US3740118A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self strain biased ferroelectricelectrooptics
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
•
Filing: 1971-12-01
•
Granted: 1973-06-19
•
Expires: 1991-12-01
Abstract
Abstract An electrooptic birefringent device and method of achieving birefringence including providing an electric field from one major surface to another of a ferroelectric ceramic plate which is capable of exhibiting electrically induced birefringence effects to electrically modify dimensions of said plate, rigidly fastening edge portions of the plate to a rigid structure, and thereafter modifying dimensions and birefringence of said plate by application of electric fields between the major surfaces of the plate.
Inventors
- 👤 C Land
- 👤 W Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:59
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01G; H01G7/00; H01G7/02; H01G7/025; H01G7/026; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/03; G02F1/055
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of providing a longitudinal mode electrooptic effect for varying birefringence in a ferroelectric ceramic plate having edge portions and oppositely disposed optical quality surfaces and which exhibits stable remanent strains, consisting of electrically inducing changes in dimension of said plate; restraining only oppositely disposed, spaced apart edge portions of said plate against any movement while simultaneously permitting movement of intermediate plate portions and remaining unrestrained edge portions of said plate concurrently with said dimension change, said unrestrained edge portions being adjacent and intermediate said restrained edge portions to apply an essentially uniaxial strain in said plate parallel to said restrained oppositely disposed edge portions during said movement; and thereafter applying an electric field through said plate perpendicular to said optical quality surfaces to vary birefringence in said plate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of providing a longitudinal mode electrooptic effect for varying birefringence in a ferroelectric ceramic plate having edge portions and oppositely disposed optical quality surfaces and which exhibits stable remanent strains, consisting of electrically inducing changes in dimension of said plate; restraining only oppositely disposed, spaced apart edge portions of said plate against any movement while simultaneously permitting movement of intermediate plate portions and remaining unrestrained edge portions of said plate concurrently with said dimension change, said unrestrained edge portions being adjacent and intermediate said restrained edge portions to apply an essentially uniaxial strain in said plate parallel to said restrained oppositely disposed edge portions during said movement; and thereafter applying an electric field through said plate perpendicular to said optical quality surfaces to vary birefringence in said plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said inducing includes producing an electric field in said plate from one major surface to the other to effect said dimension changes and removing said inducing field subsequent to restraining of said opposite edge portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said inducing field is removed prior to restraining of said opposite edge portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 2 including, subsequent to said producing step and prior to said restraining step, clamping of said plate from movement in a direction perpendicular to said opposite edge portions, and thereafter removing said field and depoling said ferroelectric ceramic plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said inducing includes depoling said ferroelectric ceramic plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
157 words
An electrooptic device consisting of a rigid supporting member; a ferroelectric ceramic plate having edge portions and generally oppositely disposed optical quality surfaces, said ferroelectric ceramic being a solid solution exhibiting electrically induced birefringence effects and stable remanent strains; means for fixedly securing only oppositely disposed, spaced apart edge portions of said ferroelectric ceramic plate to said rigid member against any movement and for leaving unrestrained edge portions adjacent and intermediate said secured oppositely disposed edge portions, said unrestrained edge portions and other intermediate Portions of said ferroelectric ceramic plate being free for movement to apply an essentially uniaxial strain in said plate parallel to said secured edge portions during said movement; first and second optically transparent electrodes, each disposed on one of said optical quality surfaces of said plate; and means for applying an electric field to said electrodes for effecting dimension changes in said plate resulting in said movement and birefringence changes in said plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
157 words
An electrooptic device consisting of a rigid supporting member; a ferroelectric ceramic plate having edge portions and generally oppositely disposed optical quality surfaces, said ferroelectric ceramic being a solid solution exhibiting electrically induced birefringence effects and stable remanent strains; means for fixedly securing only oppositely disposed, spaced apart edge portions of said ferroelectric ceramic plate to said rigid member against any movement and for leaving unrestrained edge portions adjacent and intermediate said secured oppositely disposed edge portions, said unrestrained edge portions and other intermediate Portions of said ferroelectric ceramic plate being free for movement to apply an essentially uniaxial strain in said plate parallel to said secured edge portions during said movement; first and second optically transparent electrodes, each disposed on one of said optical quality surfaces of said plate; and means for applying an electric field to said electrodes for effecting dimension changes in said plate resulting in said movement and birefringence changes in said plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 6 wherein said ferroelectric ceramic plate is initially strained.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 6 wherein said rigid member is substantially optically opaque and includes a passageway communicating and optically aligned with one of said electrodes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 6 wherein said first and second electrodes cover a substantial portion of said surfaces of said ferroelectric plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 6 including means for supplying polarized light to one of said surfaces of said plate; and means for sensing changes in birefringence of said plate;
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3560955A
Cited
US3666666A
Cited
US3659270A
Cited
US3600611A
Cited
US3663088A
Cited
US3653743A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |