Abstract

Non-mechanical optical beam steering and switching is produced by optically controlled liquid crystal spatial light modulator with angular magnification by high efficiency volume Bragg gratings recorded in a photosensitive PTR glass. Small angle beam deflection in a photoactive liquid crystal cell is produced by exposing it to a controlling beam from an external source of radiation with predetermined distribution of power density which causes predetermined spatial gradients of a refractive index in a liquid crystal cell and, therefore, refraction of a controlled beam which is made to propagate in the region with spatial gradient of the refractive index. Large angle beam deflection is produced by a volume Bragg grating with angular selectivity adjusted in such way that small angle scanning produced by optically controlled liquid crystal spatial light modulator results in change of diffraction efficiency from zero to 100% for switching the beam for two Bragg angles.

Document Type

Patent

Patent Number

US 7,324,286

Application Serial Number

11/399,166

Issue Date

1-29-2008

Current Assignee

Joint Assignment w/UCFRF: Light Processing and Technologies, Inc.

Assignee at Issuance

Joint Assignment w/UCFRF: Light Processing and Technologies, Inc.

College

College of Optics and Photonics

Department

CREOL

Allowance Date

8-24-2007

Filing Date

4-6-2006

Assignee at Filing

Joint Assignment w/UCFRF: Light Processing and Technologies, Inc.

Filing Type

Nonprovisional Application Record

Donated

no

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