US3700307A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable nonlinearly transmissive optical device
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1971-04-05
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Granted: 1972-10-24
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Expires: 1991-04-05
Abstract
Abstract A nonlinear optical device which is useful because of its intensity-dependent transmissivity characteristic for Q switching or mode locking lasers and also as an optical limiter is disclosed. A combination of adjustable optical elements each of which causes a known effect on the polarization of radiation passing therethrough forms the device; one of these elements is a dielectric material which rotates the major axis of elliptically polarized radiation in an amount proportional to the intensity of the radiation, producing an intensity sensitive transmissive characteristic. The saturation parameters of the devices are variable and devices having either a saturable absorber or a saturable transmitter characteristic are described.
Inventors
- 👤 William H Glenn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:00
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/11; H01S3/1123; H01S3/113; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/35; G02F1/3511; G02F1/3523
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
An optical device which transmits an input beam of linearly polarized electromagnetic radiation and has a transmissivity characteristic which is a function of the intensity of the input beam comprising: a first quarter wave plate with its fast axis oriented at an angle theta 1 to the direction of polarization of the input beam for producing from the input beam an elliptically polarized beam having a particular orientation; a liquid dielectric material which rotates the orientation of said elliptically polarized beam by an angle Alpha producing a rotated elliptically polarized beam; a second quarter wave plate with its fast axis oriented at an angle theta 2 to the direction of polarization of the input beam for producing a second linearly polarized beam from said rotated elliptically polarized beam; and a linear polarizer oriented with its allowed axis at an angle theta 3 to the direction of polarization of the input beam which passes only that component of the second linearly polarized beam which lies along the allowed axis so that said optical device has an overall transmissivity (T) described by T cos2( theta 3- theta 2-1)cos2( theta 2-( Alpha ''+ theta 1))+sin2( theta 3- theta 2+ theta 1)sin2( theta 2-( Alpha ''+ theta 1)).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
An optical device which transmits an input beam of linearly polarized electromagnetic radiation and has a transmissivity characteristic which is a function of the intensity of the input beam comprising: a first quarter wave plate with its fast axis oriented at an angle theta 1 to the direction of polarization of the input beam for producing from the input beam an elliptically polarized beam having a particular orientation; a liquid dielectric material which rotates the orientation of said elliptically polarized beam by an angle Alpha producing a rotated elliptically polarized beam; a second quarter wave plate with its fast axis oriented at an angle theta 2 to the direction of polarization of the input beam for producing a second linearly polarized beam from said rotated elliptically polarized beam; and a linear polarizer oriented with its allowed axis at an angle theta 3 to the direction of polarization of the input beam which passes only that component of the second linearly polarized beam which lies along the allowed axis so that said optical device has an overall transmissivity (T) described by T cos2( theta 3- theta 2-1)cos2( theta 2-( Alpha ''+ theta 1))+sin2( theta 3- theta 2+ theta 1)sin2( theta 2-( Alpha ''+ theta 1)).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
253 words
An optical device which reflects a linearly polarized input beam of electromagnetic radiation and has reflectivity characteristics which depend upon the intensity of the input beam comprising: a linear polarizer for transmitting that component of the input beam which is polarized along a preselected axis with its allowed axis at the same orientation as the direction of the polarization of the input beam; a first quarter waveplate with its fast axis oriented at an angle theta to the direction of polarization of the input beam for elliptically polarizing that component of the input beam which is passed by the linear polarizer to produce an elliptically polarized beaM having a major and a minor axis of polarization; a cell containing liquid dielectric material which rotates the orientation of the axes of the polarization ellipse by an angle which is dependent upon the intensity of the input beam to produce a rotated elliptically polarized beam; a second quarter waveplate with its fast axis oriented at an angle theta 2 to the direction of polarization of the input beam for further altering the polarization state of the rotated elliptically polarized beam which emits an altered polarization beam; and a fully reflecting mirror for reflecting the altered polarization beam emitted by the second waveplate so that the beam passes in order through the second waveplate, the liquid dielectric, the first waveplate and the linear polarizer so that the optical device has an overall reflectivity (R) described by: R 1-cos22 theta 1sin22( theta 2- Alpha '''' theta 1).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
253 words
An optical device which reflects a linearly polarized input beam of electromagnetic radiation and has reflectivity characteristics which depend upon the intensity of the input beam comprising: a linear polarizer for transmitting that component of the input beam which is polarized along a preselected axis with its allowed axis at the same orientation as the direction of the polarization of the input beam; a first quarter waveplate with its fast axis oriented at an angle theta to the direction of polarization of the input beam for elliptically polarizing that component of the input beam which is passed by the linear polarizer to produce an elliptically polarized beaM having a major and a minor axis of polarization; a cell containing liquid dielectric material which rotates the orientation of the axes of the polarization ellipse by an angle which is dependent upon the intensity of the input beam to produce a rotated elliptically polarized beam; a second quarter waveplate with its fast axis oriented at an angle theta 2 to the direction of polarization of the input beam for further altering the polarization state of the rotated elliptically polarized beam which emits an altered polarization beam; and a fully reflecting mirror for reflecting the altered polarization beam emitted by the second waveplate so that the beam passes in order through the second waveplate, the liquid dielectric, the first waveplate and the linear polarizer so that the optical device has an overall reflectivity (R) described by: R 1-cos22 theta 1sin22( theta 2- Alpha '''' theta 1).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of producing an output beam of linearly polarized radiation including the steps of: providing an input beam of electromagnetic radiation; converting the input beam to an elliptically polarized beam; rotating the orientation of the polarized beam in an amount which depends upon the intensity of the polarized beam to produce a rotated elliptically polarized beam; altering the polarization of the rotated beam; and passing only that component of the altered polarization beam which lies along a preselected axis of polarization whereby the output beam is a polarized beam of radiation whose intensity is a nonlinear function of the intensity of the input beam.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of producing an output beam of linearly polarized radiation including the steps of: providing an input beam of electromagnetic radiation; converting the input beam to an elliptically polarized beam; rotating the orientation of the polarized beam in an amount which depends upon the intensity of the polarized beam to produce a rotated elliptically polarized beam; altering the polarization of the rotated beam; and passing only that component of the altered polarization beam which lies along a preselected axis of polarization whereby the output beam is a polarized beam of radiation whose intensity is a nonlinear function of the intensity of the input beam.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of providing an output beam of polarized radiation including the steps of: providing an input beam of electromagnetic radiation; converting the input beam to an elliptically polarized beam; rotating the orientation of the polarized beam in an amount which depends upon the intensity of the polarized beam to produce a rotated elliptically polarized beam; altering the polarization of the rotated beam and reversing the direction of travel; further rotating the orientation of the polarized beam in an amount which depends upon the intensity of the polarized beam to produce a further rotated elliptically polarized beam; further altering the polarization of the beam; and selecting a component of linear polarization from the beam whereby the output beam is a polarized beam of radiation whose intensity is a nonlinear function of the intensity of the input beam.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of providing an output beam of polarized radiation including the steps of: providing an input beam of electromagnetic radiation; converting the input beam to an elliptically polarized beam; rotating the orientation of the polarized beam in an amount which depends upon the intensity of the polarized beam to produce a rotated elliptically polarized beam; altering the polarization of the rotated beam and reversing the direction of travel; further rotating the orientation of the polarized beam in an amount which depends upon the intensity of the polarized beam to produce a further rotated elliptically polarized beam; further altering the polarization of the beam; and selecting a component of linear polarization from the beam whereby the output beam is a polarized beam of radiation whose intensity is a nonlinear function of the intensity of the input beam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3432223A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-24 | 1976-04-24 | 1976-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-24 | 1980-04-24 | 1980-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-24 | 1984-04-24 | 1984-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |