Single acoustic frequency optical deflector

Claim 2

Apparatus for deflecting an optical beam comprising, in combination: a birefringent, acousto-optical medium within which said optical beam propagates; and means affixed to said medium for launching within said medium, and in diverse directions relative to the direction of optical beam propagation, an acoustic beam of substantially constant acoustic frequency to change the direction of propagation of a portion of said optical beam.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: said medium is located within an optical resonator tuned to resonate the wave energy of said optical beam; and including means for absorbing the energy of said acoustic beam after it has changed the direction of propagation of a portion of said optical beam.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said resonator comprises first and second mirrors suitably disposed about said medium along the path of said optical beam.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising: an array of N transducers affixed to a surface of said medium; and including means for selectively exciting said transducers.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said means for selectively exciting said transducers comprises a plurality of N signals having a predetermined phase relationship.

Claim 7

Optical deflection apparatus employing a substantially constant frequency acoustic beam comprising, in combination: a birefringent, acousto-optical medium; a source of optical wave energy; means for directing a beam of said optical wave energy onto said medium; means for launching an essentially constant frequency acoustic beam within said medium; characterized in that said optical beam, and said acoustic beam interact within said medium to produce a diffracted optical beam which propagates in a direction different from the direction of propagation of said incident optical beam; and means for changing the direction of propagation of said acoustic beam relative to the direction of propagation of said optical beam thereby varying the propagation direction of said diffracted optical beam.

Claim 8

Optical deflection apparatus employing a substantially constant frequency acoustic beam comprising, in combination: a birefringent, acousto-optical medium; a source of optical wave energy; means for directing a beam of said optical wave energy onto said medium; means for launching an essentially constant frequency acoustic beam within said medium; characterized in that said optical beam, and said acoustic beam interact within said medium to produce a diffracted optical beam which propagates in a direction different from the direction of propagation of said incident optical beam; and means for changing the direction of propagation of said acoustic beam relative to the direction of propagation of said optical beam thereby varying the propagation direction of said diffracted optical beam.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the ordinary index of refraction of said medium is greater than the extraordinary index of refraction of said medium.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the ordinary index of refraction of said medium is less than the extraordinary index of refraction of said medium.