Passive high-speed automatic shutter for imaging devices
US4176919A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 31, 1978 |
| Grant date | Dec 4, 1979 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 31, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/3523
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A passive, high-speed, automatic shutter for controlling the transmission light energy of known wavelengths along a predetermined optical axis is provided to protect imaging devices against sudden, undesirable optical overload which may cause damage. A large plurality of contiguously positioned micro-channel optical waveguides is axially aligned parallel with the optical axis to intercept the light energy. The large plurality of micro-channel optical waveguides provides desirable maximization of resolution for transmitting the image to the imaging device. The micro-channel optical waveguides include a saturable absorber material which is selected for its property of absorbing the known wavelengths of light energy up to a determinable level of intensity and transmitting the known wavelengths of light energy when that determinable level of intensity is exceeded. When the determinable level of intensity is not exceeded, optical images are transmitted through the large plurality of micro-channel waveguides to the imaging device which may desirably be positioned in an off-axis, angular disposition. However, when the determinable level of intensity of the known wavelengths of light energ…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.