Patent US3648845A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3764196A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reentrant acousto-optic light modulators and deflectors
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1972-09-05
•
Granted: 1973-10-09
•
Expires: 1992-09-05
Abstract
Abstract There are disclosed acousto-optic light modulators and deflectors in which the light beam path is folded in a wedgeshaped acousto-optic medium nearly in the plane of the wedge and the acoustic wave is propagated in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the wedge through the volume of the medium, at least in the portion thereof in which light beam overlaps are concentrated. Substantial reductions in the required drive power and material are achieved. Various species of the device also are disclosed employing variations of the principles of the wedge shape or variations of the electrode shape.
Inventors
- 👤 R Dean
- 👤 Warner A Woodward
- 👤 M Feldman
- 👤 J Griffin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:43
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/29; G02F1/33
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
An acousto-optic device comprising: a wedge-shaped acousto-optic medium oriented to receive a light beam for folded propagation therein nearly in the plane of the wedge, and means for launching an acoustic wave through a substantial portion of the volume of said medium in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the wedge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
An acousto-optic device comprising: a wedge-shaped acousto-optic medium oriented to receive a light beam for folded propagation therein nearly in the plane of the wedge, and means for launching an acoustic wave through a substantial portion of the volume of said medium in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the wedge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
An acousto-optic device according to claim 1 in which the wedge-shaped medium is oriented to receive the beam through a wedge surface other than the base of the wedge shape and to reflect the beam internally from the base of the wedge during the folded propagation therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
An acousto-optic device according to claim 2 in which the wedge-shaped medium is shaped symmetrically about a bisector of the base of the wedge shape, whereby the beam exits from the second wedge surface symmetrically at the same angle from the surface normal as the angle of the beam from the surface normal of the first surface upon entry therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
An acousto-optic device according to claim 1 in which the wedge-shaped medium is oriented to receive the beam through the base surface of the wedge shape and to reflect the beam internally from the wedge surfaces so that it ultimately exits through the base surface along a path that is optically resolvable from its entry path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
An acousto-optic device according to claim 1 in which the wedge-shaped medium has a shape corresponding to two wedge-shapes placed base-to-base, said shapes having differing wedge angles, said medium being oriented to receive the beam through a surface of the wedge shape having the larger wedge angle of the two wedge shapes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
An acousto-optic device according to claim 1 in which the means for launching the acoustic wave comprises a transducer restricted in area and shape to launch the wave only through a selected portion of the volume of the medium that is characterized by a greater number of beam overlaps therein than in the remaining portion of the medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
An acousto-optic device according to claim 6 in which the means for launching the acoustic wave comprises an electrode having a smaller area than the transducer and a smooth shape to provide equal modulation pathlengths for all rays of the beam.
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) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |