US3871747A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical waveguide display panel
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
•
Filing: 1972-10-03
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Granted: 1975-03-18
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Expires: 1992-10-03
Abstract
Abstract An optical waveguide which is provided with a means such as structure or change of index of refraction of the material to deflect light out of the waveguide along a desired path.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald A Andrews
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:51
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/011; G02F1/29; G02F1/295
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
An optical waveguide display panel; which comprises, a substrate, at least one slab or dielectric material of uniform thickness secured onto said substrate, said slab of dielectric material having an index of refraction higher than said substrate, a waveguide region formed by each of said slabs of dielectric material in which coupled light is trapped and directed along a trapped light optical path, at least one abrupt discontinuity means in each of said waveguide regions in optical alignment along the trapped light optical path of each of said waveguide regions forming at least one light scattering center in each waveguide region for scattering light out of said waveguide region upon encountering an abrupt discontinuity means therein, whereby light scattered out of each waveguide region by each of said abrupt discontinuity means is scattered in all possible directions from said waveguide region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
An optical waveguide display panel; which comprises, a substrate, at least one slab or dielectric material of uniform thickness secured onto said substrate, said slab of dielectric material having an index of refraction higher than said substrate, a waveguide region formed by each of said slabs of dielectric material in which coupled light is trapped and directed along a trapped light optical path, at least one abrupt discontinuity means in each of said waveguide regions in optical alignment along the trapped light optical path of each of said waveguide regions forming at least one light scattering center in each waveguide region for scattering light out of said waveguide region upon encountering an abrupt discontinuity means therein, whereby light scattered out of each waveguide region by each of said abrupt discontinuity means is scattered in all possible directions from said waveguide region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical waveguide display panel as claimed in claim 1; in which, said display panel includes only one slab of dielectric material including only one waveguide region therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical waveguide display panel as claimed in claim 2; in which, said one waveguide region includes only one abrupt discontinuity means forming one light scattering center therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical waveguide display panel as claimed in claim 3; in which, said light scattering center is along the upper surface of said waveguide region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical waveguide display panel as claimed in claim 3; in which, said light scattering center is located along the bottom surface of said waveguide region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
An optical waveguide display panel as claimed in claim 2; in which, said one waveguide region includes a plurality of abrupt discontinuity means therein in optical alignment with each other thereby forming a plurality of optically aligned light scattering centers therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical waveguide display panel as claimed in claim 6; in which, each of said plurality of light scattering centers are located along the upper surface of said waveguide region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical waveguide display panel as claimed in claim 6; in which, said light scattering centers are located along the upper and lower surfaces of each of said waveguide regions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical waveguide display panel as claimed in claim 1; in which, said display panel includes a plurality of side-by-side slabs of dielectric material each including a waveguide region therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
An optical waveguide display panel as claimed in claim 9; in which, each of said waveguide regions includes only one abrupt discontinuity means forming one light scattering center in each waveguide region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
An optical waveguide display panel as claimed in claim 10; in which, each of said light scattering centers are located along the upper surface of each of said plurality of waveguide regions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
An optical waveguide display panel as claimed in claim 9; in which, each of said plurality of waveguide regions include a plurality of abrupt discontinuity means therein in optical alignment with each other thereby forming a plurality of light scattering centers in each of said waveguide regions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
An optical waveguide display panel as claimed in claim 12; in which, each of said light scattering centers in each waveguide region are located along the upper surface of each plurality of waveguide regions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
An optical waveguide display panel as claimed in claim 1; which comprises, a light deflector means within said display panel in the optical path of each of said waveguide regions preceeding each of said light scattering centers formed by said abrupt discontinuity means therein for deflecting light from its normal optical path within said waveguide regions to said light scattering center of which it preceeds.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical waveguide display panel as claimed in claim 14; wherein, said light deflector means in an electrooptic material in said waveguide region.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical waveguide display panel as claimed in claim 5; wherein, said electrooptic material includes an electrode on directly opposite sides thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3617109A
Cited
US3674335A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-17 | 1978-09-16 | 1979-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-17 | 1982-09-16 | 1983-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-17 | 1986-09-16 | 1987-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |