Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc.

Labintelligence, Inc.

Basil L Swaby

Richard Ian Seddon

Bryant P Hichwa

Erik W Anthon

James W Seeser

Claudio I Zanelli

Paul M LeFebvre

Robert L Cargill

Richard James Ryall

Robert W Adair

Scott E Solberg

Christopher Iaconis

Erich Gombocz

Douglas G Jensen

Glenn A Clarke

Stephen C Olson

Stephen D Browning

The absorption of a spacer material in a Fabry-Perot type structure is changed to achieve an optical switching function. In one embodiment, the spacer material is a semiconductor material and an electronic control signal changes the Fabry-Perot between a transmissive state and a reflective state. In the reflective state, the device operates as a switch can be modeled as a mirror on a substrate of quasi-infinite thickness. In a further embodiment, a wavelength-selective optical component is placed between the input of the switch and the Fabry-Perot structure to improve the spectral response of the switch.

Fabry-Perot optical switch

An optical filter is provided for use in color projection display imaging systems which utilize liquid crystal light valves for image modulation. The optical filter is a dichroic coating which separates light into different colors. The optical filter is located on a light transmissive surface of a color splitting device such as a Philips prism. The optical filter is formed from layers of at least two different dielectric materials including a high refractive index material, such as zirconium oxide and a low refractive index material such as aluminum oxide. The low refractive index material has an average refractive index of no less than about 1.6. The high refractive index material has an average refractive index which is sufficiently greater than the average refractive index of the low refractive index such that the average refractive index of the high refractive index material divided by the average refractive index of the low refractive index material yields a ratio that is greater than about 1.2 and less than about 1.55.

Thin film dichroic color separation filters for color splitters in

A process suitable for forming multi-layer (up to at least several hundred layers) monotonic/linear variable/wedge filter coatings on a single substrate surface and for forming monolithic filter assemblies which incorporate such filters, is disclosed along with the designs for such filters. The monolithic process uses radially variable filter fabrication techniques in combination with ion-assisted deposition to form stress controlled, radially variable filter coatings of the desired varied optical profile, preferably using high and low index materials stich as tantala and silica. Stress is minimized by balancing the amount of ion assist and the coating rate. Slices are cut radially from the substrate to form quasi-linear variable filters. Other coatings such as, but not limited to, a wide band hot mirror can be formed on the opposite surface of the substrate from the radially variable LVF method. The method forms complex multi-layer thick filters with high yields on a single substrate surface such that the filter is free of precession or sideways leakage of light between the parallel surfaces. Also disclosed is an optical filter having stacks arranged so that the magnitude of the characteristic center wavelength of each stack increases from stack to stack along the desired direction of traversal of incident light through the filter. As a result of this sequential construction, diffuse leaks are blocked from transmission through the filter. The diffuse leak-suppressed filter can be formed by various processes, including the monolithic process.

Monolithic linear variable filter and method of manufacture

A spectral wavelength discrimination system and method for using are provided which allows the wavelength of a beam of radiation to be accurately determined using compact inexpensive optics and electronics. The system is particularly useful for identifying the emission wavelength of a multi-component marker system which includes a plurality of components having different wavelength ranges. The system comprises a wavelength selective beamsplitter, termed a Linear Wavelength Filter, that directs predetermined fractions of the beam at each wavelength into each of two output beams. The intensities of these output beams are measured. The measurements and selected system parameters, including the beamsplitter spectral characteristics and the detector sensitivity characteristics are used in a special algorithm for performing Fourier based wavelength-dispersive analysis. The unique solution of the Fourier based analysis is the wavelength of the beam of radiation. The system employs various optical components and structures to achieve the desired spatial resolution and sensitivity. Multiple channel devices and other special configurations are also described.

Spectral wavelength discrimination system and method for using

A leak-corrected linearly variable filter comprises optical filter coatings formed on an assembly of one or more optically transmissive substrates. Leaks due to the longitudinal precession of incident light within the substrates are suppressed by forming the filter such that no two surfaces which are reflected at the same wavelength within the range of interest are parallel. Typically, the constituent substrates of the filter are oriented at a slight angle relative to one another and filter coatings having overlapping reflective wavelengths are deposited on different substrates rather than on the two parallel sides of the same substrate. Alternatively, venetian shade structures can be incorporated within the substrates to block longitudinal precession of light.

Leakage-corrected linear variable filter

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Santa Rosa, CA, United States of America

Basil L Swaby