Optron Systems, Inc.

Optron System, Inc.

Cardinal Warde

Robert F Dillon

Xingtao Wu

Craig M Schiller

George J Genetti

Thomas N Horsky

Francis Lawrence Leard

Todd N Tsakiris

Brian A Hill

A high angular deflection micro-mirror system including a substrate, a spacer structure extending from the substrate, a deformable membrane supported by the spacer structure, one or more supports located off center on the deformable membrane, and one or more mirrors on the support cantilevered therefrom to achieve a high angular deflection of the mirrors as the deformable membranes deform.

High angular deflection micro-mirror system

A tunable optical filter including at least one deformable membrane actuator. The actuator may include an array of a thousand or millions of individual actuator cells for strength and mechanical robustness. The deformable membrane actuator including a first primary substrate having a first optical portion, an electrically conductive and deformable membrane, an electrically conductive primary substrate electrode and a membrane support structure. The substrate electrode and the membrane support structure are disposed on or adjacent to the first primary substrate, the deformable membrane being supported by the membrane support structure, and a second substrate having a second optical portion. The second substrate is supported by a load support structure disposed on one surface of the deformable membrane and is located a distance from the first substrate. When a voltage is applied between the deformable membrane and the electrically conductive layer, the deformable membrane deforms and alters the distance between the first optical portion and the second optical portion.

Tunable optical filter

A membrane light modulator comprising a charge transfer plate, and having a multiplicity of conductors extending from the rear surface to the front surface of the plate. The conductors are supported in an insulating matrix. The front side of the transfer plate has a plurality of potential wells defined by insulating walls, each potential well constituting a pixel. A plurality of conductors is provided for each pixel. A deformable reflecting membrane comprising a metal layer spans the potential wells. An electric potential is provided on the metal layer, and a source of electrons is provided for impacting the rear surface of the charge transfer plate.

Membrane light modulating systems

Membrane light modulation systems

The disclosed optical signal processor includes a matrix-addressable field emitter array for supplying a controlled electron emission to a two-dimensional signal processor element that may be either a processor of electrical or two-dimensional optical signals.

Spatial light modulator assembly

The disclosed charge transfer signal processor includes a vacuum housing having an input face and an output face, a 2-D electromagnetic input means cooperative with said input face for providing a 2-D input electronic charge signal within the vacuum housing, transfer means for imaging the 2-D input electronic charge signal in a region of the vacuum housing proximate the vacuum housing output face, and charge feedthrough means coupled to the vacuum housing output face for transferring the imaged 2-D electronic charge signal externally to the vacuum housing. In one embodiment, the charge transfer signal processor is operable as Gen-1 charge transfer amplifier. In another embodiment, a microchannel plate assembly is disposed in the vacuum housing intermediate the input and output faces, and the charge transfer signal processor is operable as a high-gain charge transfer signal amplifier. In a futher embodiment, a power microchannel plate assembly is disclosed that is disposed in the vacuum housing intermediate the input and output faces, and the charge transfer signal processor is operable as a high-current charge transfer signal amplifier. The disclosed power microchannel plate assembly preferably includes a 2-D array of axially-aligned discrete dynodes, and a voltage divider network operatively coupled to the 2-D array for providing an electron accelerating potential gradient and for replacing charge as it is depleted by secondary electron emission processes in the several discrete dynodes. The 2-D input electromagnetic signal may either be optical, electronic, or a combination of these two. Various output devices externally mounted to the output face of the vacuum housing are disclosed. Utility includes spatial phase and/or amplitude light modulation, 2-D optical signal processing, and, among others, electromagntic signal detection. A method and an apparatus are disclosed for fabricating the charge feedthrough means.

Charge transfer signal processor and charge transfer feedthrough plate

In one voltage-driven embodiment, a high spatial resolution two-dimensional array of bistable completely cross-talk free light modulation elements is constituted as a lamination of an input two-dimensional photoconductor thin film layer and an output two-dimensional electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer disposed in etched wells individually defined in corresponding cores of the optical fibers of a fiber optic face plate. In another voltage-driven embodiment, a very low cost high spatial resolution 2-D array of bistable substantially cross-talk free light modulation elements is constituted as a lamination of a photoconductor thin film layer, a selectively dimensioned and apertured opaque masking thin film layer, and an electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer. In an electron-driven embodiment, a high spatial resolution two-dimensional array of substantially cross-talk free bistable light modulating elements is constituted as an assembly of a two-dimensional input window having a deposited photocathode thin film layer, a two-dimensional output window having a deposited cathodoluminescent phosphor, and a two-dimensional glass capillary array defining plural charge feed forward and light feedback channels mounted therebetween in a vacuum tight enclosure. In a further electron driven embodiment, a microchannel plate subassembly is mounted in the vacuum-tight enclosure in the place of the glass capillary array. In the several embodiments, voltages are applied via transparent conductors to the photoconductor and phosphor layers.

High spatial resolution 2-D bistable light modulator

In one voltage-driven embodiment, a high spatial resolution two-dimensional array of bistable completely cross-talk free light modulation elements is constituted as a lamination of an input two-dimensional photoconductor thin film layer and an output two-dimensional electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer disposed in etched wells individually defined in corresponding cores of the optical fibers of a fiber optic face plate. In another voltage-driven embodiment, a very low cost high spatial resolution 2-D array of bistable substantially cross-talk free light modulation elements is constituted as a lamination of a photoconductor thin film layer, a selectively dimensioned and apertured opaque masking thin film layer, and an electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer. In an electron-driven embodiment, a high spatial resolution two-dimensional array of substantially cross-talk free bistable light modulating elements is constituted as an assembly of a two-dimensional input window having a deposited photocathode thin film layer, a two-dimensional output window having a deposited cathodoluminescent phosphor, and a two-dimensional glass capillary array.

Low-cost, substantially cross-talk free high spatial resolution 2-D

Completely cross-talk free high spatial resolution 2D bistable light

The disclosed charge transfer signal processor includes a vacuum housing having an input face and a output face, a 2-D electromagnetic input means cooperative with said input face for providing a 2-D input electronic charge signal within the vacuum housing, transfer means for imaging the 2-D input electronic charge signal in a region of the vacuum housing proximate the vacuum housing output face, and charge feedthrough means coupled to the vacuum housing output face for transferring the imaged 2-D electronic charge signal externally to the vacuum housing. In one embodiment, the charge transfer signal processor is operable as a Gen-I charge transfer amplifier. In another embodiment, a microchannel plate assembly is d

Growing community of inventors

Newtonville, MA, United States of America

Cardinal Warde