Variable electro-optic element

Claim 2

A variable optical device for varying the shape of a wavefront comprising: an electro-optic medium whose index of refraction varies as a function of the intensity of an applied electric field; means for sensing the shape of a wavefront means for applying to said electro-optic medium an electric field whose intensity varies in a pattern that produces a spatial variation of the index of refraction of said electrooptic medium, said means for applying being responsive to said means for sensing to thereby modify the shape of said wavefront as it passes through said electro-optic medium.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 in which said means for applying includes a photoconductive medium associated with said electro-optic medium.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 in which said means for applying includes an electrical blocking medium in a first layer and the photoconductive characteristic of a medium which is both a photoconductive and an electro-optic medium in a second layer.

Claim 5

The device of claim 2 in which said means for applying further includes a pair of electrodes with said mediums included between them and means for providing a voltage across said electrodes.

Claim 6

The device of claim 4 in which said means for applying further includes means for projecting on to said photoconductive medium an image whose intensity varies in a predetermined pattern representative of the pattern of variation of the index of refraction required to shape an incident wavefront.

Claim 7

The device of claim 5 in which said means for projecting includes lens means for focusing the image at the photoconductive medium.

Claim 8

The device of claim 5 in which said means for projecting includes beam joiner means for simultaneously directing the wavefront to be modified to said electro-optic medium and the image, whose intensity varies in a predetermined pattern, to said photoconductive medium.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 16 in which said means for varying includes a cathode ray tube responsive to said electronic camera means for providing a pattern for compensating for detected distortion.

Claim 10

The device of claim 7 in which the radiation of both said wavefront and said image are transmitted by said photoconductive medium and said photoconductive medium is sensitive only to said image radiation to change its conductivity.

Claim 11

The device of claim 5 in which said means for projecting includes a mask having a density that varies in said predetermined pattern.

Claim 12

The device of claim 5 in which said means for applying includes means for sensing distortions of a wavefront and establishing an image whose intensity varies in said predetermined pattern.

Claim 13

The device of claim 2 in which said electro-optic medium and said photoconductive medium are included in adjacent layers of separate materials.

Claim 14

The device of claim 2 in which said electro-optic medium is an electrical insulator.

Claim 17

Variable electro-optical apparatus for compensating for distortion in an optical system comprising: means for detecting distortion of a waveform from a said optical system; an electro-optic medium whose index of refraction varies as a function of the intensity of an applied electric field; means for applying an electric field to said electro-optic medium; means for submitting said wavefront to said electro-optic medium; means, responsive to said means for detecting distortion, for varying the electric field applied to said electro-optic medium to produce a variation in the index of refraction of said electro-optic medium to compensate for the distortion in the waveform.

Claim 18

Variable electro-optical apparatus for compensating for distortion in an optical system comprising: means for detecting distortion of a waveform from a said optical system; an electro-optic medium whose index of refraction varies as a function of the intensity of an applied electric field; means for applying an electric field to said electro-optic medium; means for submitting said wavefront to said electro-optic medium; means, responsive to said means for detecting distortion, for varying the electric field applied to said electro-optic medium to produce a variation in the index of refraction of said electro-optic medium to compensate for the distortion in the waveform.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 14 in which said means for detecting distortion includes interferometer means for creating an interference pattern with a wavefront.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 15 in which said means for detecting distortion further includes electronic camera means for sensing said interference pattern.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 17 in which said means for applying includes a photoconductor medium associated with said electro-optic medium, whose conductivity varies as a function of the intensity of incident radiation.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 18 in which said means for applying further includes a pair of electrodes with said mediums between them and means for providing a voltage occurs said electrodes.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 19 in which said means for varying further includes means, responsive to said means for creating, for directing said radiation pattern to said photoconductive medium.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 20 further including means for determining whether a particular distortion lags or leads its wavefront.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 21 in which said means for determining includes means for introducing a prescribed intensity variation in the interference pattern, and means for resolving distortions detected with said interference pattern against said prescribed variation.