Patent · US Expired

Liquid crystal optical frequency shifter

US5739908A · kind A · utility

0Cited by
7References
31Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 1, 1995
Grant dateApr 14, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 1, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F1/141
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical frequency shifter is provided to change the frequency of a coherent input light beam by imparting periodic increases in phase to the beam. This increase in phase is caused by ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) in conjunction with quarter wave plates. The FLCs are repeatedly switched on and off by electrical signal generators, adding phase shift in steps, which in turn results in a higher output optical frequency.

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