US3610730A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fluidic prism
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1969-10-23
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Granted: 1971-10-05
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Expires: 1989-10-23
Abstract
Abstract A fluidic prism having a colloidal suspension, that exhibits streaming birefringence, flowing through first and second hollow cells in different directions such that the components of a light beam polarized in different directions and incident upon the prism are deflected along different paths. When the suspension flows through the cells in substantially mutually orthogonal directions, the deflection paths and the path of the incident light beam are coplanar. When the suspension flows through the cells in other than substantially mutually orthogonal directions, the deflection paths and the path of the incident light beam are in mutually orthogonal planes.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald K Goldberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:29
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/04; G02B5/06; G02B1/00; G02B1/06; G02B27/00; G02B27/28; G02B27/283
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A light-deflecting prism comprising first and second hollow cells, said first and second cells are disposed in sequence and have optically transparent portions so that a light beam can pass successively therethrough, a source of a colloidal suspension having particles shaped such that the suspension can exhibit streaming birefringence, and means coupled to said source and said cells for causing said suspension to flow through said first cell in a first direction and through said second cell in a second direction whereby said first cell has a favored optic axis with a major component extending in said first direction and said second cell has a favored optic axis with a major component extending in said second direction, such that the components of an incident light beam polarized in said first and second directions are deflected along different paths.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A light-deflecting prism comprising first and second hollow cells, said first and second cells are disposed in sequence and have optically transparent portions so that a light beam can pass successively therethrough, a source of a colloidal suspension having particles shaped such that the suspension can exhibit streaming birefringence, and means coupled to said source and said cells for causing said suspension to flow through said first cell in a first direction and through said second cell in a second direction whereby said first cell has a favored optic axis with a major component extending in said first direction and said second cell has a favored optic axis with a major component extending in said second direction, such that the components of an incident light beam polarized in said first and second directions are deflected along different paths.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The prism according to claim 1 wherein said first and second directions are substantially mutually orthogonal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The prism according to claim 2 wherein the flow rate of said suspension is between 5 cubic centimeters per second and 50 cubic centimeters per second.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The prism according to claim 1 wherein said first and second cells have a common optically transparent wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The prism according to claim 4 wherein said first cell has two fluid ports located at different distances from said common wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The prism according to claim 4 wherein said first cell has two fluid ports located at substantially the same distance from said common wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The prism according to claim 4 wherein said common wall is skew to the path of propagation of said incident light beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The prism according to claim 3 wherein said suspension is aqueous and has a density of about 0.013 grams of said particles per cubic centimeter of water, and said particles have a longitudinal dimension of about one micron.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A prism according to claim 1 wherein the flow rate of said suspension is between 5 cubic centimeters per second and 50 cubic centimeters per second, and said suspension is aqueous and has a density of about 0.013 grams of said particles per cubic centimeter of water.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of deflecting polarized components of a light beam along different paths comprising: pumping a colloidal suspension having particles shaped such that the suspension exhibits streaming birefringence through both a first cell in a first direction and a second cell in a second direction; and passing a light beam successively through said cells.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of deflecting polarized components of a light beam along different paths comprising: pumping a colloidal suspension having particles shaped such that the suspension exhibits streaming birefringence through both a first cell in a first direction and a second cell in a second direction; and passing a light beam successively through said cells.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein said first and second directions are substantially mutually orthogonal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein said suspension is aqueous and has a density of about 0.013 grams of said particles per cubic centimeter of water, anD said particles have a longitudinal dimension of about one micron.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein said suspension is pumped through said cells at a rate between 5 cubic centimeters per second and 50 cubic centimeters per second.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of deflecting the polarized components of a light beam in different, variable directions comprising: pumping at a first flow rate a colloidal suspension having particles shaped such that said suspension exhibits streaming birefringence through first and second optically transparent cells in different directions; projecting a light beam successively through said first and second cells; and pumping said suspension through said cells at a second flow rate different from said first flow rate.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of deflecting the polarized components of a light beam in different, variable directions comprising: pumping at a first flow rate a colloidal suspension having particles shaped such that said suspension exhibits streaming birefringence through first and second optically transparent cells in different directions; projecting a light beam successively through said first and second cells; and pumping said suspension through said cells at a second flow rate different from said first flow rate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1963127A
Cited
US2427996A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-04 | 1975-04-05 | 1975-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-04 | 1979-04-05 | 1979-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-04 | 1983-04-05 | 1983-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |