Optical path switch and method of using thereof
US6639706B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 23, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 28, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 23, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B2027/0138
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical path switch and a method of using thereof, for creating two optical pathways for input light. The switch is composed of two polarizers that polarize the input light and two polarization rotators each having two positions. The polarization rotators position translates to one of two the optical pathways. Additionally, the optical path switch has an image enhancement device for producing an enhanced image of the light, and a beam splitter that directs the light to two channels. The optical path switch works by polarizing the light by one of the two polarizers producing an output, following, the output is then directed through the beam splitter where the output is directed towards the two channels. Next, the output is then filtered through the two polarization rotators and to the other of the two channels where the positions of the two polarization rotators switch the optical pathways.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.