Self strain biased ferroelectricelectrooptics

Claim 3

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

The method of claim 2 wherein said inducing field is removed prior to restraining of said opposite edge portions.

Claim 5

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

The method of claim 1 wherein said inducing includes depoling said ferroelectric ceramic plate.

Claim 7

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

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

The device of claim 6 wherein said ferroelectric ceramic plate is initially strained.

Claim 10

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

The device of claim 6 wherein said first and second electrodes cover a substantial portion of said surfaces of said ferroelectric plate.

Claim 12

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;