Patent ID: 7518779
Filing Date: 2009-04-14
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
1. An acousto-optic modulator, comprising: an acousto-optic bulk medium; a transducer attached to said acousto-optic bulk medium and comprising an electrode circuit as a plurality of electrodes arranged in a linear configuration and a plurality of piezoelectric platelet segments in a linear configuration and attached to said bulk medium and supporting said electrode circuit such that a respective piezoelectric platelet segment supports a respective single electrode, wherein said piezoelectric platelet segments are configured for minimizing shear stress and susceptibility to fracture due to temperature extremes; and a transducer driver connected to said electrode circuit for driving said electrode circuit and comprising a plurality of amplifiers connected to the electrodes such that each electrode is individually driven by a respective single amplifier connected thereto to establish the amplitude and phase of each waveform imparted by an electrode and alter angular momentum distribution of an acoustic field and alternately allow and inhibit phase matching.