US3736044A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dispersive acoustical deflector for electromagnetic waves
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1971-06-30
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Granted: 1973-05-29
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Expires: 1991-06-30
Abstract
Abstract An acoustical deflector for electromagnetic waves using a dispersive medium for propagation of the acoustic waves. That is, the thickness of the medium is approximately the wavelength lambda of the acoustic wave so that the phase velocity of the acoustic wave is a function of the acoustic wave frequency. Electromagnetic waves which interact with the acoustic wave fronts are deflected through different angles as the phase velocity of the acoustic wave changes due to frequency changes of this wave. Means are provided to excite an adjustable frequency acoustic wave in the dispersive medium.
Inventors
- 👤 E G Lean
- 👤 C G Powell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:16
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/29; G02F1/33; G02F1/335
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
An acoustic wave deflector for electromagnetic waves incident thereon, comprising: a medium which is dispersive to acoustic waves propagating therein, said acoustic waves having a phase velocity in said medium which is a function of the frequency of said acoustic waves; means for generating variable frequency acoustic waves in said dispersive medium, said acoustic waves interacting with said electromagnetic waves in said dispersive medium to deflect said electromagnetic waves in accordance with the frequency changes of said acoustic waves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
An acoustic wave deflector for electromagnetic waves incident thereon, comprising: a medium which is dispersive to acoustic waves propagating therein, said acoustic waves having a phase velocity in said medium which is a function of the frequency of said acoustic waves; means for generating variable frequency acoustic waves in said dispersive medium, said acoustic waves interacting with said electromagnetic waves in said dispersive medium to deflect said electromagnetic waves in accordance with the frequency changes of said acoustic waves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The deflector of claim 1, where said acoustic waves are guided acoustic waves, said medium having a thickness which is of the order of the wavelengths of said acoustic waves therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The deflector of claim 2, where said acoustic waves are selected from the group consisting essentially of Rayleigh surface waves, guided bulk waves, and Love waves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The deflector of claim 1, where said electromagnetic wave is an optical wave.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The deflector of claim 4, where said optical wave is a guided optical wave which propagates in said dispersive medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
An acoustic wave deflector for electromagnetic waves which are incident thereon, comprising: a thin film medium in which said acoustic waves can be propagated, said film being dispersive for said acoustic waves such that the phase velocity of said acoustic waves in said medium is a function of their frequency; means for generating acoustic waves of variable frequency in said film; a substrate on which said medium is located, the phase velocity of said acoustic waves being greater in said substrate than in said film, said acoustic waves interfering with said electromagneTic waves in said film to cause deflection of said electromagnetic waves when the frequency of said acoustic waves changes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
An acoustic wave deflector for electromagnetic waves which are incident thereon, comprising: a thin film medium in which said acoustic waves can be propagated, said film being dispersive for said acoustic waves such that the phase velocity of said acoustic waves in said medium is a function of their frequency; means for generating acoustic waves of variable frequency in said film; a substrate on which said medium is located, the phase velocity of said acoustic waves being greater in said substrate than in said film, said acoustic waves interfering with said electromagneTic waves in said film to cause deflection of said electromagnetic waves when the frequency of said acoustic waves changes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The deflector of claim 6, where said film has a thickness of the order of the wavelengths of said acoustic waves.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The deflector of claim 6, where said acoustic waves are selected from the group consisting essentially of guided bulk waves, Rayleigh surface waves, and Love waves.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The deflector of claim 6, further including an absorbing medium located on said film for absorbing said acoustic waves after interaction between said acoustic waves and said electromagnetic waves in said film.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The deflector of claim 6, where said electromagnetic waves are guided optical waves propagating in said film, the index of refraction of said substrate being less than the index of refraction of said film.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The deflector of claim 6, where said film is a piezoelectric material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The deflector of claim 6, where said acoustic waves cause Bragg scattering of said electromagnetic wave in said film.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
131 words
An acoustic wave deflector for electromagnetic waves which pass through said deflector, comprising: a medium located in the path of said electromagnetic waves in which said acoustic waves propagate, the thickness of said medium being of the order of the wavelength of said acoustic waves in said medium; means for generating variable frequency acoustic waves in said medium; a substrate on which said medium is located having wave propagation properties such that the phase velocity of said acoustic waves in said substrate is greater than that in said medium; utilization means responsive to said electromagnetic waves after passage of said electromagnetic waves through said medium, said electromagnetic waves interacting with said acoustic waves in said medium and being deflected through varying angles in accordance with the frequency of said acoustic waves.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
131 words
An acoustic wave deflector for electromagnetic waves which pass through said deflector, comprising: a medium located in the path of said electromagnetic waves in which said acoustic waves propagate, the thickness of said medium being of the order of the wavelength of said acoustic waves in said medium; means for generating variable frequency acoustic waves in said medium; a substrate on which said medium is located having wave propagation properties such that the phase velocity of said acoustic waves in said substrate is greater than that in said medium; utilization means responsive to said electromagnetic waves after passage of said electromagnetic waves through said medium, said electromagnetic waves interacting with said acoustic waves in said medium and being deflected through varying angles in accordance with the frequency of said acoustic waves.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The deflector of claim 13, in which said electromagnetic waves are light waves.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The deflector of claim 13, where said acoustic waves are selected from the group consisting essentially of guided bulk waves, Rayleigh surface waves, and Love waves.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The deflector of claim 13, further including an acoustic absorber located on said medium for absorbing said acoustic waves after interaction with said electromagnetic waves.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
128 words
An acoustic wave deflector for electromagnetic waves which pass therethrough, comprising: a medium which is dispersive to acoustic waves propagating therein, the velocity of said acoustic waves in said medium being a function of their frequency; a substrate for said dispersive medium, said medium being in contact with said substrate and having a phase velocity for said acoustic waves which is less than that in said substrate; transducer means for generating variable frequency acoustic waves in said medium which interact with said electromagnetic waves to deflect said electromagnetic waves in accordance with the frequency of said acoustic waves; absorbing means located on said medium for absorbing said acoustic waves after interaction with said electromagnetic waves; utilization means responsive to said electromagnetic waves after passage through said dispersive medium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
128 words
An acoustic wave deflector for electromagnetic waves which pass therethrough, comprising: a medium which is dispersive to acoustic waves propagating therein, the velocity of said acoustic waves in said medium being a function of their frequency; a substrate for said dispersive medium, said medium being in contact with said substrate and having a phase velocity for said acoustic waves which is less than that in said substrate; transducer means for generating variable frequency acoustic waves in said medium which interact with said electromagnetic waves to deflect said electromagnetic waves in accordance with the frequency of said acoustic waves; absorbing means located on said medium for absorbing said acoustic waves after interaction with said electromagnetic waves; utilization means responsive to said electromagnetic waves after passage through said dispersive medium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The deflector of claim 17, where said electromagnetic waves are light waves.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The deflector of claim 17, where said dispersive medium has a thickness of the order to the wavelengths of said acoustic waves.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
The deflector of claim 17, where said dispersive medium is piezoelectric.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
132 words
An acoustic wave deflector for electromagnetic waves which pass therethrough, comprising: a medium which is dispersive for acoustic waves propagating therein, the velocity of said acoustic waves in said medium being a function of their frequency; a substrate for said dispersive medium, said medium being in contact with said substrate and having a phase velocity for said acoustic waves which is less than that in said suBstrate; transducer means for generating variable frequency acoustic waves in said medium which interact with said electromagnetic waves to deflect said electromagnetic waves in accordance with the frequency of said acoustic waves; means for exciting guided electromagnetic waves in said dispersive medium, said guided waves interacting with said acoustic waves in said medium and being deflected through angles dependent upon the frequency of said acoustic waves.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
132 words
An acoustic wave deflector for electromagnetic waves which pass therethrough, comprising: a medium which is dispersive for acoustic waves propagating therein, the velocity of said acoustic waves in said medium being a function of their frequency; a substrate for said dispersive medium, said medium being in contact with said substrate and having a phase velocity for said acoustic waves which is less than that in said suBstrate; transducer means for generating variable frequency acoustic waves in said medium which interact with said electromagnetic waves to deflect said electromagnetic waves in accordance with the frequency of said acoustic waves; means for exciting guided electromagnetic waves in said dispersive medium, said guided waves interacting with said acoustic waves in said medium and being deflected through angles dependent upon the frequency of said acoustic waves.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The deflector of claim 21, where said means for exciting guided electromagnetic waves includes a light source.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The deflector of claim 21, where said dispersive medium has a thickness of the order of the wavelengths of said acoustic waves.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-28 | 1976-11-27 | 1977-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-28 | 1980-11-27 | 1981-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-28 | 1984-11-27 | 1985-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |