Deactivated electro-optic material and method of forming the same
AssigneeTeloptics Corporation
InventorGene H. Haertling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electro-optically deactivated transmissive material comprises a plurality of chemicals which are sufficient, in combination, to enable formation of an electro-optic material having an index of refraction that is responsive to an electric field. The chemicals are combined with a glassifier so as to form a transmissive material that is less responsive to the electric field than said electro-optic material. The deactivated material has substantially the same refractive index as the electro-optic material in the absence of an electric field. In a preferred embodiment, the deactivated material is arranged with active material to form an optical switch.
Claims45
A composition of matter, comprising:
- a glassifier;
- and
- a plurality of chemicals which are sufficient, in combination, to enable formation of an electro-optic material having an index of refraction that is responsive to an electric field, said glassifier combines with said chemicals so as to form transmissive material, one of the chemicals being chemically bonded to said glassifier such that said transmissive material is less responsive to said electric field than said electro-optic material.
An optical apparatus comprising:
- a first portion having electro-optic properties, said first portion comprised of electro-optic material having an index of refraction which varies in response to application of an electric field, said electro-optic material comprised of a plurality of chemicals which, in combination, are sufficient to impart said electro-optic properties;
- a second portion comprised of said plurality of chemicals and a glassifier, said second portion having an index of refraction which is less responsive to an electric field than that of said first portion;
- and
- a pair of electrodes positioned to apply said electric field to at least said first portion.
A transmissive material, comprising:
- a mixture comprised of (i) a plurality of materials comprising lead, lanthanum, zirconium, and titanium and (ii) a glass comprised of one of said lead, lanthanum, zirconium and titanium.
A sol gel comprising:
- a mixture of (i) TEOS, (ii) a compound comprised of lead, (iii) a compound comprised of lanthanum, (iv) a compound comprised of zirconium, and (v) a compound comprised of titanium.
A method of manufacturing a transmissive material, comprising:
- providing a sol gel that includes constituent components which, in combination, are sufficient to enable formation of an electro-optic material having one index of refraction in the absence of an electric field and another significantly different index upon exposure to an electric field, but which returns to said one index upon removal of said electric field;
- processing the sol gel to form a transmissive material having an index of refraction that is substantially insensitive to application of said electric field, said processing comprising heating said sol gel to chemically react at least some of said components.
A method of manufacturing a transmissive material, comprising:
- providing a plurality of chemicals which, in combination, are sufficient to enable formation of a polycrystalline electro-optic material having electro-optic properties which cause a refractive index of the material to change in response to application of an electric field;
- forming a structure using said chemicals comprising introducing a substance which interferes with the orderly formation of said polycrystalline structure to suppress the electro-optic properties of the structure.
An optical switch comprising an electro-optic portion having electro-optic properties juxtaposed adjacent a non-electro-optic portion forming a boundary therebetween, said optical switch formed by the method comprising:
- introducing a plurality of chemicals which in combination are sufficient to impart electro-optical properties in a first region of said switch to form said electro-optic portion;
- introducing a plurality of chemicals into a second region adjacent said first region, said chemicals being sufficient to enable formation of an electro-optic material;
- combining a glassifier with said plurality of chemicals;
- and
- heating said chemicals and said glassifier to form a transmissive material in said second region having index of refraction substantially insensitive to an applied electric field.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.