Patent ID: 6515784
Filing Date: 2003-02-04
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
An optical system for inverting a digital optical beam, said system comprising:a continuous beam source generating a continuous beam; an optical beam combiner receiving and combining the digital optical beam and the continuous beam into a combined beam; and an optical inverting device responsive to the combined beam, said inverting device including a first optical structure and a second optical structure being made of different optical materials and forming an interface therebetween, said first optical structure receiving the combined beam and having a index of refraction that is variable and dependent on the intensity of the combined beam, said combined beam being caused to impinge the interface at a predetermined angle of incidence, wherein most of the combined beam is refracted through the interface into the second optical structure if a critical angle defined by the index of refraction of the first optical structure and the index of refraction of the second optical structure is greater than the angle of incidence, and wherein the refracted combined beam exits the second optical structure as an inversion of the digital optical beam.