US5619366A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Controllable surface filter
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
•
Filing: 1995-05-30
•
Granted: 1997-04-08
•
Expires: 2015-05-30
Abstract
Abstract Generally and in one form of the invention this is a periodic surface filter comprising at least one element at a surface of the filter and electronic controls to change the optical characteristics of the element. Other methods and devices are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles M. Rhoads
- 👤 Gary Frazier
- 👤 II Richard G. Hoffman
- 👤 Oren B. Kesler
- 👤 Daniel J. Ryan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:10
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/781; B; B82; B82Y; B82Y20/00; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/015; H; H01; H01Q; H01Q15/00; H01Q15/0006; H01Q15/0013; H01Q15/002; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/26; H01Q3/2676; H01Q3/44; H01Q3/46; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/11; H01S3/1123; H01S3/115; G02F1/0126; G02F1/017; G02F1/01716; H01S3/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
29 words
A tunable surface filter comprising: a. at least one element at a surface of said filter; and b. electronic control to change the effective optical length of said element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
29 words
A tunable surface filter comprising: a. at least one element at a surface of said filter; and b. electronic control to change the effective optical length of said element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The filter of claim 1, wherein said electronic control comprises at least one electronic switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The filter of claim 2, wherein said switch is a field effect transistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The filter of claim 2, wherein said switch is a Deformable Mirror Spatial Light Modulator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The filter of claim 2, wherein said switch is a photoconductor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The filter of claim 5, wherein said element is switched using a control light source to activate said photoconductor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The filter of claim 1, wherein a conducting overcoat electrically connects isolated elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
10 words
The filter of claim 7, wherein said overcoat is metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The filter of claim 1, wherein a conducting undercoat electrically connects isolated elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The filter of claim 9, wherein said undercoat is metal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The filter of claim 9, wherein said undercoat is a doped semiconductor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The filter of claim 1, wherein said filter is a bandpass filter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The filter of claim 1, wherein said filter is a bandreject filter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
10 words
The filter of claim 1, wherein said filter is periodic.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3919669A
Cited
US4092442A
Cited
US4300811A
Cited
US4342036A
Cited
US4894526A
Cited
US4910523A
Cited
US5119231A
Cited
US5208603A
Cited
US5130718A
Cited
US5311360A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-04-07 | 2000-10-07 | 2001-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-04-07 | 2004-10-07 | 2005-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-04-07 | 2008-10-07 | 2009-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |