US3963310A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid crystal waveguide
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1973-08-20
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Granted: 1976-06-15
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Expires: 1993-08-20
Abstract
Abstract An optical waveguide, which combines a thin film of aligned liquid-crystal sandwiched between two dielectric plates, is capable of performing many active optical processing functions such as modulation switching and beam deflection.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas G. Giallorenzi
- 👤 Joel M. Schnur
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:40
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/1326; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/126; G02F1/29; G02F1/295
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A liquid crystal optical waveguide, which comprises a transparent substrate, a transparent plate spaced from said substrate parallel therewith, a liquid crystal waveguide medium placed between said transparent substrate and said transparent plate in surface contact therewith and having an index of refraction greater than that of said substrate and said plate, means to apply an electric field to said liquid crystal to cause dynamic scattering, means to couple light into said liquid crystal waveguide medium so that the light is guided through the liquid crystal medium between said substrate and said transparent plate in a direction paralleling said substrate and said plate, and means to couple light out of said liquid crystal medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A liquid crystal optical waveguide, which comprises a transparent substrate, a transparent plate spaced from said substrate parallel therewith, a liquid crystal waveguide medium placed between said transparent substrate and said transparent plate in surface contact therewith and having an index of refraction greater than that of said substrate and said plate, means to apply an electric field to said liquid crystal to cause dynamic scattering, means to couple light into said liquid crystal waveguide medium so that the light is guided through the liquid crystal medium between said substrate and said transparent plate in a direction paralleling said substrate and said plate, and means to couple light out of said liquid crystal medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A liquid-crystal optical waveguide as claimed in claim 1; wherein, said means to apply an electrical field to said liquid medium is one pair of oppositely disposed electrodes fixed relative to said liquid-crystal medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A liquid-crystal optical waveguide as claimed in claim 2; which includes, an electrical source for applying an electrical field between said pairs of electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A liquid-crystal optical waveguide as claimed in claim 3; in which, the electrical field between each pair of electrodes is variable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A liquid-crystal optical waveguide as claimed in claim 1; which includes, means for aligning said liquid-crystal to said substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A liquid-crystal optical waveguide as claimed in claim 5; wherein, means for aligning said liquid-crystal to said substrate is a monolayer of surfactant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A liquid-crystal optical waveguide as claimed in claim 1; in which, said liquid-crystal is nematic.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3311845A
Cited
US3695745A
Cited
US3694053A
Cited
US3802760A
Cited
US3704060A
Cited
US3838908A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-06-15 | 1979-12-15 | 1980-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-15 | 1983-12-15 | 1984-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-15 | 1987-12-15 | 1988-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |