Switchable polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical elements
First Claim
1. A wavelength selective optical element comprising:
- a first polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic component for diffracting a wavelength of an incident beam; and
a second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic component for diffracting a wavelength of an incident beam, wherein the first and second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic components are located in stacked relationship with one another and placed in the path of the incident beam.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Transmission and reflection type holograms may be formed utilizing a novel polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) material and its unique switching characteristics to form optical elements. Applications for these switchable holograms include communications switches and switchable transmission, and reflection red, green, and blue lenses. The PDLC material of the present invention offers all of the features of holographic photopolymers with the added advantage that the hologram can be switched on and off with the application of an electric field. The material is a mixture of a polymerizable monomer and liquid crystal, along with other ingredients, including a photoinitiator dye. Upon irradiation, the liquid crystal separates as a distinct phase of nanometer-size droplets aligned in periodic channels forming the hologram. The material is called a holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC).
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Citations
98 Claims
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1. A wavelength selective optical element comprising:
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a first polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic component for diffracting a wavelength of an incident beam; and
a second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic component for diffracting a wavelength of an incident beam, wherein the first and second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic components are located in stacked relationship with one another and placed in the path of the incident beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An optical system for wavelength selection comprising:
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at least one coherent light source for inputting multiple wavelengths;
a first polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic component for diffracting a first single wavelength of an incident beam;
a second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic component for diffracting a second single wavelength of an incident beam, wherein the first and second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic components are located in stacked relationship with one another and placed in the path of the incident beam; and
an output component for receiving from the first and second polymer-dispersed liquid crystal holographic components at least one of the following from the group consisting of;
(a) at least one of the first and second diffracted single wavelengths;
(b) all undiffracted multiple wavelengths; and
(c) both the first and second diffracted single wavelengths and the undiffracted multiple wavelengths. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An optical connector comprising:
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a first matrix comprising N×
N polymer-dispersed liquid crystal switchable holographic components for deflecting and transmitting incident radiation; and
a second matrix comprising N×
N optical components for accepting the deflected and transmitted incident radiation. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A polarization diversity system comprising:
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a first polarizing beam splitter for receiving an input beam of light and splitting the input beam of light into a first beam of light polarized in first direction and a second beam of light polarized in a second direction;
a first optical path comprising;
a first deflector;
a half-wave plate;
a second deflector; and
a mirror, wherein the first optical path receives the first beam of light polarized in a first direction from the first polarizing beam splitter and outputs the first beam of light polarized in a second direction;
a second optical path comprising;
a mirror;
a third deflector;
a half-wave plate; and
a fourth deflector, wherein the second optical path receives the second beam of light polarized in a second direction from the first polarizing beam splitter and outputs the second beam of light polarized in a first direction; and
a second polarizing beam splitter for receiving the outputted first beam of light polarized in a second direction from the first optical path and the outputted second beam of light polarized in a first direction from the second optical path. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. An optical switch comprising:
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a pair of conductive slides at least one of which is transparent;
a voltage source electrically contacted to the pair of conductive slides;
at least one spacer for separating the pair of conductive slides;
a layer of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material located within the confines of the pair of conductive slides and the at least one spacer; and
a switchable holographic grating formed within the layer of polymer- dispersed liquid crystal material. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A method for forming a switchable holographic waveguide filter comprising:
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etching a channel into a substrate;
filling the channel with a polymerizable material;
forming at least two sets of electrodes on the substrate; and
exposing the polymerizable material to at least two interfering light beams in order to form a hologram therein. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A holographic switch comprising:
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a substrate;
a waveguide within the substrate having a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal holographic layer therein; and
at least two sets of electrodes attached to the substrate and electrically contacting the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal holographic layer. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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79. A crossbar switch comprising:
N×
M polymer-dispersed liquid crystal holographic elements, where N=M and N is equal to at least 2, and further wherein each of the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal holographic elements deflects light in a first state and transmits light in a second state, such that light input at any N is capable of output at any M by alternating between the first and second states of the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal holographic elements.
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80. A non-blocking switch comprising:
multiple polymer-dispersed liquid crystal holographic elements arranged into an N input and an M output configuration, wherein each of the elements alternates between either a first state and a second state or a first state and a third state, and further wherein, light incident upon any N input is coupled to any M output without blocking the path of any other N input to M output coupling. - View Dependent Claims (81)
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82. A method for forming a switchable holographic filter comprising:
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inserting a first end of a first optical fiber into a first end of a capillary tube and inserting a first end of a second optical fiber into a second end of a capillary tube, leaving a space within the capillary tube between the first end of the first optical fiber and the first end of the second optical fiber;
filling the space within the capillary tube with a polymerizable material; and
exposing the polymerizable material to radiation, thereby forming a switchable holographic filter within the capillary tube. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91)
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92. An electrically switchable holographic filter comprising:
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a substrate containing an etched groove;
a first and second set of finger electrodes positioned on the surface of the substrate on either side of the etched groove;
a capillary tube containing a switchable grating positioned within the etched groove; and
first and second optical fibers, wherein the first optical fiber is inserted into one end of the capillary tube and the second optical fiber is inserted into the other end of the capillary tube, such that the switchable grating is positioned between the inserted first and second optical fibers. - View Dependent Claims (95, 98)
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93. A magnetically switchable holographic filter comprising:
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a capillary tube containing a switchable grating;
a coil of wire wrapped around the capillary tube; and
first and second optical fibers, wherein the first optical fiber is inserted into one end of the capillary tube and the second optical fiber is inserted into the other end of the capillary tube, such that the switchable grating is positioned between the inserted first and second optical fibers. - View Dependent Claims (96)
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94. A thermally switchable holographic filter comprising:
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a capillary tube containing a switchable grating positioned between at least two heating elements; and
first and second optical fibers, wherein the first optical fiber is inserted into one end of the capillary tube and the second optical fiber is inserted into the other end of the capillary tube, such that the switchable grating is positioned between the inserted first and second optical fibers. - View Dependent Claims (97)
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Specification