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:
May. 22, 1990
Filed:
Aug. 11, 1988
Jun Tokumitsu, Sagamihara, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An optical switch array includes N (N being 2 or greater integer) light-emitting elements arranged in a predetermined direction and each emitting a light independently modulated in accordance with an input signal, a mask having N.times.M (M being 2 or greater integer) segments arranged in the form of a matrix in the predetermined direction and a direction perpendicular thereto, some of the segments transmitting therethrough or reflecting the lights emitted from the light-emitting elements, the mask having repetitively formed thereon a predetermined light transmitting or reflecting pattern including two or more of the segments as a unit, M light-receiving elements arranged in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction, receiving the lights transmitted through or reflected by the mask and independently outputting signals, and shutters disposed in the optical path from the light-emitting elements to the light-receiving elements and arbitrarily openable-closable at each segment unit constituting the pattern of the mask.