Patent ID: 6437762
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: G02F,G03H

Abstract:
An optical switch, comprising:a first port, having: a body of material having a first surface and a second surface, said second surface being non-orthogonal to said first surface, said material being characterized in that it produces a phase delay which varies in response to an electric potential applied across a portion of said material, a plurality of substantially-transparent electrodes disposed adjacent said first surface of said material, said electrodes being arranged in a predetermined pattern and having predetermined respective sizes and spacings with respect to at least one dimension x, at least one substantially-transparent electrode disposed adjacent said second surface of said material in predetermined relation to said electrodes disposed adjacent said first surface, and control means, connected to said electrodes disposed adjacent said first surface and at least said one electrode disposed adjacent said second surface so that said material is effectively partitioned into a plurality of diffractive optic components, each said component corresponding to one or more of said electrodes disposed adjacent said first surface, for applying selected electric potentials to respective said electrodes adjacent said first surface relative to an electrode adjacent said second surface so as to cause said phase delay to vary with respect to said dimension x substantially as follows: D(x)=Do(x)+F(x)(mod Dmax) whereD(x)=phase delay with respect to said dimension x in response to said control means, Do(x)=phase delay in the absence of any electric field with respect to said dimension x, F(x)=a selected variation in phase delay with respect to said dimension x, Dmax a predetermined maximum permissible value of phase delay, greater than zero and less than the maximum value of F(x), over a first predetermined range of x, where D(x)âˆ’Do(x)=0 at some point over a second predetermined range of x and F(x) (mod Dmax) is aperiodic, has a selectable spatial duty factor or has more than one non-zero value over said first predetermined range of x, anda second port having a surface disposed in spaced, non-orthogonal relation to said first and second surfaces of said first port so that light may be coupled between said first port and said second port, said control means including means for mapping an optical wavefront pattern illuminating said first port to a predetermined wavefront pattern at said second port.