incident light according to the progression: n being the number of such devices and Delta said incremental factor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fixed angle is 90* and the plurality of wavelengths is an even number, the devices being arranged such that said axes of the first half of such devices have angles with respect to the axis of the original incident light according to the progression: and said axes of the second one-half of said devices have angles with respect to the axis of the original incident light according to the progression: n being the number of such devices and Delta said incremental factor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
199 words
An achromatic light polarization rotator, comprising: a source of linearly polarized light of a plurality of wavelengths for providing a light beam on a given axis; A plurality of electro- electro-optic devices having substantially identical retardation and dispersion of birefringence and equivalent in number to the number of light wavelengths to be rotated arranged in cascade to receive the polarized light beam and normally passing the light without effect on the polarization of the light beam but effective to retard the polarization of said beam when activated; each of said devices having a preferred axis providing a greater speed of propagation of the light beam through the device; the axes of said devices being positioned such that they are at differing predetermined angles with respect to said given axis, so that retardation of the beam through a fixed angle occurs in response to the activation of said devices, said retardation being the cumulative retardation imparted by the individual devices on the light beam incident on it; and means for selectively activating all of the devices in the same manner to effect the retardation and rotation of the polarization of all wavelengths through a fixed angle from said given axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
199 words
An achromatic light polarization rotator, comprising: a source of linearly polarized light of a plurality of wavelengths for providing a light beam on a given axis; A plurality of electro- electro-optic devices having substantially identical retardation and dispersion of birefringence and equivalent in number to the number of light wavelengths to be rotated arranged in cascade to receive the polarized light beam and normally passing the light without effect on the polarization of the light beam but effective to retard the polarization of said beam when activated; each of said devices having a preferred axis providing a greater speed of propagation of the light beam through the device; the axes of said devices being positioned such that they are at differing predetermined angles with respect to said given axis, so that retardation of the beam through a fixed angle occurs in response to the activation of said devices, said retardation being the cumulative retardation imparted by the individual devices on the light beam incident on it; and means for selectively activating all of the devices in the same manner to effect the retardation and rotation of the polarization of all wavelengths through a fixed angle from said given axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3439974A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-12 | 1974-10-12 | 1975-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-12 | 1978-10-12 | 1979-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-12 | 1982-10-12 | 1983-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |