Single control liquid crystal optical switch and attenuator
US8358398B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 19, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jan 22, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 19, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2203/48
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical device is configured to perform both switching and attenuation of an optical beam in response to a single control signal. The optical device includes a liquid-crystal-based beam-polarizing element having polarization-conditioning regions that are controlled using a common electrode. The first polarization-conditioning region conditions the polarization of the input beam in order to separate the input beam into a primary component and a residual component. The second and third polarization-conditioning regions change the polarization of the primary component and the residual component, respectively. The primary component is directed to an output port after it has been attenuated based on its polarization state. The residual component, after passing through the third polarization-conditioning region, has its intensity further reduced based on its polarization state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.