Patent · US Expired

Directing optical beam

US4006967A · kind A · utility

36Cited by
3References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 23, 1975
Grant dateFeb 8, 1977
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 23, 1995

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F1/335
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for directing a beam of optical radiation toward a selected location and modulating the intensity thereof at the location by directing the beam over a path that includes a Bragg grating, and selectively modifying the angle between the direction at which the beam enters the Bragg grating and a direction of Bragg incidence of the grating by applying an electric or acoustic field to change the index of refraction in a portion of the path. An electric field may be applied either by interdigital electrodes at the grating, to change the Bragg angle thereof, or by electrodes at different angles across an earlier portion of the path, to change the direction at which the beam enters the grating. An acoustic field may be applied in an analogous manner. Useful for modulating and switching in planar wave guides and bulk material.

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