Patent US3158746A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3158746A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light modulation in a semiconductor body
Assignee: Sprague Electric Co
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Filing: 1960-12-27
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Granted: 1964-11-24
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Expires: 1980-12-27
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Lehovec Kurt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:24
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/015; G02F1/0155; G02F1/0156
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
APPARATUS FOR MODULATING THE INTENSITY OF A LIGHT BEAM BY AN ELECTRIC SIGNAL, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A SEMICONDUCTING BODY HAVING AT LEAST TWO PN JUNCTIONS, MEANS FOR PROJECTING A LIGHT BEAM SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID PN JUNCTIONS, A SPACE-CHARGE LAYER AT EACH PN JUNCTION CAPABLE OF TRANSMITTING SAID LIGHT, A REGION IN SAID SEMICONDUCTING BODY ADJACENT SAID SPACE-CHARGE LAYER WHICH IS LESS TRANSMISSIVE OF LIGHT THAN SAID SPACE-CHARGE LAYER, SAID PN JUNCTIONS BIASED IN THE BLOCKING DIRECTION BY AN APPLIED ELECTRIC SIGNAL, MEANS TO VARY THE MAGNITUDE OF SAID BLOCKING BIAS WHEREBY THE WIDTH OF THE SPACECHARGE LAYER IS VARIED TO EFFECTIVELY ALTER THE WIDTH OF THE LESS TRANSMISSIVE REGION, THEREBY CAUSING A MODULATION IN THE INTENSITY OF THE LIGHT PASSING ESSENTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID PN JUNCTIONS.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
APPARATUS FOR MODULATING THE INTENSITY OF A LIGHT BEAM BY AN ELECTRIC SIGNAL, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A SEMICONDUCTING BODY HAVING AT LEAST TWO PN JUNCTIONS, MEANS FOR PROJECTING A LIGHT BEAM SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID PN JUNCTIONS, A SPACE-CHARGE LAYER AT EACH PN JUNCTION CAPABLE OF TRANSMITTING SAID LIGHT, A REGION IN SAID SEMICONDUCTING BODY ADJACENT SAID SPACE-CHARGE LAYER WHICH IS LESS TRANSMISSIVE OF LIGHT THAN SAID SPACE-CHARGE LAYER, SAID PN JUNCTIONS BIASED IN THE BLOCKING DIRECTION BY AN APPLIED ELECTRIC SIGNAL, MEANS TO VARY THE MAGNITUDE OF SAID BLOCKING BIAS WHEREBY THE WIDTH OF THE SPACECHARGE LAYER IS VARIED TO EFFECTIVELY ALTER THE WIDTH OF THE LESS TRANSMISSIVE REGION, THEREBY CAUSING A MODULATION IN THE INTENSITY OF THE LIGHT PASSING ESSENTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID PN JUNCTIONS.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1967-11-24 | 1968-05-25 | 1968-11-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1971-11-24 | 1972-05-25 | 1972-11-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1975-11-24 | 1976-05-25 | 1976-11-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |