US3841733A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical waveguide system for producing a line of modulated radiation data
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1973-12-05
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1993-12-05
Abstract
Abstract A laser image recorder constructed while utilizing integrated optics techniques. In the preferred embodiment, a grating coupler on top of a glass waveguide diffracts a laser beam into the waveguide. An aspheric diverging lens in the waveguide diverges the laser beam across the full width of the waveguide. An aspheric collimating lens positioned across the full width of the waveguide collimates the beam and directs equal intensity radiation into a large number of equally spaced, parallel, electro-optical modulators. Voltages are selectively applied to each of the electro-optical modulators to produce at the output of the modulators an intensity modulated line of light. A film is positioned adjacent to the output of the modulators and records the line. The film is transported in a direction perpendicular to the line and a second line is recorded, etc. In a second embodiment light is coupled into the waveguide by means of a prism-film coupler. In a third embodiment the laser beam is focused onto the end of the waveguide. A fourth embodiment utilizes a cylindrical lens system to focus a line image of the laser beam directly onto the electro-optical modulators. Another embodiment illustrates a color recorder wherein three separate line recorders, as described above, are placed adjacent to each other, with a first recorder utilizing a red laser beam, a second recorder utilizing a yellow laser beam, and a third recorder utilizing a blue laser beam.
Inventors
- 👤 J Ebersole
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:47
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/12004; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/011; G02F1/29; G02F1/295; G02F1/2955
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A system for forming a line of modulated radiation data and comprising: a. a radiation waveguide means for guiding radiation therein, said waveguide means having a thickness and width at its output such that it forms a line of radiation acrOss its width at its output; b. means for introducing radiation into said radiation waveguide means; and c. a plurality of electro-optic modulators spaced across the width of the output of said waveguide means for selectively modulating radiation in said waveguide means in accordance with electrical signals applied to each electro-optic modulator, whereby a line of modulated radiation data is produced at the output of said waveguide means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
A system for forming a line of modulated radiation data and comprising: a. a radiation waveguide means for guiding radiation therein, said waveguide means having a thickness and width at its output such that it forms a line of radiation acrOss its width at its output; b. means for introducing radiation into said radiation waveguide means; and c. a plurality of electro-optic modulators spaced across the width of the output of said waveguide means for selectively modulating radiation in said waveguide means in accordance with electrical signals applied to each electro-optic modulator, whereby a line of modulated radiation data is produced at the output of said waveguide means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 and including means for directing substantially equal intensity radiation into each of said plurality of electro-optic modulators.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for directing substantially equal intensity radiation includes a waveguide lens system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said waveguide lens system includes an aspheric diverging waveguide lens system for diverging the radiation in the waveguide means across the width of said waveguide means and an aspheric collimating waveguide lens system for collimating said diverging radiation to produce collimated, substantially equal intensity radiation across the width of said waveguide means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the system is utilized as a recorder and further including means for recording the line of modulated data at the output of said plurality of electro-optic modulators.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for recording includes means for recording a plurality of lines of modulated data with each line of modulated data being recorded adjacent to another line of modulated data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for introducing radiation into said waveguide means includes a laser.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means for introducing radiation into said waveguide means includes a grating coupler means on the surface of said waveguide means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus for forming a plurality of adjacent lines of modulated radiation data and including a plurality of adjacent systems as set forth in claim 1, each of which form a line of modulated radiation data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 with each adjacent line of modulated radiation data being formed with a different color radiation, and wherein said means for introducing radiation in each adjacent system includes means for introducing a different color radiation into each of said plurality of adjacent systems.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 and including means for applying electrical signals to said plurality of electro-optic modulators and comprising a plurality of electrical connections formed on one surface of said waveguide means in accordance with integrated electronic circuit techniques.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said electro-optic modulators includes means for varying the phase of at least one component of the radiation passing therethrough.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as set forth in claim 12 and including means for directing substantially equal intensity radiation into each of said plurality of electro-optic modulators.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said means for introducing radiation into said waveguide includes a laser.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein the system is utilized as a recorder and further including means for recording the line of modulated data at the output of said plurality of electro-optic modulators.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said means for recording includes means for recording a plurality of lines of modulated data with each line of modulated data being recorded adjacent to another line of modulated data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as set forth in claim 16 and including means for applying electrical signals to said plurality of electro-optic modulators and comprising a plurality of electrical connections formed on one surface of said waveguide means in accordance with integrated electronic circuit techniques.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus for forming a plurality of adjaceNt lines of modulated radiation data and including a plurality of adjacent systems as set forth in claim 17, each of which form a line of modulated radiation data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3614198A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |