Optical: systems and elements – Optical modulator – Light wave temporal modulation
Patent
1998-11-23
2000-06-13
Epps, Georgia
Optical: systems and elements
Optical modulator
Light wave temporal modulation
359246, G02F 103
Patent
active
060756411
ABSTRACT:
The present system for redirecting a light beam makes use of a transparent pressure vessel that is filled with a compressible fluid, whose refractive index changes as a function of the pressure applied to the compressible fluid to redirect the path of a light beam that is transmitted through the transparent pressure vessel. An incident beam of coherent monochromatic light is applied to a transparent segment of a wall of the transparent pressure vessel, where this incident light beam is refracted by the compressible fluid contained in the transparent pressure vessel. The refracted light beam traverses the transparent pressure vessel and exits the transparent pressure vessel at a point along the opposite wall of the transparent pressure vessel as determined by the refractive index of the compressible fluid, which is determined by the pressure of the compressible fluid. The pressure of the compressible fluid is controlled by using a pump that is fluidically connected to the transparent pressure vessel. By varying the pressure of the compressible fluid and thus its refractive index, the exit point of the refracted light beam on the wall of the transparent pressure vessel can be precisely controlled. The incident light beam can therefore be switched among a plurality of light sensing or optically transmissive elements that are arrayed in a linear array along the wall of the transparent pressure vessel by simply regulating the pressure applied to the compressible fluid.
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patent: 4950885 (1990-08-01), Kershaw
patent: 5287365 (1994-02-01), Nielsen
Epps Georgia
Letendre Suzanne
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
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