Optical switching by controllable frustration of total internal reflection
First Claim
1. Apparatus for controllably switching an interface between a reflective state in which light incident upon said interface undergoes total internal reflection and a non-reflective state in which total internal reflection is prevented at said interface, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a dielectric having a stiffened surface portion;
(b) a separator positioned between said interface and said stiffened surface portion to maintain a gap there-between;
(c) a first electrode on said interface;
(d) a second electrode on said stiffened surface portion; and
, (e) a voltage source for controllably applying a variable voltage potential between said electrodes;
wherein;
(i) application of said voltage potential between said electrodes moves said stiffened surface portion into optical contact with said interface, producing said non-reflective state at said interface;
(ii) in the absence of said voltage potential between said electrodes said separator moves said stiffened surface portion away from optical contact with said interface, producing said reflective state at said interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical switch for controllably switching an interface between a reflective state in which incident light undergoes total internal reflection and a non-reflective state in which total internal reflection is prevented. In one such switch an elastomeric dielectric has a stiffened surface portion. A separator positioned between the interface and the stiffened surface portion maintains a gap there-between. A voltage source applies a variable voltage potential between electrodes on the interface and stiffened surface portion respectively. The applied voltage potential moves the stiffened surface portion into optical contact with the interface, producing the non-reflective state. In the absence of a voltage potential the separator moves the stiffened surface portion away from optical contact with the interface, producing the reflective state. In another such switch a cell contains a fluid. One side of the cell forms the light incident interface. A membrane is suspended in the fluid. One pair of electrodes is applied to opposite sides of the membrane. Another electrode pair is applied to the cell'"'"'s interface side and to the cell'"'"'s opposite side. A variable voltage potential is applied between selected ones of the electrodes. Application of the voltage potential between selected ones of the membrane and cell electrodes moves the membrane into optical contact with the interface, producing the non-reflective state. Application of the voltage potential between other selected ones of the membrane and cell electrodes moves the membrane away from optical contact with the interface, producing the reflective state.
144 Citations
38 Claims
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1. Apparatus for controllably switching an interface between a reflective state in which light incident upon said interface undergoes total internal reflection and a non-reflective state in which total internal reflection is prevented at said interface, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a dielectric having a stiffened surface portion;
(b) a separator positioned between said interface and said stiffened surface portion to maintain a gap there-between;
(c) a first electrode on said interface;
(d) a second electrode on said stiffened surface portion; and
,(e) a voltage source for controllably applying a variable voltage potential between said electrodes;
wherein;
(i) application of said voltage potential between said electrodes moves said stiffened surface portion into optical contact with said interface, producing said non-reflective state at said interface;
(ii) in the absence of said voltage potential between said electrodes said separator moves said stiffened surface portion away from optical contact with said interface, producing said reflective state at said interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of controllably switching an interface between a reflective state in which light incident upon said interface undergoes total internal reflection and a non-reflective state in which total internal reflection is prevented at said interface, said method comprising:
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(a) producing said non-reflective state at said interface by controllably applying a variable voltage potential between said interface and an adjacent stiffened surface portion of a dielectric to move said stiffened surface portion into optical contact with said interface; and
,(b) producing said reflective state at said interface by removing said voltage potential to move said stiffened surface portion away from optical contact with said interface. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification