Patent ID: 6735012
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: B82Y,G02B,G02F

Abstract:
An active optical system for phase-shifting desired portions of an incoming optical wavefront comprisinga) a control optics assembly for receiving an incoming optical wavefront and adjusting that incoming optical wavefront in accordance with desired wavelength and beam propagation parameters: b) spatial light modulator (SLM) addressing optics for receiving an output from the control optics assembly and producing a desired beam size therefrom; c) an SLM for receiving the output from the SLM addressing optics and providing localized phased shifting of the resulting wavefront said SLM comprising: a microscopic array of pixelated silicon nanocluster elements; and a voltage source for applying independently controlled voltages on desired nanocluster elements; and d) SLM egressing optics for receiving the output of the SLM and returning the beam size of the wavefront to the initial beam size, the output of the SLM egressing optics having desired portions of its phase shifted relative to the incoming optical wavefront.