Electrochemically controlled optical devices

A method of selectively forming and selectively erasing an optical feature, comprising:

• providing an optical device, which comprises:
• a first conductive layer;
• an optical layer, arranged over said first conductive layer, said optical layer being transparent to at least a wavelength of interest and having an index of refraction, which is a function of a dopant concentration in said optical layer;
• and
• a second conductive layer, arranged over a portion of said optical layer, in accordance with a predetermined pattern;
• and
• applying an electric potential between said first and second conductive layers, thus causing a reversible change in said index of refraction within said optical layer between said portion and the remainder of said optical layer.

An optical device, comprising:

• a first conductive layer;
• an optical layer, arranged over said first conductive layer, said optical layer being transparent to at least a wavelength of interest and having an index of refraction, which is a function of a variable, substantially reversible, dopant concentration in said optical layer;
• and
• a second conductive layer, arranged over said optical layer,
• wherein a change in said index of refraction of said optical layer, due to a change in said dopant concentration, leads to a change in light absorption of said wavelength of interest, within said optical layer, which is less than substantially 10%.

A method of selectively forming and selectively erasing an optical feature, comprising:

• providing an optical device, which comprises:
• a first conductive layer;
• an optical layer, arranged over said first conductive layer, said optical layer being transparent to at least a wavelength of interest and having an index of refraction, which is a function of a dopant concentration in said optical layer;
• and
• a second conductive layer, arranged over said optical layer;
• and
• applying an electric potential between said first and second conductive layers, thus causing a reversible change in said index of refraction within said optical layer between said portion and the remainder of said optical layer, while maintaining a change in light absorption of said wavelength of interest, within said optical layer, at ±10%.

A tunable optical filter, comprising:

• alternate strata of indices of refraction of n1 and n2, said n1 and n2 being substantially different from each other;
• conductive layers, arranged along the midst of each stratum;
• and
• electrolyte layers, arranged between each of said stratum;
• wherein said tunable filter is transparent to at least a wavelength of interest in the y direction, and wherein at least one tunable index of refraction, selected from the group consisting of n1, n2, and both n1 and n2 is a function of a variable, substantially reversible, dopant concentration of its associated stratum.

A method of producing a tunable filter, comprising:

• arranging alternate strata of indices of refraction of n1 and n2, said n1 and n2 being substantially different from each other, wherein at least one index of refraction, selected from the group consisting of said n1, said n2, and said n1 and n2 is a function of a variable, substantially reversible, dopant concentration of its associated stratum;
• arranging conductive layers, along the midst of each stratum;
• arranging electrolyte layers, between each of said stratum;
• and
• applying potential differences of alternating polarities to said conductive layers, wherein by said application, a migration of dopant across said electrolyte layers takes place, thus tuning said at least one tunable index of refraction.

A method of producing a tunable filter, comprising:

• stacking optical layers, said optical layers being transparent to at least a wavelength of interest and having an index of refraction, which is a function of a variable, substantially reversible, dopant concentration gradient in said optical layers;
• arranging conductive layers, between said optical layers;
• and
• applying potential differences of alternating polarities to said conductive layers, wherein by said application, a concentration gradient of dopant is formed within said optical layers, thus tuning said filter.