Optical switch, and a matrix of such switches
US4582391A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 29, 1983 |
| Grant date | Apr 15, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 29, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3572
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A light ray (6) passes through a light-passing region of a transparent wall (1). Adjacent to said light passing region there is a wettable drop-receiving region (4,5) with a liquid (7,8) thereon. A moving member (11,12) has a rest position in which the liquid is free to occupy only the wettable drop-receiving region, and a working position in which it moves at least a portion of the liquid onto the light-passing region, thereby modifying the light ray (6). Various kinds of switches, such as an on/off switch or a deflector switch, can be devised by suitable choice of the liquid (e.g. its refractive index, or its reflecting properties), and the angle of incidence of the light ray (6). The moving member may be controlled electromagnetically.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.