US3861784A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Programmable diffraction grating
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1973-06-29
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Granted: 1975-01-21
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Expires: 1993-06-29
Abstract
Abstract An electrically alterable apparatus and method of operation thereof that permits the optical processing of an image is disclosed. The apparatus includes an array of optical cells comprised of a plurality of XY stripline arrays and a stripedomain film element. The stripe-domain wall separation and wall orientation at each point in the film element are selectively controllable for generating in the optical cell array an electrically alterable hologram. Domain wall configurations to perform various optical processing tasks are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernest J Torok
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:27
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/09; G02F1/091; G03; G03H; G03H1/00; G03H1/22; G03H1/2294
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
A programmable diffraction grating, comprising: a planar matrix array of X directional magnetic field generating elements; a planar matrix array of Y directional magnetic field generating Y elements; pairs of interacting ones of each of said X and Y elements arranged in an interacting X and Y directioned magnetic field configuration; X current source selection means selectively coupled to each of said X elements for selectively coupling an X selection current of selectable polarity and amplitude to a selected one of said X elements; Y current source selection means separately coupled to each of said Y elements for selectively coupling a Y selection current of selectable polarity and amplitude to a selected one of said Y elements; a plurality of coplanar stripe-domain film elements, a separate one inductively coupled to only a separate pair of said interacting X and Y elements for forming XY optical cells; current control means concurrently controlling said X and Y current source selection means for concurrently coupling selected X and Y selection currents of selected polarities and amplitudes to a selected one of said pairs of said interacting X and Y elements for generating in the plane of the one inductively coupled stripe-domain film element a resultant DC magnetic field HR of a predetermined direction and magnitude; AC field means inductiveLy coupled to said XY optical cells and coacting with the associated resultant DC magnetic fields HR for generating a selected configuration of substantially continuously different dimensioned stripe-domain wall separations in said plurality of coplanar stripe-domain film elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
A programmable diffraction grating, comprising: a planar matrix array of X directional magnetic field generating elements; a planar matrix array of Y directional magnetic field generating Y elements; pairs of interacting ones of each of said X and Y elements arranged in an interacting X and Y directioned magnetic field configuration; X current source selection means selectively coupled to each of said X elements for selectively coupling an X selection current of selectable polarity and amplitude to a selected one of said X elements; Y current source selection means separately coupled to each of said Y elements for selectively coupling a Y selection current of selectable polarity and amplitude to a selected one of said Y elements; a plurality of coplanar stripe-domain film elements, a separate one inductively coupled to only a separate pair of said interacting X and Y elements for forming XY optical cells; current control means concurrently controlling said X and Y current source selection means for concurrently coupling selected X and Y selection currents of selected polarities and amplitudes to a selected one of said pairs of said interacting X and Y elements for generating in the plane of the one inductively coupled stripe-domain film element a resultant DC magnetic field HR of a predetermined direction and magnitude; AC field means inductiveLy coupled to said XY optical cells and coacting with the associated resultant DC magnetic fields HR for generating a selected configuration of substantially continuously different dimensioned stripe-domain wall separations in said plurality of coplanar stripe-domain film elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The grating of claim 1 in which said AC magnetic field is directed substantially normal to the plane of said film elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The grating of claim 1 in which said film elements are individual portions of a continuous layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
158 words
A programmable diffraction grating, comprising: an array of optical cells, each optical cell including: a planar stripe-domain film element; orthogonal X and Y directioned-magnetic-field-generating X and Y elements inductively coupled to said film element; means for inductively coupling an AC magnetic field to said array of optical cells; selection means coupled to said X and Y elements for generating in the plane of each of said film elements a resultant DC magnetic field of a predetermined orientation and magnitude; control means controlling said selection means for separately determining the particular orientation and magnitude of each of said resultant DC magnetic fields in the plane of each of said film elements; a fixed configuration of stripe domains established in said film elements of said array of optical cells by said resultant DC magnetic fields in which interdomain walls are substantially continuous across two or more adjacent ones of said fillm elements, said interdomain walls having different dimensioned wall separations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
158 words
A programmable diffraction grating, comprising: an array of optical cells, each optical cell including: a planar stripe-domain film element; orthogonal X and Y directioned-magnetic-field-generating X and Y elements inductively coupled to said film element; means for inductively coupling an AC magnetic field to said array of optical cells; selection means coupled to said X and Y elements for generating in the plane of each of said film elements a resultant DC magnetic field of a predetermined orientation and magnitude; control means controlling said selection means for separately determining the particular orientation and magnitude of each of said resultant DC magnetic fields in the plane of each of said film elements; a fixed configuration of stripe domains established in said film elements of said array of optical cells by said resultant DC magnetic fields in which interdomain walls are substantially continuous across two or more adjacent ones of said fillm elements, said interdomain walls having different dimensioned wall separations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The grating of claim 4 in which said AC magnetic field is directed substantially normal to the planes of said film elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The grating of claim 4 in which said AC magnetic field is of a sufficient magnitude to overcome the hysteresis of said film elements during the initial application of said resultant DC magnetic fields.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The grating of claim 4 in which said AC magnetic fields are directed substantially normal to said interdomain walls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The grating of claim 4 in which said film elements of said array of optical cells are individual portions of a continuous layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The grating of claim 4 in which said wall separations differ between adjacent interdomain walls and along adjacent interdomain walls.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The grating of claim 4 in which said fixed configuration of stripe domains is comprised of a series of interdomain walls forming concentric circles of successively decreasing dimensioned wall separations.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The grating of claim 4 in which said fixed configuration of stripe domains is comprised of a series of interdomain walls forming parallel straight lines of successively decreasing dimensioned wall separations.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3752563A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-20 | 1978-07-22 | 1979-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-20 | 1982-07-22 | 1983-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-20 | 1986-07-22 | 1987-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |