Patent US4040426A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3575602A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3575602A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical frequency waveguide and transmission system
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
•
Filing: 1969-01-24
•
Granted: 1971-04-20
•
Expires: 1989-01-24
Abstract
Abstract An optical communication system is disclosed in which electromagnetic energy is communicated from a source to a receiver through a gastight structure filled with gas, such as carbon dioxide, at a selected pressure. The energy is of a first frequency and with a critical power value Pc so that the energy which passes through the gas in trapped in the form of a constant diameter beam. The energy also includes modulated electromagnetic energy at a critical power value less that Pc, but at a frequency higher than the first frequency, whereby the modulated energy is also trapped in the beam as it passes through the gas-filled structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles H Townes
- 👤 Raymond Y Chioa
- 👤 Elsa M Garmire
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:34
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/35; G02F1/3511; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
An optical frequency communication system comprising: source means for providing electromagnetic energy at a first frequency and with critical power, definable as Pc, and electromagnetic energy at a second frequency higher than said first frequency; receiving means disposed from said source means; and a structure disposed between said source means and said receiving means and being filled with a material of a preselected dielectric constant which is a function of Pc and said first frequency whereby the electromagnetic energies from said source means passing through said structure to said receiving means are trapped in a beam of a preselected diameter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
An optical frequency communication system comprising: source means for providing electromagnetic energy at a first frequency and with critical power, definable as Pc, and electromagnetic energy at a second frequency higher than said first frequency; receiving means disposed from said source means; and a structure disposed between said source means and said receiving means and being filled with a material of a preselected dielectric constant which is a function of Pc and said first frequency whereby the electromagnetic energies from said source means passing through said structure to said receiving means are trapped in a beam of a preselected diameter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical frequency communication system according to claim 1 wherein Pc is not less than wherein lambda is the wavelength of said first frequency, c is the spEed of light and n2 is in the order of X106 wherein X is not greater than 2.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
An optical frequency communication system according to claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic energy at said second frequency is modulated and wherein said structure is a gastight structure and said material filling said structure is a gas at a preselected controllable pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical frequency communication system according to claim 3 wherein Pc is not less than wherein lambda is the wavelength of said first frequency, c is the speed of light and n2 is in the order of X106 where X is not greater than 2.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical frequency communication system according to claim 4 wherein said gas is carbon dioxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An optical frequency communication system according to claim 1 wherein said source means comprises first and second lasers, said first laser providing said energy at said first frequency and said second laser providing modulated energy at said second frequency.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical frequency communication system according to claim 6 wherein Pc is not less than where lambda is the wavelength of said first frequency, c is the speed of light and n2 is in the order of X106 where X is not greater than 2.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
An optical frequency communication system according to claim 7 wherein said electromagnetic energy at said second frequency is modulated and wherein said structure is a gastight structure and said material filling said structure is a gas at a preselected controllable pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical frequency communication system according to claim 8 wherein said gas is carbon dioxide.
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) | 1974-04-19 | 1974-10-19 | 1975-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-19 | 1978-10-19 | 1979-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-19 | 1982-10-19 | 1983-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |