US4294507A
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Controllably deformed elastic waveguide elements
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1980-01-25
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Granted: 1981-10-13
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Expires: 2000-01-25
Abstract
Abstract An elastic two dimensionally guiding waveguide is controllably stretched between two or more different configurations, the different configurations being such that wave energy takes different paths through the waveguide at each of the two or more different configurations. The paths are different because wave energy which propagates along and between two parallel boundary surfaces or which follows a surface travels along a geodesic path and the geodesic path can be changed by stretchably deforming the surface shape in a suitable manner. In one embodiment an optically transparent sheet of rubber-like material is stretched into a depression or hole within a substrate using controlled pneumatic forces. Many different active functions may be implemented using this principle, including switching, variable focussing, modulation, scanning and deflection.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:12
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/061; G02F1/065; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/02; G02B26/08; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/122; G02B6/124; G02B6/1245
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An active waveguide element, comprising: an elastic two dimensionally guiding waveguide for propagating wave energy therethrough along a first path, said wave energy having immediately adjacent rays each experiencing the same effective propagation path lengths; and means for stretchably deforming said waveguide to a different configuration such that said adjacent rays would experience effective propagation path lengths different from each other if said wave energy were to still propagate along said first path, said wave energy propagating instead along a second different path through said waveguide when said waveguide is stretchably deformed to said different configuration such that said adjacent rays each experience the same effective propagation path length also when said wave propagates along said second path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
An active waveguide element, comprising: an elastic two dimensionally guiding waveguide for propagating wave energy therethrough along a first path, said wave energy having immediately adjacent rays each experiencing the same effective propagation path lengths; and means for stretchably deforming said waveguide to a different configuration such that said adjacent rays would experience effective propagation path lengths different from each other if said wave energy were to still propagate along said first path, said wave energy propagating instead along a second different path through said waveguide when said waveguide is stretchably deformed to said different configuration such that said adjacent rays each experience the same effective propagation path length also when said wave propagates along said second path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for stretchably deforming said waveguide is controlled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for stretchably deforming said waveguide is not controlled and said waveguide element acts as a transducer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 1 which acts as a lens for guided wave energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 1 which acts as a path switch for guided wave energy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 1 which acts as a modulator of guided wave energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 1 which acts as a guided energy wave scanner.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 1 which guides electromagnetic wave energy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 8 wherein said guided wave energy is light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 1 wherein said waveguide comprises a layer of elastic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 10 wherein said layer is a film.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 11 wherein said film is a thin-film.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 1 wherein wave energy is guided by said elastic waveguide along a two-dimensional surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 13 wherein wave energy is confined between and propagates along two parallel boundary surfaces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 13 wherein said means for stretchably deforming said waveguide stretchably deforms said two-dimensional surface between at least two different surface shapes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 15 wherein said two different surface shapes are both developable surfaces over the regions thereof traversed by wave energy.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 10 wherein said layer comprises a wave energy input surface and a wave energy output surface, said input and output surfaces remaining in the same relative position with respect to each other even while said layer is stretchably deforming between two different configurations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 17 wherein said means for stretchably deforming said layer forces a region of said layer from a position not in contact with a curved surface region of a substrate adjacent thereto into a position in contact with said curved surface region of said substrate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 10 wherein said layer of elastic material has substantially uniform thickness everywhere.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 1 wherein said deforming of said waveguide between two different configurations does not result in a change in propagation velocity of wave energy through said waveguide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 1 wherein said elastic waveguide comprises a transparent silicone rubber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 21 wherein said silicone rubber is a methyl-siloxane silicone rubber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 1 wherein said waveguide defines a two dimensional surface along which said wave energy propagates, said means for stretchably deforming said waveguide displacing a portion of said waveguide in a direction normal to said surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 23 wherein said two dimensional surface is curved.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
97 words
An active waveguide element, comprising: an elastic two dimensionally guiding waveguide; means for stretchably deforming said waveguide between at least two different configurations, a ray of wave energy being guided along said waveguide at substantially the same propagation velocity in any of said at least two different configurations and without substantial diffraction or scattering of said ray in any of said different configurations, said ray propagating along a first path through said waveguide when said waveguide has said first configuration and propagating along a different second path through said waveguide when said waveguide has said second configuration.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
97 words
An active waveguide element, comprising: an elastic two dimensionally guiding waveguide; means for stretchably deforming said waveguide between at least two different configurations, a ray of wave energy being guided along said waveguide at substantially the same propagation velocity in any of said at least two different configurations and without substantial diffraction or scattering of said ray in any of said different configurations, said ray propagating along a first path through said waveguide when said waveguide has said first configuration and propagating along a different second path through said waveguide when said waveguide has said second configuration.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 25 wherein said means for stretchably deforming said waveguide is controlled.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 25 wherein said means for stretchably deforming said waveguide is not controlled and said waveguide element acts as a transducer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 25 wherein said elastic waveguide guides a plurality of rays therethrough, each along a different path and each path is changed when said waveguide is stretchably deformed to a different configuration.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 28 which acts as a lens for guided wave energy.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 25 which acts as a path switch for guided wave energy.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 25 which guides electromagnetic wave energy.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 31 wherein said guided wave energy is light.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 25 wherein said waveguide comprises a layer of elastic material.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 33 wherein said layer is a film.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 33 wherein said means for stretchably deforming said waveguide stretchably deforms a region of said film between at least two different surface shapes.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 35 wherein said two different surface shapes are both developable surfaces over the regions thereof traversed by wave energy.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
38 words
An active waveguide element as defined in claim 35 wherein said film in said first configuration stretches across a depression in a substrate member adjacent thereto and in said second configuration is brought into contrast with said depression.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
134 words
An active waveguide element, comprising: an elastic two dimensionally guiding waveguide comprising a layer of elastic material; and means for stretchably deforming said waveguide between at least two different configurations, whereby geodesic paths through said waveguide are thereby changed, said layer comprising an energy wave input surface and an energy wave output surface, said input and output surfaces remaining in the same relative position with respect to each other even while said layer is stretchably deforming between two different configurations, said means for stretchably deforming said layer forcing a region of said layer from a position not in contact with a curved surface region of a substrate adjacent thereto into a position in contact with said curved surface region of said substrate by a difference in gas pressure on opposite sides of said layer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
134 words
An active waveguide element, comprising: an elastic two dimensionally guiding waveguide comprising a layer of elastic material; and means for stretchably deforming said waveguide between at least two different configurations, whereby geodesic paths through said waveguide are thereby changed, said layer comprising an energy wave input surface and an energy wave output surface, said input and output surfaces remaining in the same relative position with respect to each other even while said layer is stretchably deforming between two different configurations, said means for stretchably deforming said layer forcing a region of said layer from a position not in contact with a curved surface region of a substrate adjacent thereto into a position in contact with said curved surface region of said substrate by a difference in gas pressure on opposite sides of said layer.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
134 words
An active waveguide element, comprising: an elastic two dimensionally guiding waveguide, comprising a film of elastic material, for guiding a ray of wave energy therethrough; and means for stretchably deforming said waveguide between at least a first and a second configuration such that a ray traveling through said wavegide follows a first path when said waveguide is in said first configuration and follows a second path different from said first path when said waveguide is in said second configuration, said means for stretchably deforming said waveguide stretchably deforming a region of said film between at least two different surface shapes, said film in said first configuration stretching across a depression in a substrate member adjacent thereto and in said second configuration being brought into contact with said depression, said depression having a pyramidal shape.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
134 words
An active waveguide element, comprising: an elastic two dimensionally guiding waveguide, comprising a film of elastic material, for guiding a ray of wave energy therethrough; and means for stretchably deforming said waveguide between at least a first and a second configuration such that a ray traveling through said wavegide follows a first path when said waveguide is in said first configuration and follows a second path different from said first path when said waveguide is in said second configuration, said means for stretchably deforming said waveguide stretchably deforming a region of said film between at least two different surface shapes, said film in said first configuration stretching across a depression in a substrate member adjacent thereto and in said second configuration being brought into contact with said depression, said depression having a pyramidal shape.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
156 words
An active waveguide element, comprising: an elastic two dimensionally guiding waveguide, comprising a film of elastic material, for guiding a ray of wave energy therethrough; and means for stretchably deforming said waveguide between at least a first and a second configuration such that a ray traveling through said wavegide follows a first path when said waveguide is in said first configuration and follows a second path different from said first path when said waveguide is in said second configuration, said means for stretchably deforming said waveguide stretchably deforming a region of said film between at least two different surface shapes, said film in said first configuration stretching across a depression in a substrate member adjacent thereto and in said second configuration being brought into contact with said depression, said depression being a combination of geometrical surface parts taken from the group consisting of cones, cylinders, planes, and tangential developables, said parts being joined along a generator.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
156 words
An active waveguide element, comprising: an elastic two dimensionally guiding waveguide, comprising a film of elastic material, for guiding a ray of wave energy therethrough; and means for stretchably deforming said waveguide between at least a first and a second configuration such that a ray traveling through said wavegide follows a first path when said waveguide is in said first configuration and follows a second path different from said first path when said waveguide is in said second configuration, said means for stretchably deforming said waveguide stretchably deforming a region of said film between at least two different surface shapes, said film in said first configuration stretching across a depression in a substrate member adjacent thereto and in said second configuration being brought into contact with said depression, said depression being a combination of geometrical surface parts taken from the group consisting of cones, cylinders, planes, and tangential developables, said parts being joined along a generator.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
130 words
An active waveguide element, comprising: an elastic two dimensionally guiding waveguide, comprising a film of elastic material, for guiding a ray of wave energy therethrough; and means for stretchably deforming said waveguide between at least a first and a second configuration such that a ray traveling through said waveguide follows a first path when said waveguide is in said first configuration and follows a second path different from said first path when said waveguide is in said second configuration, said means for stretchably deforming said waveguide stretchably deforming a region of said film between at least two different surface shapes, said surface shapes being both formed by combining geometrical surface parts taken from the group consisting of cones, cylinders, planes and tangential developables, said parts being joined along a generator.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
130 words
An active waveguide element, comprising: an elastic two dimensionally guiding waveguide, comprising a film of elastic material, for guiding a ray of wave energy therethrough; and means for stretchably deforming said waveguide between at least a first and a second configuration such that a ray traveling through said waveguide follows a first path when said waveguide is in said first configuration and follows a second path different from said first path when said waveguide is in said second configuration, said means for stretchably deforming said waveguide stretchably deforming a region of said film between at least two different surface shapes, said surface shapes being both formed by combining geometrical surface parts taken from the group consisting of cones, cylinders, planes and tangential developables, said parts being joined along a generator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-10-12 | 1985-04-13 | 1985-10-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-10-12 | 1989-04-13 | 1989-10-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-10-12 | 1993-04-13 | 1993-10-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |