Electrically variable optical filter
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsMark N. Robins, Heather N. Bean, Matthew Flach
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrically variable optical filter includes a first optical element including a first angled face and a second optical element including a second angled face. The second angled face is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first angled face. At least one separation actuator is affixed between the first optical element and the second optical element and is operable to change a separation distance D between the first angled face and the second angled face. Light waves transmitted through the first optical element are selectively transmitted through to or reflected away from the second optical element as a function of wavelength and the separation distance D.
Claims24
An electrically variable optical filter, comprising:
- a first optical element including a first angled face with respect to incident light;
- a second optical element including a second angled face, with said second angled face being substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said first angled face;
- at least one separation actuator, said at least one separation actuator being affixed between said first optical element and said second optical element and operable to change a separation distance D between said first angled face and said second angled face, whereby said incident light transmitted through said first optical element is selectively transmitted through to or reflected away from said second optical element as a function of wavelength and said separation distance D;
- said incident light being transmitted through said first optical element to said second optical element if said separation distance D is less than a wavelength of said incident light and being reflected away from said second optical element if said separation distance D is greater than or equal to said wavelength of said incident light.
An electrically variable optical filter, comprising:
- a first optical element including a first angled face with respect to incident light;
- a second optical element including a second angled face, with said second angled face being substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said first angled face;
- at least one separation means operable to change a separation distance D between said first angled face and said second angled face, whereby said incident light transmitted through said first optical element is selectively transmitted through to or reflected away from said second optical element as a function of wavelength and said separation distance D;
- said incident light being transmitted through said first optical element to said second optical element if said separation distance D is less than a wavelength of said incident light and being reflected away from said second optical element if said separation distance D is greater than or equal to said wavelength of said incident light.
A method of forming an electrically variable optical filter, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first optical element including a first angled face with respect to incident light;
- providing a second optical element including a second angled face, with said second angled face being substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said first angled face by a separation distance D;
- providing at least one separation actuator that controls said separation distance D to thereby selectively control the wavelength of light passing from said first optical element into said second optical element;
- and
- whereby said incident light is transmitted through said first optical element to said second optical element if said separation distance D is less than a wavelength of said incident light and is reflected away from said second optical element if said separation distance D is greater than or equal to said wavelength of said incident light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.