US3614198A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thin-film optical devices
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1969-06-23
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Granted: 1971-10-19
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Expires: 1989-06-23
Abstract
Abstract Thin-film optical devices are disclosed which function within the plane of a thin-film as lenses or prisms. They function in two dimensions, since the thin dimension of the film serves to guide the beam with respect to the third dimension. The devices are formed integrally from the body of the thin-film by variations in its thickness either along the path of the light beam or by such variations both along the path of the beam and transversely thereto, with contours of constant thickness intersecting the light path in an orientation affecting change of the direction of propagation of at least a portion of the light. Lenses of increased thickness are convergent if provided with convex contours or divergent if provided with concave contours; but lenses of decreased thickness with respect to the surrounding film are convergent if provided with concave contours and divergent if provided with convex contours. The prisms change the path of the entire beam. They can also be made to provide total internal reflection within the prism or frustrated internal reflection if disposed sufficiently close to another thin-film optical device. It is advantageous for the efficient operation of these devices if the mentioned changes in the film thickness are not abrupt but rather are tapered smoothly over a distance of several wavelengths of the light. This minimizes reflection losses and conversion to other modes.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond J Martin
- 👤 Reinhard Ulrich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:49
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/34; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/12004; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/29; G02F1/295
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
An optical device of the type comprising a body of optically transparent material having one dimension comparable to the wavelength of light to be propagated therein, having a transverse dimension of magnitude substantially greater than the width of the beam of said light and having at least one smooth surface defining a limit of said one dimension, said device being characterized in that the bulk index of refraction, n, of said body at the wavelength of said light is constant throughout said body but said one dimension varies in magnitude along the intended path of said light thereby varying the relative phase constant, Beta , of said body throughout the region of variation of said one dimension, said one dimension varying with transverse contours of constant magnitude intersecting at least a portion of siad light obliquely, said device affecting change of direction of propagation of said portion of said light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
An optical device of the type comprising a body of optically transparent material having one dimension comparable to the wavelength of light to be propagated therein, having a transverse dimension of magnitude substantially greater than the width of the beam of said light and having at least one smooth surface defining a limit of said one dimension, said device being characterized in that the bulk index of refraction, n, of said body at the wavelength of said light is constant throughout said body but said one dimension varies in magnitude along the intended path of said light thereby varying the relative phase constant, Beta , of said body throughout the region of variation of said one dimension, said one dimension varying with transverse contours of constant magnitude intersecting at least a portion of siad light obliquely, said device affecting change of direction of propagation of said portion of said light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical device of the type claimed in claim 1 in which the one dimension of said body varies in magnitude along the path of propagation of said light with transversely linear contours of constant magnitude intersecting said path obliquely, whereby said path is bent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
An optical device of the type claimed in claim 2 in which the one dimension of said body decreases in magnitude along the path of propagation of said light with transversely linear contours of constant magnitude intersecting said path obliquely at an angle greater than the critical angle for reflection of said light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
An optical device of the type claimed in claim 1 in which the one dimension of said body varies in magnitude along the direction of propagation of said light with transversely curved contours of constant magnitude intersecting said path, said curved contours affecting change of direction of propagation of the light at the edges of said path with respect to the direction of propagation of the light in the center of said path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
An optical devIce of the type claimed in claim 4 in which the one dimension of said body increases in magnitude along the path of propagation of said light with transversely curved contours having centers of curvature located in the forward direction along said ptah to provide convergent focusing of said light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
An optical device of the type claimed in claim 4 in which the one dimension of said body decreases in magnitude along the path of propagation of said light with transversely curved contours having centers of curvature located in the backward direction along said path to provide convergent focusing of said light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
An optical device of the type claimed in claim 4 in which the one dimension of said body increases in magnitude along the path of propagation of said light with transversely curved contours having centers of curvature located in the backward direction along said path to provide divergent focusing of said light.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
An optical device of the type claimed in claim 4 in which the one dimension of said body decreases in magnitude along the path of propagation of said light with transversely curved contours having centers of curvature located in the forward direction to provide divergent focusing of said light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
An optical device of the type claimed in claim 1 in which the one dimension of said body first increases then decreases in magnitude in a limited area along the path of propagation of said light to provide a limited region of increased relative phase constant, Beta throughout the area of expansion of said one dimension.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
An optical device of the type claimed in claim 1 in which the one dimension of said body first decreases then increases in magnitude in a limited area along the path of propagation of said light to provide a limited region of decreased relative phase constant, Beta throughout the area of contraction of said one dimension.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical device of the type claimed in claim 1 in which the one dimension of the body varies not only along the path but also transversely to the path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical device of the type claimed in claim 11 in which the one dimension of the body varies monotonically transversely to the path to bend the path.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical device of the type claimed in claim 11 in which the one dimension of the body varies transversely to the path in a curved symmetrical fashion with respect to the path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
An optical device of the type claimed in claim 1 in which the one dimension first decreases along a direction oblique to the path to an extent which would provide reflection of light propagating in said path and then increases along a geometrical extension of said direction to an extent to frustrate said reflection.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
An optical device of the type claimed in claim 1 in which the one dimension of the body varies smoothly throughout a sufficient plurality of light wavelengths along the path to prevent substantial mode conversion of said light.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical device of the type claimed in claim 15 in which the one dimension of the body varies throughout a pathlength distance such that the angle formed by the upper surface with respect to the lower surface at no point exceeds about 10* .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
An optical device of the type claimed in claim 15 in which the one dimension of the body varies throughout a pathlength distance such that the angle formed by the upper surface with respect to the lower surface at no point exceeds about 5*.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3395366A
Cited
US3489481A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-18 | 1975-04-19 | 1975-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-18 | 1979-04-19 | 1979-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-18 | 1983-04-19 | 1983-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |