US3741626A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Communication
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1971-08-18
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Granted: 1973-06-26
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Expires: 1991-08-18
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed apparatus and a method for producing a selected visual pattern. A colliminated linearly-polarized laser beam of radiation, is passed in succession through, and subdivided into a matrix of potentially visual elements by, a pair of matrices of coextensive light-modulating cells, each cell matrix formed by crossed arrays of electro-optic crystals disposed with their optic axes at right angles to the beam and at right angles to each other. Voltage is impressed on selected crystals of each array of the first matrix to produce a phase shift of 90* in the plane of polarization of the elements of the beam passed by these selected crystals. The beam emerging from the first cell matrix is passed through a linear polarizer whose polarization is in the same plane as the incident beam, the polarizer passes only elements of the beam which were modulated by crystals of both arrays and unmodulated elements. Voltage is impressed on crystals of each array forming the second matrix which are coextensive with the selected crystals of the first matrix; this voltage shifts the plane of polarization of the beam elements passed by both crystals of the second matrix by 90*. The beam emerging from the second matrix is passed through a polarizer whose plane of polarization is at 90* to the polarization of the incident beam. Only the elements of the beam which pass through the crystals of all four arrays emerges.
Inventors
- 👤 J Wentz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 04:01
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/03; G02F1/0305; G02F1/0322
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
709 words
Apparatus for producing a predetermined pattern of radiation including means for producing an incident beam of linearly polarized radiation, first and second arrays of electro-optic crystals disposed in succession in the path of said beam with the optic axes (Z axes) of the crystals of both arrays generally perpendicular to said beam and with the optic axes of the crystals of one array generally perpendicular to the electrooptic axis of the other, the portion of said beam passed by each crystal of said first array being capable of passing through a plurality of crystals of the second array, coextensive crystals of said arrays along the beam forming electro-optic cells, first means, connected to at least one selected crystal of said first array, for impressing a phase change of substantially pi radians on one of the electric-field-vector components of the portion of said beam passing through said one crystal, second means, connected to at least one selected crystal of said second array, for impressing a phase change of substantially pi radians on one of the electric-field-vector components of the portion of said beam passed by said first array through said second array, the electric-field-vector component of the portion of said beam passed through the cell including the selected crystal of said first array and the selected crystal of said second array being subjected to a phase change of substantially 2 pi radians and remaining linearly polarized in the same plane as said incident beam and the electric-field-vector components of the portions of said beam passed by a cell including only one of said selected crystals being subjected to a phase change of substantially pi raDians and being polarized in a plane at right angles to the plane of polarization of the incident beam, first polarizer means interposed in the path of the resulting beam passed by said second array, said polarizer means passing radiation whose plane of polarization is substantially the same as that of said incident beam, third and fourth arrays of electro-optic crystals interposed in succession in the path of the resulting beam passed by said first polarizer means with their optic axes generally perpendicular to said last-named resulting beam and with the optic axes of the crystals of said third array generally perpendicular to the optic axes of the crystals of said fourth array, any portion of said beam passed by each crystal of said third array being capable of passing through a plurality of crystals of said fourth array, coextensive crystals of said third and fourth arrays along the beam forming electro-optic cells, third means, connected to at least one selected crystal of said third array, which crystal is in the path of, and is, capable of passing that portion of the lastnamed resulting beam, if any, derived from the portion of the beam passed by the selected crystal of the first array, for impressing a phase-change substantially less than pi radians on one of the electric-field-vector components of the portion of the beam, if any, passed by said last-named selected crystal of said third array, fourth means, connected to at least the one selected crystal of said fourth array, which is capable of passing the resulting beam, if any, passed by said third array, which portion is derived from the portion of this beam transmitted by the selected crystal of the second array, for impressing a phase change on one of the electric-vector components of the portion of the beam, if any, passed by said selected crystal of said fourth array, such that the total phase change impressed on any portion of the beam passed by the cell including the selected crystal of the third array and selected crystal of the fourth array is substantially pi radians, whereby the plane of polarization of the last-named portion of the resulting beam transmitted by said selected crystal of said fourth array is generally at right angles to the corresponding portion of the resulting beam incident on said selected crystal of said third array, and second polarizer means interposed in the path of the resulting beam transmitted by said fourth array, the plane of polarization of the radiation transmitted by said second polarizer means being generally at right angles to the plane of polarization of said incident beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
709 words
Apparatus for producing a predetermined pattern of radiation including means for producing an incident beam of linearly polarized radiation, first and second arrays of electro-optic crystals disposed in succession in the path of said beam with the optic axes (Z axes) of the crystals of both arrays generally perpendicular to said beam and with the optic axes of the crystals of one array generally perpendicular to the electrooptic axis of the other, the portion of said beam passed by each crystal of said first array being capable of passing through a plurality of crystals of the second array, coextensive crystals of said arrays along the beam forming electro-optic cells, first means, connected to at least one selected crystal of said first array, for impressing a phase change of substantially pi radians on one of the electric-field-vector components of the portion of said beam passing through said one crystal, second means, connected to at least one selected crystal of said second array, for impressing a phase change of substantially pi radians on one of the electric-field-vector components of the portion of said beam passed by said first array through said second array, the electric-field-vector component of the portion of said beam passed through the cell including the selected crystal of said first array and the selected crystal of said second array being subjected to a phase change of substantially 2 pi radians and remaining linearly polarized in the same plane as said incident beam and the electric-field-vector components of the portions of said beam passed by a cell including only one of said selected crystals being subjected to a phase change of substantially pi raDians and being polarized in a plane at right angles to the plane of polarization of the incident beam, first polarizer means interposed in the path of the resulting beam passed by said second array, said polarizer means passing radiation whose plane of polarization is substantially the same as that of said incident beam, third and fourth arrays of electro-optic crystals interposed in succession in the path of the resulting beam passed by said first polarizer means with their optic axes generally perpendicular to said last-named resulting beam and with the optic axes of the crystals of said third array generally perpendicular to the optic axes of the crystals of said fourth array, any portion of said beam passed by each crystal of said third array being capable of passing through a plurality of crystals of said fourth array, coextensive crystals of said third and fourth arrays along the beam forming electro-optic cells, third means, connected to at least one selected crystal of said third array, which crystal is in the path of, and is, capable of passing that portion of the lastnamed resulting beam, if any, derived from the portion of the beam passed by the selected crystal of the first array, for impressing a phase-change substantially less than pi radians on one of the electric-field-vector components of the portion of the beam, if any, passed by said last-named selected crystal of said third array, fourth means, connected to at least the one selected crystal of said fourth array, which is capable of passing the resulting beam, if any, passed by said third array, which portion is derived from the portion of this beam transmitted by the selected crystal of the second array, for impressing a phase change on one of the electric-vector components of the portion of the beam, if any, passed by said selected crystal of said fourth array, such that the total phase change impressed on any portion of the beam passed by the cell including the selected crystal of the third array and selected crystal of the fourth array is substantially pi radians, whereby the plane of polarization of the last-named portion of the resulting beam transmitted by said selected crystal of said fourth array is generally at right angles to the corresponding portion of the resulting beam incident on said selected crystal of said third array, and second polarizer means interposed in the path of the resulting beam transmitted by said fourth array, the plane of polarization of the radiation transmitted by said second polarizer means being generally at right angles to the plane of polarization of said incident beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
527 words
Apparatus for producing a pattern of radiation, comprising means for producing an incident beam of linearly polarized radiation, a first array of electro-optic crystals in radiation-receiving relationship with said beam and with their optic axes, herein called Z axes, generally perpendicular to said beam, said array emitting a first resulting beam, a second array of electro-optic crystals in radiation-receiving relationship with said first resulting beam, said second array being disposed with their Z axes generally at right angles both to said first resulting beam and to the Z axes of said first array, said second array emitting a second resulting beam, coextensive pairs of crystals, of the first and second arrays, along the incident and resulting beams of radiation forming electro-optic cells, means connected to the crystals of first selected cells of said first and second arrays for producing a displacement of about 90* in the plane of polarization of those parts of the first resulting beam emitted by said first selected cells with reference to the plane of polarization of the corresponding parts of the incident beam, said means being also connected to the crystals of at least one second selected of the cells of said first and second arrays, for producing a displacement of about 180* in the plane of polarization of the part of the second resulting beam emitTed by the last-named selected cells with reference to the plane of polarization of the corresponding part of the incident beam, a first polarizer means capable of transmitting substantially only radiation having the polarization of said incident beam disposed in radiation-receiving relationship with said second resulting beam, said polarizer means being capable of emitting a third resulting beam of radiation, from which the portions of the incident beam passed only by said first selected cells are suppressed, and the portions of the incident beam passed by said second selected cells is transmitted, a third array of electro-optic crystals in radiation-receiving relationship with said third resulting beam and with their Z axes generally perpendicular to said third resulting beam, said third array emitting a fourth resulting beam, a fourth array of electro-optic crystals in radiation-receiving relationship with said fourth beam and with their Z axes generally perpendicular to said fourth beam and to the Z axes of the crystals of the third array, said fourth array emitting a fifth resulting beam, means connected only to the crystals of third selected cells of the third and fourth array, which are coextensive along the second, third, fourth and fifth beams with the second selected cells, for polarizing the parts of said fifth resulting beam passed by said third selected cells in a plane at right angles to the plane of polarization of the part of the third selected cells which is incident on said third selected cells, and second polarizer means capable of transmitting plane polarized radiation, whose plane of polarization is generally perpendicular to the plane of polarization of said last-named incident is part of the beam, disposed in radiation-receiving relationship with said fifth resulting means, said second polarizer means passing only the parts of the radiation of said fifth resulting beam passed by said third selected cells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
527 words
Apparatus for producing a pattern of radiation, comprising means for producing an incident beam of linearly polarized radiation, a first array of electro-optic crystals in radiation-receiving relationship with said beam and with their optic axes, herein called Z axes, generally perpendicular to said beam, said array emitting a first resulting beam, a second array of electro-optic crystals in radiation-receiving relationship with said first resulting beam, said second array being disposed with their Z axes generally at right angles both to said first resulting beam and to the Z axes of said first array, said second array emitting a second resulting beam, coextensive pairs of crystals, of the first and second arrays, along the incident and resulting beams of radiation forming electro-optic cells, means connected to the crystals of first selected cells of said first and second arrays for producing a displacement of about 90* in the plane of polarization of those parts of the first resulting beam emitted by said first selected cells with reference to the plane of polarization of the corresponding parts of the incident beam, said means being also connected to the crystals of at least one second selected of the cells of said first and second arrays, for producing a displacement of about 180* in the plane of polarization of the part of the second resulting beam emitTed by the last-named selected cells with reference to the plane of polarization of the corresponding part of the incident beam, a first polarizer means capable of transmitting substantially only radiation having the polarization of said incident beam disposed in radiation-receiving relationship with said second resulting beam, said polarizer means being capable of emitting a third resulting beam of radiation, from which the portions of the incident beam passed only by said first selected cells are suppressed, and the portions of the incident beam passed by said second selected cells is transmitted, a third array of electro-optic crystals in radiation-receiving relationship with said third resulting beam and with their Z axes generally perpendicular to said third resulting beam, said third array emitting a fourth resulting beam, a fourth array of electro-optic crystals in radiation-receiving relationship with said fourth beam and with their Z axes generally perpendicular to said fourth beam and to the Z axes of the crystals of the third array, said fourth array emitting a fifth resulting beam, means connected only to the crystals of third selected cells of the third and fourth array, which are coextensive along the second, third, fourth and fifth beams with the second selected cells, for polarizing the parts of said fifth resulting beam passed by said third selected cells in a plane at right angles to the plane of polarization of the part of the third selected cells which is incident on said third selected cells, and second polarizer means capable of transmitting plane polarized radiation, whose plane of polarization is generally perpendicular to the plane of polarization of said last-named incident is part of the beam, disposed in radiation-receiving relationship with said fifth resulting means, said second polarizer means passing only the parts of the radiation of said fifth resulting beam passed by said third selected cells.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
206 words
The method of producing a predetermined pattern of radiation from an incident linearly-polarized beam, the said method comprising the steps of subdividing said beam into a matrix of elements, producing a first resulting beam including first linearly-polarized elements of said matrix whose plane of polarization is unchanged, second linearly polarized elements of said matrix, whose plane of polarization is substantially at right angles to the plane of polarization of the incident beam and third linearly polarized elements of said matrix whose plane of polarization has been rotated substantially through 360* and is the same as that of said incident beam, modifying the first resulting beam by suppressing said second elements to produce a second resulting beam in which said second elements are suppressed, producing a third resulting beam including fourth linearly polarized elements of said matrix whose polarization is unchanged and fifth linearly polarized elements of said matrix whose plane of polarization is substantially at right angles to the plane of polarization of the incident beam, while suppressing the remaining portion of said second resulting beam, said fourth elements being coextensive with said first elements and said fifth elements being coextensive with said third elements, and producing a fourth resulting beam including only said fifth elements.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
206 words
The method of producing a predetermined pattern of radiation from an incident linearly-polarized beam, the said method comprising the steps of subdividing said beam into a matrix of elements, producing a first resulting beam including first linearly-polarized elements of said matrix whose plane of polarization is unchanged, second linearly polarized elements of said matrix, whose plane of polarization is substantially at right angles to the plane of polarization of the incident beam and third linearly polarized elements of said matrix whose plane of polarization has been rotated substantially through 360* and is the same as that of said incident beam, modifying the first resulting beam by suppressing said second elements to produce a second resulting beam in which said second elements are suppressed, producing a third resulting beam including fourth linearly polarized elements of said matrix whose polarization is unchanged and fifth linearly polarized elements of said matrix whose plane of polarization is substantially at right angles to the plane of polarization of the incident beam, while suppressing the remaining portion of said second resulting beam, said fourth elements being coextensive with said first elements and said fifth elements being coextensive with said third elements, and producing a fourth resulting beam including only said fifth elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for producing an incident beam of radiation is of the laser type and the beam is substantially coherent and monochromatic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first, second, third and fourth impressing means each includes means for impressing a potential generally parallel to the optic axes of each of the crystals of the selected cells to produce the phase change recited for each cell.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
122 words
Apparatus for generating a display pattern composed of selected radiation elements of a matrix of such elements comprising means for producing a beam of polarized radiation, a plurality of sets of electro-optic cells disposed sUccessively along said beam, each cell comprising at least a pair of crystals coextensive, along the beam, and each set of cells forming a matrix of cells with each cell of the matrix passing one of said radiation elements, corresponding cells of successive sets being coextensive along the beam, and polarizing means disposed in succession in the path of said beam, and means connected to selected cells coextensive in said beam, of all said sets for impressing voltages selectively on said selected cells to produce said display pattern.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
122 words
Apparatus for generating a display pattern composed of selected radiation elements of a matrix of such elements comprising means for producing a beam of polarized radiation, a plurality of sets of electro-optic cells disposed sUccessively along said beam, each cell comprising at least a pair of crystals coextensive, along the beam, and each set of cells forming a matrix of cells with each cell of the matrix passing one of said radiation elements, corresponding cells of successive sets being coextensive along the beam, and polarizing means disposed in succession in the path of said beam, and means connected to selected cells coextensive in said beam, of all said sets for impressing voltages selectively on said selected cells to produce said display pattern.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the polarizing means including a first polarizer interposed between the sets and a second polarizer interposed in the path of the resulting radiation emitted by the last set in the path of the beam, the planes of polarization of the first and second polarizers being crossed, the voltage impressed on the crystals of the cells of the sets being coordinated with the said plane of polarization to produce the display pattern.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the polarization of the first polarizer is the same as the polarization of the beam produced by the producing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the voltage is impressed simultaneously on coextensive crystals in the path of the beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
318 words
Apparatus for generating a display in a matrix array of radiation including an incident beam of plane polarized radiation, a first array of electro-optic cells on which said beam is incident and which sub-divides said beam into elements of a matrix of first resulting radiation, each said elements being passed by one of said cells, means impressing voltages on selected ones of said cells, for polarizing first elements of said first resulting radiation passed by said cells in a plane at right angles to the plane of polarization of the incident radiation, and on second selected ones of said cells for polarizing second elements of said first resulting radiation passed by said last-named cells so that said second elements remain polarized in the plane of polarization as said incident beam, a polarizer interposed in the path of said first resulting radiation passing only plane polarized radiation polarized in the same plane as said incident beam, said polarizer passing said second resulting radiation, a second array of electro-optic cells interposed in the path of said second resulting radiation, the cells of said second array being coextensive along the beam with corresponding cells of said first array and each cell of said second array passing an element of second resulting radiation which is passed by the corresponding cell of the first array, whereby said second array preserves the matrix of radiation produced by said first array, said second array passing a third resulting radiation, means impressing voltages only on first selected cells of said second array which are coextensive with the second selected cells of said first array for polarizing the strips of radiation passed by said second selected cells of said second array at right angles to the polarization of the incident beam, and a polarizer interposed in the path of the third resulting beam passing only radiation polarized at right angles to the polarization of the incident beam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
318 words
Apparatus for generating a display in a matrix array of radiation including an incident beam of plane polarized radiation, a first array of electro-optic cells on which said beam is incident and which sub-divides said beam into elements of a matrix of first resulting radiation, each said elements being passed by one of said cells, means impressing voltages on selected ones of said cells, for polarizing first elements of said first resulting radiation passed by said cells in a plane at right angles to the plane of polarization of the incident radiation, and on second selected ones of said cells for polarizing second elements of said first resulting radiation passed by said last-named cells so that said second elements remain polarized in the plane of polarization as said incident beam, a polarizer interposed in the path of said first resulting radiation passing only plane polarized radiation polarized in the same plane as said incident beam, said polarizer passing said second resulting radiation, a second array of electro-optic cells interposed in the path of said second resulting radiation, the cells of said second array being coextensive along the beam with corresponding cells of said first array and each cell of said second array passing an element of second resulting radiation which is passed by the corresponding cell of the first array, whereby said second array preserves the matrix of radiation produced by said first array, said second array passing a third resulting radiation, means impressing voltages only on first selected cells of said second array which are coextensive with the second selected cells of said first array for polarizing the strips of radiation passed by said second selected cells of said second array at right angles to the polarization of the incident beam, and a polarizer interposed in the path of the third resulting beam passing only radiation polarized at right angles to the polarization of the incident beam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
375 words
Apparatus for generating a display comprising means for producing a beam of linearly-polarized incident radiation, having interposed therein in succession; a first matrix of radiation-modulating cells formed of a first pair of arrays of electro-optic crystals, the crystals of one array of said pair being crossed with respect to the crystals of the other array of said pair and having their respective electro-optic axes substantially at right angles to the beam and to the crystals of the other array of said pair; and a second matrix of radiation-modulating cells formed of a second pair of arrays of electro-optic crystals, the crystals of one array of said second pair being crossed with respect to the crystals of the other array of said second pair, and having their resPective electro-optic axis substantially at right-angles, to the beam and to the crystals of said second pair; corresponding cells of the first and second matrices being interposed in said beam coextensively, whereby said matrices subdivide said beam into a matrix of potentially radiating elements; a first linear polarizer passing linearly polarized radiation having the same plane of polarization as said incident radiation interposed in said beam between said first and second cell matrices; a second linear polarizer passing linearly polarized radiation having a plane of polarization at right angles to said plane of the incident radiation interposed in the beam emerging from said second matrix; means for impressing voltages on selected crystals of each of the first pair of arrays shifting the plane of polarization of the elements of radiation passing through said selected crystals by substantially 90*, whereby the planes of polarization of those of said last-named elements passed by crystals of cells formed by both arrays of said first pair are shifted substantially by 180*; and means for impressing voltages on crystals of each array of said second pair which are coextensive with the crystals of the corresponding arrays of said first pair, said voltages shifting the plane of polarization of those elements of said radiation passed by both of cells formed by said last-named crystals of said second pair by substantially 90*, whereby only the said elements of radiation shifted by 180* by said first pair of arrays are passed by said second pair of arrays.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
375 words
Apparatus for generating a display comprising means for producing a beam of linearly-polarized incident radiation, having interposed therein in succession; a first matrix of radiation-modulating cells formed of a first pair of arrays of electro-optic crystals, the crystals of one array of said pair being crossed with respect to the crystals of the other array of said pair and having their respective electro-optic axes substantially at right angles to the beam and to the crystals of the other array of said pair; and a second matrix of radiation-modulating cells formed of a second pair of arrays of electro-optic crystals, the crystals of one array of said second pair being crossed with respect to the crystals of the other array of said second pair, and having their resPective electro-optic axis substantially at right-angles, to the beam and to the crystals of said second pair; corresponding cells of the first and second matrices being interposed in said beam coextensively, whereby said matrices subdivide said beam into a matrix of potentially radiating elements; a first linear polarizer passing linearly polarized radiation having the same plane of polarization as said incident radiation interposed in said beam between said first and second cell matrices; a second linear polarizer passing linearly polarized radiation having a plane of polarization at right angles to said plane of the incident radiation interposed in the beam emerging from said second matrix; means for impressing voltages on selected crystals of each of the first pair of arrays shifting the plane of polarization of the elements of radiation passing through said selected crystals by substantially 90*, whereby the planes of polarization of those of said last-named elements passed by crystals of cells formed by both arrays of said first pair are shifted substantially by 180*; and means for impressing voltages on crystals of each array of said second pair which are coextensive with the crystals of the corresponding arrays of said first pair, said voltages shifting the plane of polarization of those elements of said radiation passed by both of cells formed by said last-named crystals of said second pair by substantially 90*, whereby only the said elements of radiation shifted by 180* by said first pair of arrays are passed by said second pair of arrays.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
489 words
Apparatus for producing a radiant display including means for producing a beam of radiant energy; a first matrix of electro-optic cells, said first matrix comprising a first array of electro-optic crystals and a second array of electro-optic crystals, the crystals of each array being disposed in the path of said beam with their electro-optic axes at right angles to said beam, the crystals of the first array being disposed at an angle to the crystals of the second array, the cells being formed at the intersections of the projections of the first crystals on the second crystals; a second matrix of electro-optic cells said second matrix being formed of a third array of electro-optic crystals and a fourth array of electro-optic crystals, the crystals of each said last-named arrays being disposed in the path of said beam with their electro-optic axes at right angles to said beam, the crystals of said third array being disposed at an angle to the crystals of said fourth array which is substantially equal to the angles between the crystals of said first and second arrays, the cells of said second matrix being formed at the intersections of the projections of said crystals of said third array in the crystals of said fourth array, corresponding crystals of said first and third array being coextensive and corresponding crystals of the second and fourth arrays being coextensive, along the path of said beam, whereby corresponding cells of said first and second matrices are coextensive along the path of said beam, said first and second matrices subdividing said beam into a matrix of elements of radiant energy; radiant energy polarizer means interposed in the path of said beam; means connected to at least one crystal of said first array and at least one crystal of said second array for impressing voltages on both said last-named crystal to modulate in a predetermined manner that element of the matrix of said elements which is defined by the intersection of the projection of said one crystal of said first array on said one crystal of said second array, and means, connected at least to the crystals of said third array which is coextensive with the crystal of said first array, and at least to the crystal of said fourth array which is coextensive with the crystal of said second array, cooperative with said polarizer means, for suppressing the elements of said matrix of elements defined by the intersectiOn of the projection of said one crystal of said first array on crystals, other than said one crystal, of said second array, and by the intersections of the projections of said one crystal of said second array on the crystals, other than said one crystal, of said first array, and for transmitting the element of said matrix of elements defined by the intersection of the projection of said one crystal of said first array and said one crystal of said second array.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
489 words
Apparatus for producing a radiant display including means for producing a beam of radiant energy; a first matrix of electro-optic cells, said first matrix comprising a first array of electro-optic crystals and a second array of electro-optic crystals, the crystals of each array being disposed in the path of said beam with their electro-optic axes at right angles to said beam, the crystals of the first array being disposed at an angle to the crystals of the second array, the cells being formed at the intersections of the projections of the first crystals on the second crystals; a second matrix of electro-optic cells said second matrix being formed of a third array of electro-optic crystals and a fourth array of electro-optic crystals, the crystals of each said last-named arrays being disposed in the path of said beam with their electro-optic axes at right angles to said beam, the crystals of said third array being disposed at an angle to the crystals of said fourth array which is substantially equal to the angles between the crystals of said first and second arrays, the cells of said second matrix being formed at the intersections of the projections of said crystals of said third array in the crystals of said fourth array, corresponding crystals of said first and third array being coextensive and corresponding crystals of the second and fourth arrays being coextensive, along the path of said beam, whereby corresponding cells of said first and second matrices are coextensive along the path of said beam, said first and second matrices subdividing said beam into a matrix of elements of radiant energy; radiant energy polarizer means interposed in the path of said beam; means connected to at least one crystal of said first array and at least one crystal of said second array for impressing voltages on both said last-named crystal to modulate in a predetermined manner that element of the matrix of said elements which is defined by the intersection of the projection of said one crystal of said first array on said one crystal of said second array, and means, connected at least to the crystals of said third array which is coextensive with the crystal of said first array, and at least to the crystal of said fourth array which is coextensive with the crystal of said second array, cooperative with said polarizer means, for suppressing the elements of said matrix of elements defined by the intersectiOn of the projection of said one crystal of said first array on crystals, other than said one crystal, of said second array, and by the intersections of the projections of said one crystal of said second array on the crystals, other than said one crystal, of said first array, and for transmitting the element of said matrix of elements defined by the intersection of the projection of said one crystal of said first array and said one crystal of said second array.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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