Hughes Electronics Corporation

Clarke T Wellman

Michael R Borden

An optical device comprising an electrode (&lt;200 ohms/square) that is transparent to infrared radiation through and beyond the mid-wavelength infrared (3-5 micrometers), and long wavelength infrared (8-12 micrometers), out to 30 micrometers. The optical device is comprised of a sandwich of a thin (.ltoreq.0.001') conductive silicon wafer optically contacted or bonded to an optically transparent substrate. Typical substrates that may be employed are cadmium telluride, zinc sulfide or zinc selenide substrates. The substrate provides the rigidity necessary to prevent optical distortion which can result from bowing caused by mounting stresses. The optical device provides an electrode having high infrared transmission without the optical diffraction effects produced by a conductive grid. Unlike conductive coatings, the optical device does not incur transmission degradation caused by temperature increases. The optical device provides an optical window for use with liquid crystal light valves, and the like, or where heating and/or electromagnetic shielding is required together with long wavelength infrared transmittance.

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Thousand Oaks, CA, United States of America

Clarke T Wellman