PLZT shutter

Claim 2

A PLZT-element-based shutter system permitting continuous viewing of light from a light source and shuttering of said light from said light source to a target comprising: a first polarizer means for polarizing light waves, said first polarizer receiving light from said light source; PLZT element means, having at least a first and second surface, for rotating the orientation of light passing through said element means in response to an electrical field impressed in said element means, said PLZT element being positioned such that light from said first polarizer has a predetermined angle of incidence upon said first surface of said PLZT element; reflective electrode means coupled to said first surface for impressing an electric field in said PLZT element means, for splitting light from said light source incident onto said first surface into at least first and second light components, said first light component being reflected away from said first surface at a first angle of reflection, said second light component passing through said reflective electrode means into said PLZT element means; viewing means receiving said first light component reflected from said first surface for permitting viewing said first light component; a second polarizer means for polarizing light waves to a second, substantially single orientation, said second polarizer receiving said second light component from said PLZT element means such that said second light component either passes through said second polarizer to the target or is attenuated, depending upon said electric field in said PLZT element, the orientation of said first polarizer and the orientation of said second polarizer.

Claim 3

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 1 where said reflective electrode means coupled to said first surface is comprised of interdigitated electrodes deposited onto said first surface, said electrodes being shaped, spaced apart, and reflective to act as a diffraction mirror, splitting light incident thereon into at least two components.

Claim 4

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 1 where said PLZT element means is a substantially planar PLZT wafer, said first side being substantially planar and having a second substantially planar second side.

Claim 5

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 1 where said PLZT element means is positioned such that said angle of incidence is substantially forty five degrees.

Claim 6

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 1 where said viewing means is comprised of: mirror means for receiving said first light component and for reflecting and re-directing said first light component; and view means for permitting viewing of reflected and re-directed first light component.

Claim 7

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 5 where said mirror means is a prism.

Claim 8

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 1 where said target is photographic film.

Claim 9

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 1 where said target is an electronic recording surface.

Claim 10

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 1 further comprised of: at least a first focusing lens having a first focal length for receiving light from said light source and focusing said light onto said first polarizer means.

Claim 11

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 1 further comprised of: electrodes on said second surface aligned with electrodes on said first surface.

Claim 12

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 1 further including: a mechanical shutter means positioned between said PLZT element means and said target which opens before and closes after said PLZT shutter for increasing non-operating optical attenuation of said PLZT element means.

Claim 13

A PLZT-element-based shutter system permitting continuous viewing of a light source and providing electrically variable attenuation of light through said shutter system, comprising: a first polarizer means for polarizing light waves, said first polarizer receiving light from said light source; PLZT element means, having at least a first and second surface, for rotating the orientation of light passing through said element means in response to an electrical field impressed in said element means, said PLZT element being positioned such that light from said first polarizer has a predetermined angle of incidence upon said first surface of said PLZT element; reflective electrode means coupled to said first surface for impressing a varying electric field in said PLZT element means, for splitting light from said light source incident onto said first surface into at least first and second light components and for reflecting said first light component away from said first surface at a first angle of reflection, said second light component passing through said reflective electrode means into said PLZT element means, said vary electric field variably rotating polarization of said second light component; viewing port means receiving said first light component reflected from said first surface for permitting viewing said first light component; a second polarizer means for polarizing light waves to a second, substantially single orientation, said second polarizer receiving said second light component from said PLZT element means such that said second light intensity is variably attenuated depending upon said varying electric field in said PLZT element, the orientation of said first polarizer and the orientation of said second polarizer.

Claim 14

A PLZT-element-based shutter system permitting continuous viewing of a light source and providing electrically variable attenuation of light through said shutter system, comprising: a first polarizer means for polarizing light waves, said first polarizer receiving light from said light source; PLZT element means, having at least a first and second surface, for rotating the orientation of light passing through said element means in response to an electrical field impressed in said element means, said PLZT element being positioned such that light from said first polarizer has a predetermined angle of incidence upon said first surface of said PLZT element; reflective electrode means coupled to said first surface for impressing a varying electric field in said PLZT element means, for splitting light from said light source incident onto said first surface into at least first and second light components and for reflecting said first light component away from said first surface at a first angle of reflection, said second light component passing through said reflective electrode means into said PLZT element means, said vary electric field variably rotating polarization of said second light component; viewing port means receiving said first light component reflected from said first surface for permitting viewing said first light component; a second polarizer means for polarizing light waves to a second, substantially single orientation, said second polarizer receiving said second light component from said PLZT element means such that said second light intensity is variably attenuated depending upon said varying electric field in said PLZT element, the orientation of said first polarizer and the orientation of said second polarizer.

Claim 15

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 12 where said reflective electrode means coupled to said first surface is comprised of interdigitated electrodes deposited onto said first surface, said electrodes being shaped, spaced apart, and reflective to act as a diffraction mirror, splitting light incident thereon into at least two components.

Claim 16

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 12 where said PLZT element means is a substantially planar PLZT wafer, said first side being substantially planar and having a second substantially planar second side.

Claim 17

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 12 where said PLZT element means is positioned such that said angle of incidence is substantially forty five degrees.

Claim 18

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 12 where said viewing port means is comprised of: mirror means for receiving said first light component and for reflecting and re-directing said first light component; and view means for permitting viewing of reflected and re-directed first light component.

Claim 19

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 16 where said mirror means is a prism.

Claim 20

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 12 where said target is photographic film.

Claim 21

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 12 where said target is an electronic recording surface.

Claim 22

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 12 further comprised of: at least a first focusing lens having a first length for receiving light from said light source and focusing said light onto said first polarizer means.

Claim 23

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 12 further comprised of: electrodes on said second surface aligned with electrodes on said first surface.

Claim 24

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 12 further including: a mechanical shutter means positioned between said PLZT element means and said target which opens before and closes after said PLZT shutter for increasing non-operating optical attenuation of said PLZT element means.

Claim 25

A camera permitting continuous viewing of light from a light source and shuttering of said light from said light source to a target comprising: a first polarizer means for polarizing light waves, said first polarizer receiving light from said light source; PLZT element means, having at least a first and second surface, for rotating the orientation of light passing through said element means in response to an electrical field impressed in said element means, said PLZT element being positioned such that light from said first polarizer has a predetermined angle of incidence upon said first surface of said PLZT element; reflective electrode means coupled to said first surface for impressing an electric field in said PLZT element means, for splitting light from said light source incident onto said first surface into at least first and second light components, said first light component being reflected away from said first surface at a first angle of reflection, said second light component passing through said reflective electrode means into said PLZT element means; viewing port means receiving said first light component reflected from said first surface for permitting viewing said first light component; a second polarizer means for polarizing light waves to a second, substantially single orientation, said second polarizer receiving said second light component from said PLZT element means such that said second light component either passes through said second polarizer to the target or is attenuated, depending upon said electric field in said PLZT element, the orientation of said first polarizer and the orientation of said second polarizer.

Claim 26

A camera permitting continuous viewing of light from a light source and shuttering of said light from said light source to a target comprising: a first polarizer means for polarizing light waves, said first polarizer receiving light from said light source; PLZT element means, having at least a first and second surface, for rotating the orientation of light passing through said element means in response to an electrical field impressed in said element means, said PLZT element being positioned such that light from said first polarizer has a predetermined angle of incidence upon said first surface of said PLZT element; reflective electrode means coupled to said first surface for impressing an electric field in said PLZT element means, for splitting light from said light source incident onto said first surface into at least first and second light components, said first light component being reflected away from said first surface at a first angle of reflection, said second light component passing through said reflective electrode means into said PLZT element means; viewing port means receiving said first light component reflected from said first surface for permitting viewing said first light component; a second polarizer means for polarizing light waves to a second, substantially single orientation, said second polarizer receiving said second light component from said PLZT element means such that said second light component either passes through said second polarizer to the target or is attenuated, depending upon said electric field in said PLZT element, the orientation of said first polarizer and the orientation of said second polarizer.

Claim 27

The camera of claim 23 where said reflective electrode means coupled to said first surface is comprised of interdigitated electrodes deposited onto said first surface, said electrodes being shaped, spaced apart, and reflective to act as a diffraction mirror, splitting light incident thereon into at least two components.

Claim 28

The camera of claim 23 where said PLZT element means is a substantially planar PLZT wafer, said first said being substantially planar and having a second substantially planar second side.

Claim 29

The camera of claim 23 where said PLZT element means is positioned such that said angle of incidence is substantially forty five degrees.

Claim 30

The camera of claim 23 where said viewing port means is comprised of: mirror means for receiving said first light component and for reflecting and re-directing said first light component; and view means for permitting viewing of reflected and re-directed first light component.

Claim 31

The camera of claim 27 where said mirror means is a prism.

Claim 32

The camera of claim 23 where said target is photographic film.

Claim 33

The camera of claim 23 where said target is an electronic recording surface.

Claim 34

The camera of claim 23 further comprised of: at least a first focusing lens having a first focal length for receiving light from said light source and focusing said light onto said first polarizer means.

Claim 35

The camera of claim 23 further comprised of: electrodes on said second surface aligned with electrodes on said first surface.

Claim 36

The PLZT-element-based shutter system of claim 23 further including: a mechanical shutter means positioned between said PLZT element means and said target which opens before and closes after said PLZT shutter for increasing non-operating optical attenuation of said PLZT element means.