Arrangement and method for electrically controlling the intensity of unpolarized light
US6331910A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 19, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 18, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 19, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2203/02
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In an arrangement and a method for electrically controlling the intensity of non-polarized light, a polarizing beam splitter is acted upon by the light to be controlled via an input face such that the light is split into two polarized light bundles that are orthogonal with respect to each other. Provision is made that a first reflecting device is configured for the reflection of at least one of the polarized light bundles, so that both polarized light bundles run in parallel. At least one electro-optical element is provided in a path of the parallel running polarized light bundles. The polarization is changed as a function of the supplied control voltage. Also provided is a second reflecting device for reflecting the light bundles in the opposite direction. The light bundles pass through the at least one electro-optical element twice and are directed by the first reflecting device to the polarizing beam splitter, and the controlled light can be extracted from at least one output face of the polarizing beam splitter.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.