Patent · US Active

Tunable optical devices with extended-depth tunable dielectric cavities

US11914266B1 · kind B1 · utility

1Cited by
7References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 5, 2023
Grant dateFeb 27, 2024
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 5, 2043

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F2202/30
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

In various embodiments, a tunable optical surface includes a dielectric substrate layer with an array of elongated metal rails extending from the dielectric substrate parallel to one another and spaced from one another to form channels therebetween. The channels are etched deeper into the dielectric substrate to form extended-depth channels. The depth of each extended-depth channel is greater than the height of adjacent elongated metal rails. The dimensions of the elongated metal rails and the extended-depth channels therebetween may be subwavelength with respect to an operational bandwidth. A tunable dielectric material that has a tunable refractive index, such as liquid crystal, is positioned within the extended-depth channels between adjacent elongated metal rails.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.