Ferro-electric azimuth rotator
US6700694B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 14, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 2, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 14, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2203/48
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electrically controllable azimuth optical rotator (10) includes a first quarterwave plate (16) for receiving a first beam of electromagnetic energy (22) having a first arbitrary polarization state, and outputting a second beam (122) in response to the first quarterwave plate (16). An electric voltage controlled ferro-electric variable phase retarder (20) aligned at approximately 45 degrees to the first quarterwave plate (16) receives the second beam 122 and provides a third beam 38 in response to the retarder (20). The electric voltage controlled ferro-electric variable phase retarder (20) is characterized by a phase shift of &phgr;=2&agr;, where &agr; is a desired angle of rotation of the first arbitrary polarization state. To provide a voltage-controlled rotation, a second quarterwave plate (18) is aligned either parallel or perpendicular to the first quarterwave plate (16) for receiving the third beam (38) and outputting a fourth beam (46) in response to the retarder (20). As a result, the fourth beam (46) has a polarization state similar to the first arbitrary polarization state but rotated by &agr;.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.