US3787111A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrooptic grating for scanning a beam of light
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1973-04-16
•
Granted: 1974-01-22
•
Expires: 1993-04-16
Abstract
Abstract An optical grating is provided by an array of multiple stripe electrodes on a single major surface of an electrooptic crystal. Advantageously, in one type of operation (scanning), time-varying linear sawtooth voltage potentials (or electrostatic charges) are applied to each electrode. The rise times of these applied sawtooth voltages (or charges) vary for successive electrodes, such that the phase shift undergone by an optical beam propagating through the crystal perpendicular to the major surface varies substantially linearly with distance along the surface in a direction perpendicular to the stripe electrodes. Thereby, the optical beam is deflected (scanned) through an angle which likewise varies linearly with time. In other types of operation (including analog deflection), signal voltages are applied to sawtooth function generators which supply suitable voltages (or charges) to the electrodes, for deflecting the optical beam in accordance with a desired function of time.
Inventors
- 👤 J Giordmaine
- 👤 D Kleinman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 02:19
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/29; G02F1/292; G02F1/01; G02F1/03; G02F2203/00; G02F2203/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A DEVICE FOR THE DEFLECTION OF AN OPTICAL BEAM WHICH COMPRISES A. A LAYER OF ELECTROOPTIC MATERIAL TRANSPARENT TO SAID BEAM AND HAVING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY OPTICALLY TRUE MAJOR SURFACES; B. AN ARRAY OF ELECTRODES ON ONE OF SAID MAJOR SURFACES, THE OTHER OF SAID MAJOR SURFACES BEING FREE OF ANY ELECTRODES TO WHICH VOLTAGES ARE TO BE APPLIED; AND C. AN ARRAY OF TERMINALS TO THE ARRAY OF ELECTRODES, FOR THE APPLICATION OF ELECTRICITY TO THE ELECTRODES, THE ELECTRODES IN THE ARRAY HAVING A SPATIAL PERIODICITY SUITABLE FOR THE DEFLECTION OF THE OPTICAL BEAM INCIDENT UPON THE LAYER IN A DIRECTION HAVING A SIGNIFICANT PROPAGATION COMPONENT PERPENDICULAR TO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID MAJOR SURFACES, THE DEFLECTION BEING IN RESPONSE TO ELECTRICITY APPLIED TO THE ELECTRODES.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
128 words
A DEVICE FOR THE DEFLECTION OF AN OPTICAL BEAM WHICH COMPRISES A. A LAYER OF ELECTROOPTIC MATERIAL TRANSPARENT TO SAID BEAM AND HAVING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY OPTICALLY TRUE MAJOR SURFACES; B. AN ARRAY OF ELECTRODES ON ONE OF SAID MAJOR SURFACES, THE OTHER OF SAID MAJOR SURFACES BEING FREE OF ANY ELECTRODES TO WHICH VOLTAGES ARE TO BE APPLIED; AND C. AN ARRAY OF TERMINALS TO THE ARRAY OF ELECTRODES, FOR THE APPLICATION OF ELECTRICITY TO THE ELECTRODES, THE ELECTRODES IN THE ARRAY HAVING A SPATIAL PERIODICITY SUITABLE FOR THE DEFLECTION OF THE OPTICAL BEAM INCIDENT UPON THE LAYER IN A DIRECTION HAVING A SIGNIFICANT PROPAGATION COMPONENT PERPENDICULAR TO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID MAJOR SURFACES, THE DEFLECTION BEING IN RESPONSE TO ELECTRICITY APPLIED TO THE ELECTRODES.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device recited in claim 1 which further includes means for providing and directing the optical beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device in claim 1 which further includes means for applying the electricity as control voltages to the terminals of the electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device recited in claim 3 in which the voltages applied to the electrodes vary in time in accordance with a linear sawtooth functional relationship.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device recited in claim 1 in which the spatial periodicity is of the order of magnitude of the wavelength of the optical beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device recited in claim 5 which further includes means for applying the electricity as linear sawtooth voltages as functions of time to the electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device recited in claim 6 in which the frequency of the sawtooth voltages is different for neighboring electrodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device recited in claim 5 which further includes means for applying the electricity as voltages to the electrodes, said voltages varying as linear sawtooth functions of a control signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device recited in claim 5 which further includes means for applying the electricity to the electrodes such that the electrostatic charge on each of the electrodes varies as a piecewise linear sawtooth in time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device recited in claim 5 which further includes means for applying the electricity to the electrodes such that the electrostatic charges on the electrodes vary as piecewise linear sawtooth functions of a control signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3704935A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-21 | 1977-07-23 | 1978-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-21 | 1981-07-23 | 1982-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-21 | 1985-07-23 | 1986-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |