US3743378A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical intensity matching means for two light beams
Assignee: Ampex Corp
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Filing: 1971-07-30
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1991-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A partially-reflecting surface of a beam splitter is made of a dielectric reflecting coating which at large incident angles of light is quite sensitive to the direction of polarization of the incident light. Thus two beams divided by the beam splitter and selectively directed to a common point, in parallel directions, etc., may be matched in intensity by placing a half-wave plate in the entrant beam and rotating same to change the polarization direction to alter the proportion of light that is transmitted and/or reflected by the beam splitter.
Inventors
- 👤 S Bousky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:51
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/10; G02B27/106; G02B27/14; G02B27/144; G02B27/145; G02B27/28; G02B27/283; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/29; G02F1/31
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A light beam intensity matching device for dividing a polarized entrant light beam into a plurality of light beams of equal intensities comprising; first optical means sensitive to the direction of polarization of the light incident thereon disposed to receive the entrant light beam and to reflect a percentage thereof in accordance with the direction of polarization sensed, wherein the first optical means includes beam splitter means having dielectric reflecting coatings disposed at a selected incident angle to the entrant light beam, second optical means is provided to vary the direction of polarization of the entrant light beam, wherein said second optical means adjusts the amount of transmitted and reflected light from the dielectric reflecting coatings, the beam splitter means including an optical flat having said dielectric reflecting coatings thereon at selected spacings along the sides of the optical flat; and optical utilization apparatus for receiving the reflected and transmitted light beams, wherein varying the direction of polarization between said first and second optical means introduces beams with substantially equal and variable intensities to the utilization apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A light beam intensity matching device for dividing a polarized entrant light beam into a plurality of light beams of equal intensities comprising; first optical means sensitive to the direction of polarization of the light incident thereon disposed to receive the entrant light beam and to reflect a percentage thereof in accordance with the direction of polarization sensed, wherein the first optical means includes beam splitter means having dielectric reflecting coatings disposed at a selected incident angle to the entrant light beam, second optical means is provided to vary the direction of polarization of the entrant light beam, wherein said second optical means adjusts the amount of transmitted and reflected light from the dielectric reflecting coatings, the beam splitter means including an optical flat having said dielectric reflecting coatings thereon at selected spacings along the sides of the optical flat; and optical utilization apparatus for receiving the reflected and transmitted light beams, wherein varying the direction of polarization between said first and second optical means introduces beams with substantially equal and variable intensities to the utilization apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The light beam intensity matching device of claim 1 wherein the beam splitter means includes a plane-parallel optical flat having said dielectric reflecting coatings thereon, and including partially-reflecting and anti-reflecting surfaces disposed at selected sides of the flat with selected spacings thereof therealong to introduce the reflected and transmitted light beams to the optical utilization apparatus at substantially equal and variable intensities.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
The light beam intensity matching device of claim 2 wherein the partially-reflecting surface is disposed on the first Side of the optical flat to receive the entrant light beam and to form transmitted and reflected beams of selected intensities, and the anit-reflecting surface is disposed on the second side of the flat at selected spacing from the partially-reflecting surface to pass the transmitted beam parallel to the entrant beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The light beam intensity matching device of claim 2 wherein a plurality of the beam splitter means and second optical means are coupled in cascaded arrangement to provide a corresponding plurality of light beams of substantially equal and variable intensities.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
The light beam intensity matching device of claim 2 wherein the anti-reflecting surface is disposed on the first side of the optical flat to receive the entrant light beam and exit the reflected beam, and the partially-reflecting surface is disposed on the second side of the flat at a selected spacing from the anti-reflecting surface to form the subsequently transmitted and the reflected beams of selected intensities.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
The light beam intensity matching device of claim 5 wherein the partially-reflecting surface passes the transmitted beam parallel to the entrant beam and reflects the reflected beam to the opposite side of the optical flat, the device further including an anti-reflecting surface disposed on the first side of the optical flat at selected spacing from the first anti-reflecting surface thereon to pass the reflected beam at selected angle of divergence from the transmitted and entrant beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
102 words
The light beam intensity matching device of claim 5 wherein the partially-reflecting surface passes the transmitted beam parallel to the entrant beam and reflects the reflected beam to the first side of the optical flat, the device further including a totally-reflecting surface disposed on the first side of the optical flat at a selected spacing from the anti-reflecting surface thereon to totally reflect the beam inpinging thereon, the device further including an anti-reflecting surface on the second side of the flat at a selected spacing from the partially-reflecting surface thereon to pass the reflected beam parallel to the transmitted and entrant beams.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |