US5126874A
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US
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Method and apparatus for creating transient optical elements and circuits
Assignee: Research Foundation of City University of New York
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Filing: 1990-07-11
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Granted: 1992-06-30
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Expires: 2010-07-11
Abstract
Abstract A transient optical element is created by providing a body of a third order non-linear material and then passing a pulse of light through the body of non-linear material. The pulse of light has a cross-sectional area corresponding to the cross-sectional area of the transient optical element to be created and power sufficient to induce an index of refraction change over the portion of the body of non-linear material through which it passes. The portion of the body of non-linear material having the induced index of refraction change constitutes the transient optical element with the duration of the transient optical element depending on the response time of the non-linear material and the duration of pulse of light. Typical optical elements that can be so created include prisms, lenses, gratings, mirrors, beamsplitters and wave guides. By forming a plurality of optical elements within the third order non-linear material rather than simply a single optical element, a transient optical circuit can be created.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R. Alfano
- 👤 Yao Li
- 👤 P. L. Baldeck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:25
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/35; G02F1/3515; G02F1/3511
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of creating a transient optical element comprising: a) providing a body of a nonlinear material, and b) passing an area modulated beam of light of uniform intensity through the body of nonlinear material, the area modulated beam of light having a cross-sectional area corresponding to the cross-sectional area of the transient optical element to be created, the area modulated beam of light having power sufficient to induce an index of refraction change over the portion of the body of nonlinear material through which the beam of light passes, the portion of the body of nonlinear material having the induced index of refraction change constituting the transient optical element, the duration of the transient optical element depending on the response time of the nonlinear material and the duration of the area modulated beam of light.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of creating a transient optical element comprising: a) providing a body of a nonlinear material, and b) passing an area modulated beam of light of uniform intensity through the body of nonlinear material, the area modulated beam of light having a cross-sectional area corresponding to the cross-sectional area of the transient optical element to be created, the area modulated beam of light having power sufficient to induce an index of refraction change over the portion of the body of nonlinear material through which the beam of light passes, the portion of the body of nonlinear material having the induced index of refraction change constituting the transient optical element, the duration of the transient optical element depending on the response time of the nonlinear material and the duration of the area modulated beam of light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus for creating a transient optical element comprising: a) means for producing an area modulated beam of light of uniform intensity, and b) a body of a nonlinear material disposed along the path of said area modulated beam of light, c) said area modulated beam of light having a cross-sectional area corresponding to the cross-sectional area of the transient optical element to be created, said area modulated beam of light having power sufficient to induce an index of refraction change over the portion of the body of nonlinear material through which the are modulated beam of light passes, the portion of the body of nonlinear material having the induced index of refraction change constituting the transient optical element, the duration of the transient optical element depending on the response time of the nonlinear material and the duration of the area modulated beam of light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus for creating a transient optical element comprising: a) means for producing an area modulated beam of light of uniform intensity, and b) a body of a nonlinear material disposed along the path of said area modulated beam of light, c) said area modulated beam of light having a cross-sectional area corresponding to the cross-sectional area of the transient optical element to be created, said area modulated beam of light having power sufficient to induce an index of refraction change over the portion of the body of nonlinear material through which the are modulated beam of light passes, the portion of the body of nonlinear material having the induced index of refraction change constituting the transient optical element, the duration of the transient optical element depending on the response time of the nonlinear material and the duration of the area modulated beam of light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 2 and wherein the cross-sectional area of the area modulated beam of light is in the shape of a triangle for use in inducing the creation of a prism or a beamsplitter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 2 and wherein the cross-sectional area of the area modulated beam of light is in the shape of an ellipse for use in inducing the creation of a lens.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 2 and wherein the cross-sectional area of the area modulated beam of light is in the shape of a plurality of steps for use in inducing the creation of a grating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 2 and wherein the cross-sectional area of the area modulated beam of light is in the shape of a one or more rectangules for use in inducing the creation of a waveguide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 2 and wherein the cross-sectional area of the area modulated beam of light is in the shape of a circle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 2 and wherein the means for producing an area modulated beam of light includes a light source for generating a beam of light and a mask for masking off a portion of said beam of light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 8 and further including a beam expander for expanding the light beams.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 8 and wherein the light source comprises a mode locked YAG laser or a semiconductor laser or a Q-switched laser.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 2 and wherein the nonlinear material is a third order nonlinear material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 2 and wherein the means for producing an area modulated beam of light comprises a light source for producing a beam of light and a mask disposed for area modulating said beam of light.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus for creating a transient optical element comprising: a) a body of a nonlinear material, b) means for illuminating the body with a beam of light, and c) a mask for masking the beam of light before it strikes the body, the mask having a cross-sectional area corresponding to the cross-sectional area of the transient optical element to be created, the beam of light having power sufficient to induce an index of refraction change over the portion of the body of nonlinear material through which the beam passes, the portion of the body of nonlinear material having the induced index of refraction change constituting the transient optical element, the duration of the transient optical element depending on the nonlinear material and the beam of light.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus for creating a transient optical element comprising: a) a body of a nonlinear material, b) means for illuminating the body with a beam of light, and c) a mask for masking the beam of light before it strikes the body, the mask having a cross-sectional area corresponding to the cross-sectional area of the transient optical element to be created, the beam of light having power sufficient to induce an index of refraction change over the portion of the body of nonlinear material through which the beam passes, the portion of the body of nonlinear material having the induced index of refraction change constituting the transient optical element, the duration of the transient optical element depending on the nonlinear material and the beam of light.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of creating a transient optical circuit, the transient optical circuit comprising a plurality of transient optical elements, the method comprising: a. providing a body of a nonlinear material, and b. passing a plurality of beams of light through the body of nonlinear material, each through a different portion, each one of the beams of light having a cross-sectional area corresponding to the cross-sectional area of one of the transient optical elements to be created, each one of the beams of light having power sufficient to induce an index of refraction change over the portion of the body of nonlinear material through which the beam passes, the portion of the body of nonlinear material having the induced index of refraction change constituting the transient optical element with the duration of the transient optical element depending on the nonlinear material and the particular beam of light.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of creating a transient optical circuit, the transient optical circuit comprising a plurality of transient optical elements, the method comprising: a. providing a body of a nonlinear material, and b. passing a plurality of beams of light through the body of nonlinear material, each through a different portion, each one of the beams of light having a cross-sectional area corresponding to the cross-sectional area of one of the transient optical elements to be created, each one of the beams of light having power sufficient to induce an index of refraction change over the portion of the body of nonlinear material through which the beam passes, the portion of the body of nonlinear material having the induced index of refraction change constituting the transient optical element with the duration of the transient optical element depending on the nonlinear material and the particular beam of light.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus for creating a transient optical circuit comprising: a. means for producing a beam of light, b. a body of nonlinear material disposed along the path of the beam of light, and c. a mask disposed along the path of the beam of light in front of the body of nonlinear material for area modulating the beam of light, the mask having a plurality of discrete shapes, each corresponding to the cross-section of an optical element to be created.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus for creating a transient optical circuit comprising: a. means for producing a beam of light, b. a body of nonlinear material disposed along the path of the beam of light, and c. a mask disposed along the path of the beam of light in front of the body of nonlinear material for area modulating the beam of light, the mask having a plurality of discrete shapes, each corresponding to the cross-section of an optical element to be created.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 15 and further including a spatial filter for making the beam uniform in intensity.
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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) | 1995-06-30 | 1995-12-30 | 1996-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-30 | 1999-12-30 | 2000-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-30 | 2003-12-30 | 2004-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |