Patent ID: 6819476
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
An active optical system for changing the wavelength of an incoming optical image, comprising:a) a first control optics assembly for receiving an incoming optical image and adjusting that incoming optical image in accordance with first desired wavelength and beam propagation parameters; b) a template optical element for producing a template optical intensity profile; c) a second control optics assembly for receiving said template optical intensity profile and adjusting that template optical intensity profile in accordance with second desired wavelength and beam propagation parameters; d) a polarization separator for receiving an output from said second control optics and polarizing said second control optics output; e) a quarter wave plate for receiving the polarized output from said polarization separator and changing its linear polarization into a circular polarization; f) a combiner for receiving an output from the first control optics assembly and an output from the quarter wave plate, said combiner providing a combined, co-linear propagation output image having an initial beam size; g) spatial light modulator (SLM) addressing optics for receiving the combined, co-linear propagation output image and producing a desired beam size for the combined, colinear propagation output image; and, h) an SLM for receiving the output from the SLM addressing optics and providing absorption of a portion of said combined, co-linear propagation output image, said absorbed portion being said incoming optical image, wherein this absorption changes the local index of refraction of said SLM so that the local reflection at the template optical intensity profile changes, wherein the template optical intensity profile reproduces the image of the absorbed portion as an outgoing image, said outgoing image being reflected back through said quarter wave plate via said combiner and rotated 90Â° relative to the template optical intensity profile by said quarter wave plate so as to be separated by said polarization separator, thus providing a converted image having substantially the same intensity pattern as the incoming optical image but a different wavelength.