Optical: systems and elements – Optical modulator – Light wave temporal modulation
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-08
2004-06-22
Spector, David N. (Department: 2873)
Optical: systems and elements
Optical modulator
Light wave temporal modulation
C359S578000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06753994
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A plasmon surface or plasmon interface is a collective excitation of electrons at an interface between a metal and a dielectric which absorbs all p-polarized light at its plasmon resonance frequency. P-polarized light is light with polarization in the plane tangent to the surface plasmon interface. The reflected light is the complementary color to the resonance. If a voltage is used to change the dielectric constant of a liquid crystal of a structure that includes a metal layer affixed to the liquid crystal, the light reflected from the plasmon interface will exhibit a color change. In the past, liquid crystal structures that incorporated plasmon surfaces were planar structures. However, a need exists for a structure that embodies a surface plasmon that may be configured over non-planar surfaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A spatially conformable tunable filter comprises a structure that includes a first flexible and optically reactive electrode; a second flexible and optically reactive electrode; a flexible electro-optic material layer affixed between the first and second electrodes and having a voltage dependent refractive index; and a voltage source connected to the first and second electrodes for establishing an electric field in the electro-optic material layer and dynamically controlling the index of refraction of the electro-optic material layer, wherein a section of said structure has an arcuate shaped neutral axis having a radius R when said structure is flexed, where 0<R≦∞.
A method is described for receiving a light signal at a plasmon interface between a flexible first electrode and a flexible electro-optic material; applying a voltage potential across the first electrode and a flexible second electrode in contact with the electro-optic material; and modulating the voltage potential to change the optical absorption characteristics of the plasmon interface, where the first and second electrodes and the electro-optic material define a structure with an arcuate shaped neutral axis having a radius R, where 0<R≦∞ when the structure is flexed.
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Wang, Yu; Electronically Tunable Mirror With Surface Plasmons; Proc. SPIE vol. 3292, 1998, pp. 103-106; USA.
Wang, Yu; Surface Plasmon Tunable Filter and Spectrometer on a Chip; Proc. SPIE, vol. 3118, 1997, pp. 288-294; USA.
Kagan Michael A.
Lee Allan Y.
Lipovsky Peter A.
Spector David N.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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