Patent ID: 6381060
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: G02B,G02F,H04Q

Abstract:
A light modulating switch, comprising:an element having a first portion of electro-optic material to which first and second electrodes are associated, and a second portion comprised of material with an index of refraction matching that of said first portion when no voltage is applied to electro-optically activate said first portion, but said index of refraction of said second portion is different than the index of refraction of said first portion when said first portion is electro-optically activated by application of appropriate voltage; said first and second portions are in close conjunction with each other such that a boundary is formed at the junction of said first and second portions; and said element is oriented with respect to at least one incident light beam such that said incident light beam enters said element and strikes said boundary between said first and said second portions at an angle such that said light beam is totally reflected internally when said first portion is electro-optically activated by application of sufficient voltage, but which will pass unreflected through said boundary when said first portion is not electro-optically activated, wherein said first and second portions are separate components which have been brought together to form said boundary.