Integrated electro-optical scanner with photoconductive substrate
US5093874A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 1, 1991 |
| Grant date | Mar 3, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/2955
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fully integrated electro-optic page-scanner comprises an optically transparent waveguide made from an electro-optic polymer, and an electrode structure including a linear array of electrically-addressable, spaced, parallel electrodes for selectively altering the refractive index across pixel-sized portions of the polymeric waveguide. According to the invention, the addressable electrodes are disposed on a photoconductive substrate which facilitates poling of the polymer waveguide to rander it electro-optic in nature. During the poling process, the photoconductive substrate is made electrically conductive by flood illumination, while a uniform electric field is established between the substrate and a transparent electrode which overlies the waveguide layer, opposite the addressable electrodes. Preferably, the photoconductive substrate comprises undoped silicon which enables certain electrode-addressing circuitry to be integrated within the scanner structure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.