Patent · US Expired

Wavelength selecting module and wavelength selecting apparatus

US6760085B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
3References
16Claims
0Family size

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Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 19, 2001
Grant dateJul 6, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 23, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F2203/055
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A wavelength selecting module includes a first collimator for collimating diverging light to generate a collimated light beam and a liquid crystal cell having a predetermined helical direction. The liquid crystal cell separates a light signal having a specific wavelength among a plurality of light signals of the collimated light beam into a left circularly polarized light and a right circularly polarized light, reflects one of the left and right circularly polarized light signals that has a same optical rotatory direction as the predetermined helical direction toward the first collimator in a first state. The liquid crystal cell passes the plurality of light signals of the collimated light beam in a second state. The liquid crystal cell changes between the first state and the second state in accordance with a change in a voltage applied thereto, thereby switching between selection and non-selection of light having the specific wavelength.

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