Electro-optic switching system using circularly polarized light

A contaminant light intensity-compensated optical switching system in optical communication with a source of light rays, comprising:

• first light gate means including a first electro-optic device means to provide an optical transmission state having associated therewith a contaminant light intensity pattern with points of local minima and maxima;
• second light gate means including a second electro-optic device means to provide an optical transmission state having associated therewith a contaminant light intensity pattern with points of local minima and maxima;
• the second light gate being positioned to receive the light rays transmitted by the first light gate and the contaminant light intensity pattern of the second light gate being oriented so that the points of local minima and maxima of the contaminant light intensity pattern of one of the light gates generally align with the respective points of local maxima and minima of the contaminant light intensity pattern of the other light gate;
• first means to introduce circular polarization of and second means to remove the circular polarization from the light rays propagating between the first and second electro-optic device means;
• and
• control means in communication with the first and second electro-optic device means to form a system whose transmissivity remains essentially constant at its maximum value and which provides independent of viewing angle an optical transmission state of substantially contaminant-free light.