Electro-optical light modulator

Claim 1

An electro-optical arrangement for modulating light to convey information along a communications system, comprising: (a) a light valve including a pair of light-transmissive, electrically-conductive electrodes spaced apart of each other, and a fluid suspension of particles dispersed in the suspension between the electrodes and orientable to have variable light-transmissive characteristics; (b) transmitter means for transmitting a carrier light beam through the electrodes and the particles in the suspension; (c) modulator means for modulating the carrier light beam to generate an information-carrying, modulated light beam, said modulator means including a variable electrical modulator electrically connected to the electrodes applying a variable electrical field across the suspension and, in turn, for changing orientations and the light-transmissive characteristics of the particles; and (d) receiver means including optical fiber means having a receiving end coated with a light-transmissive, electrically-conductive coating that constitutes one of said electrodes of the light valve, said receiving end being positioned in the path of the modulated light beam for receiving the modulated light beam through the coating, said optical fiber means being connected to and extending away from the light valve in a path along the communications system.