Patent ID: 7187820

Claim:
An optical system comprising: a first subsystem comprising: a first reflecting optical component; at least one other reflecting optical component optically disposed to provide, for an input beam of electromagnetic radiation, a plurality of propagation paths between said first reflecting optical component and said at least one other reflecting optical component; a first pixellated volume holographic switchable element optically disposed between said first reflecting optical component and said at least one other reflecting optical component; and a second subsystem comprising: a second reflecting optical component; at least one other second reflecting optical component optically disposed to provide, for an incoming beam of electromagnetic radiation, a plurality of propagation paths between said second reflecting optical component and said at least one other reflecting optical component; a second pixellated volume holographic switchable element optically disposed between said second reflecting optical component and said at least one other second reflecting optical component; said first pixellated volume holographic switchable element being capable of directing electromagnetic radiation, from said first sub-system, to said second pixellated switchable element; said second pixellated volume holographic switchable element being capable of directing received electromagnetic radiation to said second reflecting optical component or said at least one other reflecting optical component of the second subsystem.