Electronically modulated prism
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Corporation
InventorJames M. Cicchiello
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronically modulated prism, having a bulk crystal, a plurality of electrode pads formed on a top surface of the bulk crystal, and a common electrode formed on a bottom surface of the bulk crystal. The bulk crystal is optically isotropic with zero electric field applied thereto and optically anisotropic when subjected to a non-zero electric field. More specifically, the bulk crystal between each of the electrode pads and the common electrode has an index of fraction altered proportionally to the electric field applied thereto, such that an incident beam propagate through the crystal is modulated with an accumulated phase shift.
Claims34
A beam steering system, comprising:
- a beam generating device, operative to generate a light beam;
- an electronically modulated prism, comprising:
- a bulk crystal, having a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of side surfaces, wherein the light beam incident on one of the side surfaces and emerging from another of the side surfaces;
- an array of electrode pads deposited on the top surface;
- and
- a common electrode formed on the bottom surface;
- and
- an electric field source, operative to apply an adjustable electric field to each electrode of the array.
An electronically modulated prism, comprising:
- a bulk crystal, the bulk crystal being optically isotropic with zero electric field applied thereto and optically anisotropic when subjected to a non-zero electric field;
- a plurality of electrode pads formed on a top surface of the bulk crystal;
- and
- a common electrode plate formed on a bottom surface of the bulk crystal.
An electronically modulated prism for modulating an incident beam transmitting therethrough, the electronically modulated prism being fabricated from a material operative to induce a variation of optical-path difference for the incident beam and changes of refractive index at selected positions of the material by applying an adjustable electric field at each of the selected positions across the material locally.
A beam steering system, comprising:
- a source for generating a beam;
- a prism through which the beam propagates;
- and
- an electric field source, selectively applying an electric field at various positions across the prism locally;
- wherein
- the prism being fabricated from a material operative to induce a plurality of local phase shifts of the incident beam at the various positions and accumulate the local phase shifts along a propagation path of the beam.
A method of steering a beam, comprising:
- a) fabricating a prism from an electro-optic material;
- b) generating an incident beam to propagate laterally through the prism;
- c) generating an electric field;
- and
- d) applying the electric field locally at various positions across the prism.
A method of steering an incident beam, comprising:
- a) fabricating a bulk crystal from an electro-optic material;
- b) directing the incident beam to propagate laterally through the bulk crystal;
- c) forming at least one propagating interface of the incident beam within the bulk crystal by applying an electric field with a first intensity at selected positions across the bulk crystal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.