Light gate assemblies, elements and manufacturing methods
AssigneeTransamerica DeLaval Inc.
InventorNorbert E. Samek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Elongate light gate structures are composed of a plurality of individual chips of electrooptically active light gate material displaying field induced birefringence. The individual chips are provided in rectangular configuration. Each chip has a plurality of alternating electrodes and elongate light gate regions distributed there along. A rigid mounting beam has a pair of spaced parallel elongate mounting surfaces for the light gate chips and an elongate opening located between and extending along these mounting surfaces for the flow of light to or from the mounted chips. The chips may be retained on the rigid beam by chip mounting clips. The chips may be located between polarizer and analyzer filters. Driver circuit boards may be interfaced with and appropriately leveled relative to the mounted chips.
Claims45
In a method of providing an elongate light gate structure of a plurality of individual chips including electrooptically active light gate material displaying field induced birefringence, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:
- providing said chips in rectangular configuration;
- providing on each chip a plurality of alternating electrodes and elongate light gate regions extending parallel to opposite sides of the rectangular chip;
- providing a rigid beam with a pair of spaced parallel elongate mounting surfaces and an elongate opening located between and extending along said mounting surfaces;
- and
- mounting said chips side by side on said pair of mounting surfaces, with said light gate regions registering with said opening.
In a method of providing an elongate light gate structure of a plurality of individual chips including electrooptically active light gate material displaying field induced birefringence, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:
- providing said chips in rectangular configuration;
- providing on each chip a plurality of alternating electrodes and elongate light gate regions extending parallel to opposite sides of the rectangular chip;
- providing a rigid beam with a pair of spaced parallel elongate mounting surfaces and an elongate opening located between and extending along said mounting surfaces;
- mounting said chips side by side on said pair of mounting surfaces, with said light gate regions registering with said opening;
- providing means for driving said light gate regions including a circuit board having terminals at an edge portion;
- mounting said circuit board at a first region spaced from said edge portion for pivotal movement relative to a plane extending parallel to said substrate, with said edge portion being positioned adjacent said rigid beam;
- exerting forces on said circuit board at a second region nearer to said rigid beam than said first region;
- effecting pivotal movement of said circuit board and leveling said edge portion relative to said mounted chips with said forces;
- retaining said circuit board stationary relative to said substrate upon leveling of said edge portion;
- and
- electrically interconnecting electrodes on a chip with said terminals.
In a method of interfacing a circuit board having first terminals at an edge portion with an adjacent structure having a substrate and second terminals in the vicinity of said first terminals, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:
- mounting said circuit board at a first region spaced from said edge portion for pivotal movement relative to a plane extending parallel to said substrate;
- exerting forces on said circuit board at a second region nearer to said substrate than said first region;
- effecting pivotal movement of said circuit board and leveling said edge portion relative to said substrate with said forces;
- and
- retaining said circuit board stationary relative to said substrate upon leveling of said edge portion.
An elongate light gate structure comprising in combination:
- a plurality of individual rectangular chips of electrooptically active light gate material displaying field induced birefringence;
- a plurality of alternating electrodes and elongate light gate regions on each chip extending parallel to opposite sides of the rectangular chip;
- a rigid beam having a pair of spaced parallel elongate mounting surfaces and an elongate opening located between and extending along said mounting surfaces;
- and
- means connected to said rigid beam for mounting said chips side by side on said pair of mounting surfaces, with said light gate regions registering with said opening.
An elongate light gate structure comprising in combination:
- a plurality of individual rectangular chips of electrooptically active light gate material displaying field induced birefringence;
- a plurality of alternating electrodes and elongate light gate regions on each chip extending parallel to opposite sides of the rectangular chip;
- a rigid beam having a pair of spaced parallel elongate mounting surfaces and an elongate opening located between and extending along said mounting surfaces;
- means connected to said rigid beam for mounting said chips side by side on said pair of mounting surfaces, with said light gate regions registering with said opening;
- means for driving said light gate regions including a circuit board having terminals at an edge portion thereof;
- first means for mounting said circuit board at a first region spaced from said edge portion for pivotal movement relative to a plane extending parallel to one of said chips and for locating said edge portion in the vicinity of said one chip;
- and
- second means coupled to said circuit board at a second region nearer to said one chip than said first first region for effecting pivotal movement of said circuit board and leveling of said edge portion relative to said one chip, and for retaining said circuit board stationary relative to said one chip upon leveling of said edge portion.
A structure as claimed in 23, including:
- means having a circuit board for driving said light gate regions;
- means for mounting said circuit board adjacent one of said chips;
- means for electrically connecting said circuit board to said electrodes;
- and
- means including said circuit board for sealing at least said one chip against its environment.
In apparatus for interfacing a circuit board having first terminals at an edge portion with a structure having a substrate and second terminals corresponding to said first terminals, the improvement comprising in combination:
- first means for mounting said circuit board at a first region spaced from said edge portion for pivotal movement relative to a plane extending parallel to said substrate and for locating said edge portion in the vicinity of said substrate;
- and
- second means coupled to said circuit board at a second region nearer to said substrate than said first region for effecting pivotal movement of said circuit board and leveling of said edge portion relative to said substrate, and for retaining said circuit board stationary relative to said substrate upon leveling of said edge portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.