US3609004A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light deflection system
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1968-05-14
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Granted: 1971-09-28
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Expires: 1988-05-14
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for selectively deflecting a light beam into one of a plurality of beam paths by selectively changing the effective optical path of the beam through a refractive transparent fluid. A first embodiment selectively varies the quantity of fluid traversed by the light beam. Other embodiments use the combined refractive effect of transparent fluids in adjacent transparent fluid chambers to position a light beam.
Inventors
- 👤 George Willian Taylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:28
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F3/00; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
In a matrix for controlling the path taken by incident radiant energy, the combination comprising: a first group of fluid channels formed of transparent material and lying adjacent and substantially parallel to one side of an imaginary plane, said radiant energy being incident on said channels on the side of said channel opposite said plane; a second group of fluid channels formed of transparent material, crossing the first group of fluid channels, and lying adjacent and substantially parallel to the other side of said plane, the channels of said second group extending at an angle to those of said first group, each region of the matrix where a fluid channel of the first group crosses, that is, lies next to a fluid channel of the second group comprising an area through which incident radiant energy may pass; and means for selectively choosing, for each of said areas through which incident radiant energy may pass, one of four possible paths for said incident radiant energy comprising means for selectively filling with fluid transparent to said radiant energy at least one channel in each group.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a matrix for controlling the path taken by incident radiant energy, the combination comprising: a first group of fluid channels formed of transparent material and lying adjacent and substantially parallel to one side of an imaginary plane, said radiant energy being incident on said channels on the side of said channel opposite said plane; a second group of fluid channels formed of transparent material, crossing the first group of fluid channels, and lying adjacent and substantially parallel to the other side of said plane, the channels of said second group extending at an angle to those of said first group, each region of the matrix where a fluid channel of the first group crosses, that is, lies next to a fluid channel of the second group comprising an area through which incident radiant energy may pass; and means for selectively choosing, for each of said areas through which incident radiant energy may pass, one of four possible paths for said incident radiant energy comprising means for selectively filling with fluid transparent to said radiant energy at least one channel in each group.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination claimed in claim 1, wherein said first group of fluid channels extend in one direction and said group of second fluid channels extend in a second direction at an angle of substantially 90* to the first direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
The combination claimed in claim 1, including an opaque aperture plate lying substantially parallel to said plane and on the other side of said second group of fluid channels from said plane, said aperture plate having a transparent window for each region of the matrix where said first and second group of fluid channels lie next to each other, said transparent windows being located to receive from the respective channel crossovers only light traversing a selected one of said four possible paths.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
128 words
In a matrix for controlling the path taken by a beam of radiant energy, in combination: a group of transparent fluid channels lying side by side in succession along a plane, and aligned along an optical axis to provide a path through all of said channels to a beam incident on the first channel along said plane in a direction transverse the channels, each of said channels having its dimension along the optical axis different from that of each of the other channels; means for substantially completely emptying selected ones of said channels; and means for substantially completely filling all other ones of said channels with a fluid, transparent to said radiant energy for selecting which of a plurality of paths through said channels said beam will traverse.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
128 words
In a matrix for controlling the path taken by a beam of radiant energy, in combination: a group of transparent fluid channels lying side by side in succession along a plane, and aligned along an optical axis to provide a path through all of said channels to a beam incident on the first channel along said plane in a direction transverse the channels, each of said channels having its dimension along the optical axis different from that of each of the other channels; means for substantially completely emptying selected ones of said channels; and means for substantially completely filling all other ones of said channels with a fluid, transparent to said radiant energy for selecting which of a plurality of paths through said channels said beam will traverse.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
143 words
The combination as claimed in claim 4 further including: a second group of transparent fluid channels lying side by side in succession along a second plane and aligned along an optical axis to provide a path through all of said channels to a beam incident on the first channel along said second plane in a direction transverse the channels, the first of said second group of fluid channels facing the last of the first-mentioned group of fluid channels and positioned to receive any beam of radiant energy emerging from the last of said first-mentioned group of fluid channels; and means for selectively filling said second group of channels with fluid transparent to said radiant energy for selectively choosing one of a plurality of paths along said second plane which the radiant energy, applied to said first channel of said second group, may take.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-27 | 1975-03-29 | 1975-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-27 | 1979-03-29 | 1979-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-27 | 1983-03-29 | 1983-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |