Apparatus for optical beam steering using non-linear optical polymers
First Claim
1. An electro-optical deflection system for deflecting a beam of light energy and controlling the directions in which portions of the light energy travel under the control of an electrical signal, comprising:
- a plurality of voltage-controlled phase shifter elements disposed in superposed layers of non-linear optically responsive material which implement a phase gradient for providing a directive beam of light energy over a variable angle of deflection;
input means for directing portions of said beam of light energy in a predetermined input direction into said plurality of phase shifter elements;
control signal means for selectively changing the index of refraction in each of said plurality of phase shifter elements by providing an electric field in ones of said elements between a plurality of individually addressable electrodes therebetween;
successive ones of said elements being in close proximity and the index of refraction in each successive element being adjusted by said control signal means so as to produce a predetermined difference of phase shift therebetween; and
output means for receiving portions of said beam of light energy travelling beyond said phase shifter elements in at least one predetermined output direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electro-optical light deflector utilizing layers of a non-linear electro-optically (NLO) responsive polymer for directing an exiting light beam in a given direction. Sandwiched between each NLO layer of a multi-layer array is a thin film electrically conductive layer that is connected to a voltage source. By applying an electric field across an NLO layer, a change in refractive index is induced and the phase of that portion of the optical beam passing through it is either retarded or advanced. Each layer in the NLO array sees a slightly different electric field and therefore produces a slightly different phase change in the portion of the propogating optical beam. This results in directing the reconstructed beam in a different direction. By applying different voltages to the electrodes, both beam shaping and changing beam direction are possible.
32 Citations
9 Claims
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1. An electro-optical deflection system for deflecting a beam of light energy and controlling the directions in which portions of the light energy travel under the control of an electrical signal, comprising:
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a plurality of voltage-controlled phase shifter elements disposed in superposed layers of non-linear optically responsive material which implement a phase gradient for providing a directive beam of light energy over a variable angle of deflection; input means for directing portions of said beam of light energy in a predetermined input direction into said plurality of phase shifter elements; control signal means for selectively changing the index of refraction in each of said plurality of phase shifter elements by providing an electric field in ones of said elements between a plurality of individually addressable electrodes therebetween; successive ones of said elements being in close proximity and the index of refraction in each successive element being adjusted by said control signal means so as to produce a predetermined difference of phase shift therebetween; and output means for receiving portions of said beam of light energy travelling beyond said phase shifter elements in at least one predetermined output direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification