US4880296A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Opto-optical bean deflector, modulator, and shaper
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1987-06-04
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Granted: 1989-11-14
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Expires: 2007-06-04
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to an optical beam deflector, beam modulator and beam shaper using a Raman-Nath diffraction methodology generated by a plurality of writing laser beams focused onto a bulk optical material having anisotropic optical characteristics for deflection, modulation, and shaping of a beam of light incident to the diffraction grating. The writing laser beams are split from a turnable laser source and the choice of the desired operational characteristic, i.e. deflector, modulator, and shaper are chosen by selective manipulation of the source beam and the derived split beams.
Inventors
- 👤 L. Samuel Ditman, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:50
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/29; G02F1/293
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
An optical beam deflector comprising: a bulk optical material having aniosotropic light transmissive characteristics, a tunable laser, beam splitting means for splitting the light beam outputted from the laser into two or more beams, and means for focusing each of the split light beams into the bulk optical material, each of the split light beams being focused in a predetermined relationship to each of the other split light beams so as to form a Raman-Nath diffraction grating within the optical material for deflecting a beam of light incident to the grating.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
An optical beam deflector comprising: a bulk optical material having aniosotropic light transmissive characteristics, a tunable laser, beam splitting means for splitting the light beam outputted from the laser into two or more beams, and means for focusing each of the split light beams into the bulk optical material, each of the split light beams being focused in a predetermined relationship to each of the other split light beams so as to form a Raman-Nath diffraction grating within the optical material for deflecting a beam of light incident to the grating.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The optical beam deflector of claim 1 wherein the deflector further comprises means for varying the focused predetermined angle between the split light beam, whereby the deflection of the light beam incident to the grating is changed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
114 words
An optical beam modulator comprising: a bulk optical material having anisotropic light transmissive characteristics, a laser, means for amplitude modulation of the light beam outputted from the laser, beam splitting means for splitting the light beam into two or more beams, and means for focusing each of the split light beams onto the bulk optical material, each of the split light beams being focused in a predetermined relationship to each of the other split light beams so as to form a Raman-Nath diffraction grating within the optical material, the intensity of a beam of light incident to the grating being modulatable by amplitude modulating the laser output beam with the means for amplitude modulation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
An optical beam modulator comprising: a bulk optical material having anisotropic light transmissive characteristics, a laser, means for amplitude modulation of the light beam outputted from the laser, beam splitting means for splitting the light beam into two or more beams, and means for focusing each of the split light beams onto the bulk optical material, each of the split light beams being focused in a predetermined relationship to each of the other split light beams so as to form a Raman-Nath diffraction grating within the optical material, the intensity of a beam of light incident to the grating being modulatable by amplitude modulating the laser output beam with the means for amplitude modulation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
108 words
An optical beam shaper comprising: a bulk optical material having anisotropic light transmissive characteristics, a tunable laser, beam splitting means for splitting the light beam into two or more beams, and means for focusing each of the split light beams into the bulk optical material, each of the split light beams being focused in a predetermined relationship to each of the other split light beams so as to form a Raman-Nath diffraction grating within the optical material, the means for focusing providing means for changing the shape of a beam of light incident to the grating by change of the focused predetermined relationship of the split light beams.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
108 words
An optical beam shaper comprising: a bulk optical material having anisotropic light transmissive characteristics, a tunable laser, beam splitting means for splitting the light beam into two or more beams, and means for focusing each of the split light beams into the bulk optical material, each of the split light beams being focused in a predetermined relationship to each of the other split light beams so as to form a Raman-Nath diffraction grating within the optical material, the means for focusing providing means for changing the shape of a beam of light incident to the grating by change of the focused predetermined relationship of the split light beams.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The optical beam shaper of claim 4 wherein the change of focused predetermined relationship comprises a change of the crossing angle of the split light beams.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The beam shaper of claim 5 wherein the bulk optical material is crystalline.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An optical beam deflector comprising: a bulk optical material having anisotropic light transmissive characteristics, and means for optically inducing a Raman-Nath diffraction grating within the optical material for deflecting a beam of light incident to the grating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
An optical beam deflector comprising: a bulk optical material having anisotropic light transmissive characteristics, and means for optically inducing a Raman-Nath diffraction grating within the optical material for deflecting a beam of light incident to the grating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
An optical beam modulator comprising: a bulk optical material having anisotropic light transmissive characteristics, and means for optically inducing a Raman-Nath diffraction grating within the optical material for modulating the intensity of a beam of light incident to the grating.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
An optical beam modulator comprising: a bulk optical material having anisotropic light transmissive characteristics, and means for optically inducing a Raman-Nath diffraction grating within the optical material for modulating the intensity of a beam of light incident to the grating.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
An optical beam shaper comprising: a bulk optical material having anisotropic light transmissive characteristics, means for optically inducing a Raman-Nath diffraction grating within the optical material, and means for changing the shape of a beam of light incident to the grating.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
An optical beam shaper comprising: a bulk optical material having anisotropic light transmissive characteristics, means for optically inducing a Raman-Nath diffraction grating within the optical material, and means for changing the shape of a beam of light incident to the grating.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
112 words
An optical beam modulator comprising: a bulk optical material having anisotropic light transmissive characteristics, a laser, means for amplitude modulation of the light beam outputted from the laser, beam splitting means for splitting the light beam into two or more beams, and means for focusing each of the split light beams onto the bulk optical material, each of the split light beams being focused in a predetermined relationship to each of the other split light beams so as to form a Raman-Nath diffraction grating within the optical material, the intensity of a beam of light incident to the grating being modulatable by changing the predetermined focused relationship of the split light beams.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
112 words
An optical beam modulator comprising: a bulk optical material having anisotropic light transmissive characteristics, a laser, means for amplitude modulation of the light beam outputted from the laser, beam splitting means for splitting the light beam into two or more beams, and means for focusing each of the split light beams onto the bulk optical material, each of the split light beams being focused in a predetermined relationship to each of the other split light beams so as to form a Raman-Nath diffraction grating within the optical material, the intensity of a beam of light incident to the grating being modulatable by changing the predetermined focused relationship of the split light beams.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
115 words
An optical beam modulator comprising: a bulk optical material having anisotropic light transmissive characteristics, a laser, means for amplitude modulation of the light beam outputted from the laser, beam splitting means for splitting the light beam into two or more beams, and means for focusing each of the split light beams onto the bulk optical material, each of the split light beams being focused in a predetermined relationship to each of the other split light beams so as to form a Raman-Nath diffraction grating within the optical material, the intensity of a beam of light incident to the grating being modulatable by changing the coherence length of at least one of the split light beams.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
115 words
An optical beam modulator comprising: a bulk optical material having anisotropic light transmissive characteristics, a laser, means for amplitude modulation of the light beam outputted from the laser, beam splitting means for splitting the light beam into two or more beams, and means for focusing each of the split light beams onto the bulk optical material, each of the split light beams being focused in a predetermined relationship to each of the other split light beams so as to form a Raman-Nath diffraction grating within the optical material, the intensity of a beam of light incident to the grating being modulatable by changing the coherence length of at least one of the split light beams.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-11-13 | 1993-05-15 | 1993-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-13 | 1997-05-15 | 1997-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-13 | 2001-05-15 | 2001-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |