The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 20, 1990
Filed:
Apr. 27, 1989
Applicant:
Inventors:
Alan Purvis, Durham, GB;
Michael G Clark, Gerrards Cross, GB;
Assignee:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01J / ; G01J / ; G02F / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
356332 ; 350336 ; 3503 / ; 350379 ;
Abstract
An optical component comprises a thin film of an electrically controllable birefringent material confined between substantially planar surfaces. A respective electrode structure is provided on each of the surfaces, each electrode structure being patterned such that an electric field applied across the film by means of electrode structures, when a voltage is applied therebetween, causes modulation of the refractive index of the material such that the wavefront of electromagnetic radiation incident of the component and transmitted through the thin film is divided into Fresnel zones.