Variable attenuator for laser radiation
US4327966A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 25, 1980 |
| Grant date | May 4, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 25, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B26/02
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention relates to a variable attenuator having two phase gratings (1 and 2) with rectangular grooves. In a first embodiment of the present invention the gratings are slidably mounted (10, 20, 30) so that the gratings have the grooves parallel and the faces in close proximity. As one grating is translated relative to the other the light passing through the device may be varied from total extinction to substantially total transmittance. A single device can be fabricated to provide this attenuation for radiation spanning the visible spectrum. In other embodiments the gratings are fixed relative to one another and the entire device is moved relative to the beam to be attenuated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.