Diffraction grating structures
First Claim
1. A device for responding to incoming radiation incident thereon within a given range of incidence angles and for redirecting said incoming radiation from said device in a selected direction within relatively confined limits, said device comprisinga plurality of elements having diffracting surfaces and non-diffracting surfaces, said elements being arranged so that a plurality of pairs of diffracting and non-diffracting surfaces are oppositely disposed from one another and form a plurality of intermediate regions;
- a liquid crystal material positioned in each of said plurality of intermediate regions;
activation means for placing all of the liquid crystal material in any one of said intermediate regions in an activated state at any one time, the liquid crystal material in the others of said intermediate regions at such time being in an inactivated state;
whereby incoming radiation incident on said device within a specified portion of said given range of incidence angles is transmitted through said device and exits therefrom in said selected direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A diffraction grating responds to incoming radiation incident thereon within a given range of incidence angles and re-directs such incident radiation from the structure in a selected direction within relatively limited confines. A liquid crystal material is positioned in contact with the diffracting surface of said at least one diffraction structure, the liquid crystal material, when inactivated, having a refractive index substantially the same as that of the diffraction structure. Activation means place the liquid crystal material in an activated state so that the refractive index thereof is substantially different from that of the diffraction structure whereby incoming radiation within a given range of incidence angles is transmitted through the structure and exits in the selected direction.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A device for responding to incoming radiation incident thereon within a given range of incidence angles and for redirecting said incoming radiation from said device in a selected direction within relatively confined limits, said device comprising
a plurality of elements having diffracting surfaces and non-diffracting surfaces, said elements being arranged so that a plurality of pairs of diffracting and non-diffracting surfaces are oppositely disposed from one another and form a plurality of intermediate regions; -
a liquid crystal material positioned in each of said plurality of intermediate regions; activation means for placing all of the liquid crystal material in any one of said intermediate regions in an activated state at any one time, the liquid crystal material in the others of said intermediate regions at such time being in an inactivated state; whereby incoming radiation incident on said device within a specified portion of said given range of incidence angles is transmitted through said device and exits therefrom in said selected direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification