Optical device utilizing optical waveguides and mechanical light-switches
First Claim
1. An optical relay device comprising:
- (a) an optical waveguide having first end constituting a single-terminal optical port and a front side constituting a multiple-terminal optical port;
(b) a predetermined number of light switches in proximity to said optical waveguide, said light switches containing optical means for reflecting light waves;
(c) finite and changeable gaps between said light switches and said waveguide; and
(d) means for changing said gaps thereby actuating said light switches and relaying optical signals between two said ports.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical device consists of one or more optical waveguides and mechanical light switches 30. When a light switch 30 is turned on, it extracts light beam 62a from a waveguide core 20 and redirect the light beam 62b into free space, it redirects an incoming light beam 80 from free space and injects the light beam 80a into the waveguide core 20, or it performs both functions at the same time, depending on specific applications. On and off states of a light switch 30 are achieved by pulling the light switch 30 into a close vicinity of the waveguide core 20 and by pushing the light switch 30 away from the waveguide core 20, respectively. An interactive flat-panel display can be built based on this invention. A plurality of parallel channel waveguides forms a display panel. An array of light beams 62a, injected from an array light source 60, propagates along waveguide cores 20 until reaches a location where a light switch 30 is turned on. At this location, the light switch 30 redirects the light beams towards a viewer. An image is produced when the light switches 30 are turned on sequentially while the light-intensity distribution on the array light source 60 is synchronically updated. The panel display is capable of responding to an input optical signal by detecting an incoming light beam 80 from a light pen 100. An array of photodetectors 81 is used to identify the location of the incoming light beam 80 on the display panel and a computer is used to execute a corresponding action accordingly.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. An optical relay device comprising:
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(a) an optical waveguide having first end constituting a single-terminal optical port and a front side constituting a multiple-terminal optical port; (b) a predetermined number of light switches in proximity to said optical waveguide, said light switches containing optical means for reflecting light waves; (c) finite and changeable gaps between said light switches and said waveguide; and (d) means for changing said gaps thereby actuating said light switches and relaying optical signals between two said ports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An optical display device comprising
(a) an optical waveguide plate including a predetermined number of optical waveguides, said optical waveguides having a first end and a second end capable of receiving light waves; -
(b) a predetermined number of light switches in proximity to said optical waveguides, said light switches involving optical means for redirecting light waves; (c) finite and changeable gaps between said light switches and said optical waveguides; (d) means for changing said gaps thereby actuating said light switches; (e) at least one light source consisting of an array of light emitting elements, said light source being coupled with said optical waveguides through at least one end of said optical waveguides, said light emitting elements emitting light waves of controllable intensities; and (f) control means, including control circuits, for producing images by controlling actuation of said light switches and light emission from said light source. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for displaying an image comprising:
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(a) emitting an array of light waves from an array light source into an optical waveguide plate containing a plurality of optical waveguides, said array light source containing a plurality of elements that emit light waves wherein the light emission from each said element can be controlled; (b) actuating a light switch such that said light switch is moved into proximity to said optical waveguide thereby extracting said light waves from said optical waveguides into said light switch; (c) redirecting said light waves for viewing; and (d) coordinating actuation of said light switches with light emission of said array light source such that a light image is formed. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification