System and method for encoding information onto an optical beam
US4767195A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 21, 1986 |
| Grant date | Aug 30, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 21, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/0541
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system and method for encoding information onto an optical beam is described in which a photorefractive material is used to modulate the beam. An alternating electric field is applied to the photorefractive material and modulated so as to vary the material's index ellipsoid via the electro-optic effect and hence modulate an output beam in accordance with the information to be encoded. The invention has applications to both externally pumped and self-pumped phase conjugate mirrors, and to other optical systems. Various modulation techniques can be used, and the modulation can be isolated from noisy beams by applying the modulating electric field on a high frequency carrier.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.