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US 2013/0170219 A1Published application
Directive Optical Device Having a Partially Reflective Grating
AssigneeThe University of Utah Research Foundation Technology Commercialization Office
InventorsSteven F. McDaniel, Steven M. Blair
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A directive optical device includes an optically active material which may be a light emitting material or a light collecting material. A partially reflective grating is disposed proximate to the optically active material.
Claims32
A directive optical device, comprising:
- an optically active material having a first side and a second side and being capable of converting between an electrical voltage and light at a wavelength;
- a first electrical contact in electrical communication with the optically active material proximate to the first side, the first electrical contact being reflective at the wavelength;
- a second electrical contact in electrical communication with the optically active material proximate to the second side, wherein the second electrical contact is transparent at the wavelength;
- and
- a partially reflective grating disposed proximate to the second electrical contact, wherein the partially reflective grating comprises a periodic array of alternating optically reflective and non-reflective regions.
2 more elements
-24. (canceled)
A method for operating a directive optical device, comprising:
- providing an optically active material having electrical contacts in electrical communication therewith;
- converting between electromagnetic radiation and an electrical voltage across the electrical contacts using the optically active material, wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength;
- reflecting electromagnetic radiation proximate to a first side of the optically active material;
- partially reflecting electromagnetic radiation proximate to a second side of the optically active material;
- and
- inhibiting lateral propagation of the electromagnetic radiation within the optically active material.
3 more elements
A directive optical device, comprising:
- a first electrical contact, the first electrical contact being reflective at a wavelength;
- an optically active material having a first side and a second side and being capable of converting between an electrical voltage and light at the wavelength;
- a spacer dispose between, and in electrical communication with, the optically active material proximate to the first side and the first electrical contact, the spacer comprising a material that is transparent at the wavelength;
- and
- a partial reflector disposed proximate to the second side of the optically active material.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.