Electro-optic waveguide beam deflector

• US 3,923,376 A
• Filed: 08/02/1974
• Issued: 12/02/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William E. Martin
• Original Assignee: William E. Martin
• Inventors: Martin, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John K.
• Application Number:
  US05/494,132
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96WG,16R
• US Class Current: 385/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/295 Analog deflection from or in an optical waveguide structure]

Abstract

An electrically conductive substrate supports a multi-mode optical waveguide of electro-optic material which transmits polarized light energy along a determinable path. The electrooptic material varies in electrical resistivity as a function of its thickness, with top and bottom electrodes disposed to develop an electric field across the thickness of the electro-optic material in response to an applied electrical potential. A correlative variation in refractive index is thus caused across the thickness of the electro-optic material commensurate with its variation in electrical resistivity. The plane wave of light energy travelling along the light path of the optical waveguide is consequently changed in orientation as a function of the applied electrical potential producing a concomitant deflection of the emergent light energy. An appropriate optical lens may be used for concentrating such emergent light energy at a desired focal plane in the form of a line or a point.

Claims

1. An optical beam deflector comprising:

an electrically conductive substrate;

a multi-mode optical waveguide of electro-optic crystal material supported by said substrate for transmitting polarized light energy along a determinable path, said electro-optic crystal material having a gradient variation in electrical resistivity as a function of depth within its thickness;

a top and bottom electrode disposed with said electro optic crystal material therebetween; and

a source of electrical potential arranged to be connected to said top and bottom electrode for generating an electric field having a gradient variation commensurate with said gradient variation in electrical resistivity causing a gradient variation in refractive index relative to said thickness for changing the orientation of the plane wave of said light energy responsive to the instantaneous value of said electrical potential.

2. An optical beam deflector as claimed in claim 1 and including a positive focal length lens positioned to intercept the emergent light energy from said optical waveguide for concentration at a desired focal plane.

3. An optical beam deflector as claimed in claim 1 and including an optical buffer layer disposed between said top electrode and said optical waveguide.

4. An optical beam deflector as claimed in claim 1 and including a source of selectively variable electrical potential for controllably varying the disposition of light energy emergent from said optical waveguide.

5. An optical beam deflector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electro-optic material of said optical waveguide is deposited on said substrate.

6. An optical beam deflector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electro-optic material of said optical waveguide is diffused into said substrate.

7. An optical beam deflector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electro-optic material of said optical waveguide is ion-implanted in said substrate.