Patent ID: 6636357
Filing Date: 2003-10-21
Classification: G01J,G02B

Abstract:
An electrically variable optical filter, comprising:a first optical element including a first angled face with respect to incident light; a second optical element including a second angled face, with said second angled face being substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said first angled face; at least one separation actuator, said at least one separation actuator being affixed between said first optical element and said second optical element and operable to change a separation distance D between said first angled face and said second angled face, whereby said incident light transmitted through said first optical element is selectively transmitted through to or reflected away from said second optical element as a function of wavelength and said separation distance D; said incident light being transmitted through said first optical element to said second optical element if said separation distance D is less than a wavelength of said incident light and being reflected away from said second optical element if said separation distance D is greater than or equal to said wavelength of said incident light.