Optical apparatus using liquid crystals for shaping the spatial intensity of optical beams having designated wavelengths
US4679911A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 1, 1985 |
| Grant date | Jul 14, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/13471
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The spatial intensity profile of an optical beam of designated wavelengths, such as a laser beam, is shaped (the beam is apodized) by means of cholesteric liquid crystals of opposite chirality disposed successively along the path of the beam. The crystals have curved surfaces, which may be defined by a lens which defines the thickness of the liquid crystal fluid gap in a liquid crystal cell, so as to vary the selective reflection of the designated wavelength across the aperture of the beam. In this way, a soft aperture is provided. By using tandem cell pairs having liquid crystals of opposite chirality, but of different pitch, and with lenses of different curvature, beams of different wavelengths which are projected colinearly along the path may be individually tailored in spatial intensity profile.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.