Electrical control of light polarization utilizing the optical property of fluids

Claim 2

In combination: a source of plane polarized light; a single transparent container in the path of the light; at least two different optically active fluids, each such fluid, when in said container, rotating the plane of polarization of the plane polarized light through a different angle; and means for individually adding and removing said fluids from said container.

Claim 3

In combination: a source of polarized light; a two-state device having a single optical chamber in the path of the light which in one state said optical chamber contains fluid of the type which changes the polarization of the light, and which in the other state contains fluid of the type which does not affect the polarization of the light; means for controlling the state of said device; and means responsive to the amount of change in said polarization for varying the intensity of the light.

Claim 4

In combination: a source of polarized light; a two-state device having a single optical chamber in the path of the light which in one state said optical chamber contains fluid of the type which changes the polarization of the light, and which in the other state contains fluid of the type which does not affect the polarization of the light; means for controlling the state of said device; and means responsive to the amount of change in said polarization for varying the intensity of the light.

Claim 5

The combination claimed in claim 2, said fluid of the type which changes the polarization of light comprising a liquid.

Claim 6

In combination: a source of polarized light; a two-state device having a single optical chamber in the path of the light; means for placing said device in one state comprising means for filling said chamber with a fluid of the type which changes the polarization of the light, and for placing said device in its other state comprising means for filling said chamber with a fluid of the type which does not affect the polarization of the light; and means responsive to the amount of change in said polarization for deflecting the light.

Claim 7

In combination: a source of polarized light; a two-state device having a single optical chamber in the path of the light; means for placing said device in one state comprising means for filling said chamber with a fluid of the type which changes the polarization of the light, and for placing said device in its other state comprising means for filling said chamber with a fluid of the type which does not affect the polarization of the light; and means responsive to the amount of change in said polarization for deflecting the light.

Claim 8

In combination: a fluid which changes the plane of polarization of light; means for directing a plane polarized beam of light through said fluid; means for changing the length of the path in said fluid taken by said light; an element responsive solely to each different path length through said fluid taken by said light for correspondingly affecting, to an extent which is a given function of path length, a characteristic of said light; and an element which includes deflection means stationary relative to said plane polarized light beam responsive to each different path length through said fluid taken by said light for affecting the deflection of light solely as a function of path length.

Claim 9

In combination: a fluid which changes the plane of polarization of light; means for directing a plane polarized beam of light through said fluid; means for changing the length of the path in said fluid taken by said light; an element responsive solely to each different path length through said fluid taken by said light for correspondingly affecting, to an extent which is a given function of path length, a characteristic of said light; and an element which includes deflection means stationary relative to said plane polarized light beam responsive to each different path length through said fluid taken by said light for affecting the deflection of light solely as a function of path length.

Claim 10

In combination: a fluid which changes the plane of polarization of light; means for directing a plane polarized beam of light through said fluid; means for changing the length of the path in said fluid taken by said light in n linear increments, where n is an integer greater than 2; and an element responsive solely to each different path length through said fluid taken by said light for correspondingly affecting, to an extent which is a given function of path length, a characteristic of said light.

Claim 11

In combination: a fluid which changes the plane of polarization of light; means for directing a plane polarized beam of light through said fluid; means for changing the length of the path in said fluid taken by said light in n linear increments, where n is an integer greater than 2; and an element responsive solely to each different path length through said fluid taken by said light for correspondingly affecting, to an extent which is a given function of path length, a characteristic of said light.

Claim 12

In combination: a fluid which changes the plane of polarization of light; means for dIrecting a plane polarized beam of light through said fluid; means for changing the length of the path in said fluid taken by said light comprising means for varying said length in n linear increments in a geometric progression, where n is an integer greater than unity; and an element responsive solely to each different path length through said fluid taken by said light for correspondingly affecting, to an extent which is a given function of path length, a characteristic of said light.

Claim 13

In combination: a fluid which changes the plane of polarization of light; means for dIrecting a plane polarized beam of light through said fluid; means for changing the length of the path in said fluid taken by said light comprising means for varying said length in n linear increments in a geometric progression, where n is an integer greater than unity; and an element responsive solely to each different path length through said fluid taken by said light for correspondingly affecting, to an extent which is a given function of path length, a characteristic of said light.