Optical power limiters and materials therein

US5348688A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army · US

Inventors

• Edward J. Sharp · Fort Washington, US
• Gary L. Wood · Rural Hall, US
• Richard R. Shurtz, II · Fairfax, US
• Juergen L. W. Pohlmann · Alexandria, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 17, 1984
• Grant date: Sep 20, 1994
• Expiry date: Dec 17, 2004

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F1/361
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A liquid crystal modified by the addition of an organic dye is used as a non-linear optical material in two devices which limit the optical radiations to sensitive photodetectors. One device uses the self-focusing induced in the crystal to disperse high-intensity optical radiation, the other uses the change of index of refraction of the crystal to effect total reflection of high-intensity radiation from a liquid crystal-linear optical material inter-face