Patent ID: 6970626

Claim:
An optical coupler comprising: an optical cell, said optical cell including: a first optically transparent electrode; a second optically transparent electrode spaced from said first optically transparent electrode; an electro-optic layer interposed between said first optically transparent electrode and said second optically transparent electrode, said electro-optic layer having an index of refraction that is substantially variable only along one crystal axis upon application of an electric field and negligible along other crystal axes for said electric field; and a reflective separation multiplier that includes a light entry plane, a light exit plane, a first light reflective surface and a second light reflective surface, said first light reflective surface facing said light entry plane and said second light reflective surface, and said second light reflective surface facing said light exit plane, enabling multiple reflections between said opposing first light reflective surface and, said second light reflective surface whereby at least two different beams of light that enter through said light entry plane can be angularly deviated with respect to one another when exiting through said light exit plane.