Abstract There is disclosed an arrangement of two stages of electro-optic quadrupole deflectors in which the 90* polarization rotator previously thought to be essential for deflection in orthogonal coordinates has been eliminated. Moreover, the number of optical parts for the two-stage deflection has been reduced from three to one in that both coordinates of deflection can be obtained in successive portions of one continuous electro-optic crystal. This deflector is useful for circular scan deflection and for multiple-pass light deflection, both of which are useful in optical time-division multiplex communication systems. The successive sets of quadrupole electrodes are symmetrically shaped with respect to the axis and are displaced 45* relative to one another about the propagation axis.
Inventors
👤 Edward A Ohm
👤 Ralph F Trambarulo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-24 08:14
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/29
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for deflecting the direction of an incident electromagnetic energy beam, said apparatus being of the type comprising first and second electro-optic quadrupole deflection stages each including electro-optic material and having four electrodes laterally disposed around the propagation direction to provide constant field on the common axis of said stages when driven in quadrupole fashion, said apparatus being characterized by a symmetrical configuration of each said electrode with respect to said common axis, like crystalline axis orientations in said stages, and dispositions of the electrodes in said first and second stages that are rotated with respect to one another by 45* about the common axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for deflecting the direction of an incident electromagnetic energy beam, said apparatus being of the type comprising first and second electro-optic quadrupole deflection stages each including electro-optic material and having four electrodes laterally disposed around the propagation direction to provide constant field on the common axis of said stages when driven in quadrupole fashion, said apparatus being characterized by a symmetrical configuration of each said electrode with respect to said common axis, like crystalline axis orientations in said stages, and dispositions of the electrodes in said first and second stages that are rotated with respect to one another by 45* about the common axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the electrodes have semicircular cross sections in planes normal to the common axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the electro-optic material in the first and second stages is a single crystal of said material extending through both of said stages.