Patent ID: 7742664

Claim:
A waveguide for controllably refracting a light beam, comprising: a substantially planar core defining a substantially planar upper surface, the core operable to guide the light beam through the waveguide in a direction parallel to the substantially planar upper surface; at least one cladding having a liquid crystal material therein; at least one alignment layer adjacent to the at least one cladding, the alignment layer operable to orient the liquid crystal material in an initial orientation; at least one electrode for receiving at least one voltage; and at least one non-normal interface within the waveguide, the non-normal interface operable to receive the light beam at an angle and to refract the light beam by an amount that is controlled by the voltage, thereby forming a refracted light beam, wherein the angle is larger than a total internal reflection angle such that at least a portion of the refracted light beam traverses the non-normal interface; wherein the refracted light beam is operable to propagate in a direction parallel to the substantially planar upper surface of the core.