US4848879A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light modulating device
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1987-06-22
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Granted: 1989-07-18
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Expires: 2007-06-22
Abstract
Abstract This specification discloses a light modulating device comprising a liquid medium whose physical properties are variable by heat, and a heat-generating element for heating the liquid medium to such a degree that boiling does not occur to the liquid medium. The specification also discloses a light modulation apparatus comprising a liquid medium whose physical properties are variable by heat, a heat-generating element for heating the liquid medium to such a degree that boiling does not occur to the liquid medium, and a optical system for taking out one of a light flux modulated by the variation in physical properties of the liquid medium and a light flux not modulated by said variation from a state in which the light fluxes are mixedly present.
Inventors
- 👤 Yukuo Nishimura
- 👤 Yuko Miyajima
- 👤 Kazuo Minoura
- 👤 Takeshi Baba
- 👤 Kazuhiko Matsuoka
- 👤 Masayuki Usui
- 👤 Atsushi Someya
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:16
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/0147; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/12; G06K15/1238; G06K15/1242; G06K15/1252; G06K15/1257; G06K15/129
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A light modulation apparatus comprising: a liquid medium whose refractive-index is variable dependent on temperature; means for imparting heat to said medium to such a degree that boiling does not occur to said medium to create a temperature distribution in said medium and forming a light modulating portion in said medium; means for condensing a light flux modulated by said light modulating portion; and a light-receiving member disposed at a position not optically conjugate with said light modulating portion with respect to said condensing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A light modulation apparatus comprising: a liquid medium whose refractive-index is variable dependent on temperature; means for imparting heat to said medium to such a degree that boiling does not occur to said medium to create a temperature distribution in said medium and forming a light modulating portion in said medium; means for condensing a light flux modulated by said light modulating portion; and a light-receiving member disposed at a position not optically conjugate with said light modulating portion with respect to said condensing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A light modulating device according to claim 1, wherein said device is provided with heat-generating resistance members as the heat-generating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A light modulating device according to claim 2, wherein said heat-generating resistance members are arranged in the form of a linear array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A light modulating device according to claim 2, wherein said heat-generating resistance members are arranged in the form of a matrix.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A light modulating device according to claim 1, wherein a planar light-reflecting layer is provided between said liquid medium and said heat-generating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A light modulating device according to claim 1, wherein said device is further provided with a colored filter layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The light modulation apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plane defined by a boundary between the liquid medium and the heat-generating means is adapted to intersect the incidence direction of said light flux.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
A light modulating device comprising: a liquid medium whose refractive index is variable dependent on temperature; and heat-generating means for heating said liquid medium to such a degree that boiling does not occur to said liquid medium to create a temperature distribution in said liquid medium so as to impart to said liquid medium a refractive-index distribution which is dependent on said temperature distribution; wherein said device further is provided with means for absorbing any pressure increase of said light medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
A light modulating device comprising: a liquid medium whose refractive index is variable dependent on temperature; and heat-generating means for heating said liquid medium to such a degree that boiling does not occur to said liquid medium to create a temperature distribution in said liquid medium so as to impart to said liquid medium a refractive-index distribution which is dependent on said temperature distribution; wherein said device further is provided with means for absorbing any pressure increase of said light medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The light modulating device of claim 8, wherein a plane defined by a boundary between the liquid medium and the heat-generating means is adapted to intersect the incidence direction of incident light flux.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
144 words
A light modulation apparatus comprising: a liquid medium whose refractive-index is variable dependent on temperature; heat-generating means for heating said liquid medium to such a degree that boiling does not occur to said liquid medium to create a temperature distribution in said liquid medium so as to impart to said liquid medium a refractive-index distribution which is dependent on said temperature distribution; optical means for taking out one of a light flux modulated by said refractive-index distribution created in said liquid medium and a light flux not modulated by said refractive-index distribution from a state in which said light fluxes are mixedly present; and light receiving means for receiving the light flux taken out of said optical means, said light receiving means being provided so as not to be optically conjugate to the portion of the liquid medium where said refractive-index distribution is generated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
144 words
A light modulation apparatus comprising: a liquid medium whose refractive-index is variable dependent on temperature; heat-generating means for heating said liquid medium to such a degree that boiling does not occur to said liquid medium to create a temperature distribution in said liquid medium so as to impart to said liquid medium a refractive-index distribution which is dependent on said temperature distribution; optical means for taking out one of a light flux modulated by said refractive-index distribution created in said liquid medium and a light flux not modulated by said refractive-index distribution from a state in which said light fluxes are mixedly present; and light receiving means for receiving the light flux taken out of said optical means, said light receiving means being provided so as not to be optically conjugate to the portion of the liquid medium where said refractive-index distribution is generated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The light modulation apparatus of claim 10, wherein a plane defined by a boundary between the liquid medium and the heat-generating means is adapted to intersect the incidence direction of said light flux modulated by said refractive-index distribution.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for controlling the quantity of light, comprising: a light modulating device, said device including a liquid medium whose refractive-index is variable dependent on temperature, and heat-generating means for heating said liquid medium to such a degree that boiling does not occur to said liquid medium to create a temperature distribution in said liquid medium; and means for controlling the quantity of a light flux subjected to modulation by said light modulating device; wherein said means for controlling the quantity of a light flux comprises illuminating means capable of applying a light flux to said light modulating device for a time shorter than a predetermined time during which said light modulating device can modulate the light flux in accordance with an input signal, and means for controlling the amount of relative time lag between the inputting of said input signal and the light emission of said illuminating means.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for controlling the quantity of light, comprising: a light modulating device, said device including a liquid medium whose refractive-index is variable dependent on temperature, and heat-generating means for heating said liquid medium to such a degree that boiling does not occur to said liquid medium to create a temperature distribution in said liquid medium; and means for controlling the quantity of a light flux subjected to modulation by said light modulating device; wherein said means for controlling the quantity of a light flux comprises illuminating means capable of applying a light flux to said light modulating device for a time shorter than a predetermined time during which said light modulating device can modulate the light flux in accordance with an input signal, and means for controlling the amount of relative time lag between the inputting of said input signal and the light emission of said illuminating means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus for controlling the quantity of light of claim 12, wherein a plane defined by a boundary between the liquid medium and the heat-generating means is adapted to intersect the incidence direction of said light flux which is subjected to modulation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
123 words
A light modulating device for modulating an incidence light flux within a predetermined time with respect to an input signal, in which the modulatable quantity of light varies within said predetermined time, said device comprising: a liquid medium whose refractive-index is variable dependent on temperature; means for heating said liquid medium to such a degree that boiling does not occur to said liquid medium to create a temperature distribution in said liquid medium so as to impart to said liquid medium a refractive-index distribution which is dependent on said temperature distribution; and illuminating means for causing a light flux to enter said liquid medium for a time shorter than said predetermined time and having a predetermined ratio with respect to said predetermined time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
123 words
A light modulating device for modulating an incidence light flux within a predetermined time with respect to an input signal, in which the modulatable quantity of light varies within said predetermined time, said device comprising: a liquid medium whose refractive-index is variable dependent on temperature; means for heating said liquid medium to such a degree that boiling does not occur to said liquid medium to create a temperature distribution in said liquid medium so as to impart to said liquid medium a refractive-index distribution which is dependent on said temperature distribution; and illuminating means for causing a light flux to enter said liquid medium for a time shorter than said predetermined time and having a predetermined ratio with respect to said predetermined time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The light modulating device of claim 14, wherein a plane defined by a boundary between the liquid medium and the heat-generating means is adapted to intersect the incidence direction of said light flux.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
106 words
A light modulation apparatus comprising: a liquid medium whose refractive-index is variable dependent on temperature; means for imparting regulated heat to said medium to such a degree that boiling does not occur to said medium so as to create a temperature distribution in said medium and forming a light modulating portion in said medium; and means for maintaining a light-receiving member for receiving a light flux modulated by said light modulating portion in said medium and wherein a diverse point of said modulated light flux which has been caused to diverge by said light modulating portion is in an optically conjugate relation to said light-receiving member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
106 words
A light modulation apparatus comprising: a liquid medium whose refractive-index is variable dependent on temperature; means for imparting regulated heat to said medium to such a degree that boiling does not occur to said medium so as to create a temperature distribution in said medium and forming a light modulating portion in said medium; and means for maintaining a light-receiving member for receiving a light flux modulated by said light modulating portion in said medium and wherein a diverse point of said modulated light flux which has been caused to diverge by said light modulating portion is in an optically conjugate relation to said light-receiving member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The light modulation apparatus of claim 16, wherein a plane defined by a boundary between the liquid medium and the heat-generating means is adapted to intersect the incidence direction of said light flux.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
112 words
A light modulation apparatus comprising: a liquid medium whose refractive index is variable dependent on temperature; means for imparting heat to said medium to such a degree that boiling does not occur to said medium to create a temperature distribution in said liquid and forming a light modulating portion in said medium; means for causing a light flux to obliquely enter said light modulating portion; optical means for directing the light flux from said liquid medium to a predetermined direction; and a light receiving means for receiving the light flux directed by said optical means, said optical means being provided so as not to be optically conjugate to said light modulating portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
112 words
A light modulation apparatus comprising: a liquid medium whose refractive index is variable dependent on temperature; means for imparting heat to said medium to such a degree that boiling does not occur to said medium to create a temperature distribution in said liquid and forming a light modulating portion in said medium; means for causing a light flux to obliquely enter said light modulating portion; optical means for directing the light flux from said liquid medium to a predetermined direction; and a light receiving means for receiving the light flux directed by said optical means, said optical means being provided so as not to be optically conjugate to said light modulating portion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The light modulation apparatus of claim 11, wherein a plane defined by a boundary between the liquid medium and the heat-generating means is adapted to intersect the incidence direction of said light flux.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-17 | 1993-01-16 | 1993-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-17 | 1997-01-16 | 1997-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-17 | 2001-01-16 | 2001-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |