Optical beamsplitter with electro-wetting actuation
US6847493B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 8, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jan 25, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 8, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B27/123
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A tunable optical beamsplitter is disclosed that uses electrowetting techniques to vary the propagation characteristics of one or more light beams. Specifically, electrowetting principles are applied to a region of fluid enclosed within an enclosure to form a plurality of liquid lenses. When a light beam is incident upon the plurality of lenses, the plurality of lenses transforms portions of the light beam in corresponding plurality of output split beams. The region of fluid is controllably moved within the enclosure to modify at least a first optical characteristic of at least a first lens in said plurality of lenses in order to change the propagation characteristics of at least one of the split beams.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.