Solid state optical data reader using an electric field for routing control
US5835458A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 6, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 10, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 6, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B7/14
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An optical beam routing apparatus is constructed of solid material in which is embedded a beam routing array structure (1370) which has at least a first waveguide segment (1376) traversing the solid material along a plane, second waveguide segments (1378) traversing the solid material along the same plane and encountering the first waveguide segment at a plurality of intersections, electrically-controlled gratings 1372, 1373) disposed transverse to the intersections to controllably reflect optical energy between the first waveguide segment and the second waveguide segments, and optical reflectors (1374, 1375) at selected locations in line with the second waveguide segments (1378) for projecting optical energy into and/or out of the plane from a selected position (1382) on an-out-of-plane medium which might contain optically readable or writable information, such as a disc. Electrodes at the intersections and the electrically-controllable gratings (1372, 1373) disposed transverse of the intersections and controlled by the electrodes controllably reflect optical energy between the first waveguide segment and the second waveguide segment upon application of a controlled electric field…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.