Patent · US Expired

Optical nonreciprocal device

US4974944A · kind A · utility

35Cited by
8References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 21, 1988
Grant dateDec 4, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 21, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S372/703
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical non-reciprocal device is disclosed for passing light in the forward direction and for reducing light passing in the reverse direction. Three anisotropic crystal members are arranged in a linear array. Each member has a walk off direction for separating light into ordinary and extraordinary rays. At least one non-reversible rotation element is interposed between every two adjacent anisotropic crystal members. Rotations of the elements and the orientations and thicknesses of the anisotropic crystal members are such that light in the forward direction is separated into ordinary and extraordinary rays which substantially do not superpose each other upon emerging from the device so that light passing in the reverse direction is reduced in a manner which is substantially insensitive to temperature and wavelengths of the light passing in either direction.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.