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:
Oct. 27, 1992
Filed:
Oct. 15, 1991
Thomas W Grudkowski, Glastonbury, CT (US);
Glen W Drake, Stafford Springs, CT (US);
Frederick J Leonberger, Glastonbury, CT (US);
Robert N Sacks, Glastonbury, CT (US);
William J Tanski, Glastonbury, CT (US);
United Technologies Corporation, Hartford, CT (US);
Abstract
A one-dimensional or two-dimensional transmission mode spatial light modulator (SLM) includes two different mediums, one medium being a semiconductor comprising one or more heterojunction acoustic charge transport (HACT) channels 28 with surrounding layers 26, 30 vertically adjacent to a multiple quantum well (MQW) region 22, and the other being a transparent piezoelectric insulating substrate 10 thick enough to allow a surface acoustic wave (SAW) 13 to propagate therein. The SAW 13 is launched in the substrate 10 by a transducer 12 and generates electric fields which propagate the charge along the HACT channel 28 in the semiconductor medium 18. Electrodes 32, 34, 36 carry charge to and from the HACT channel 28, and light 40 is applied to a surface 44 perpendicular to the MQW region 22. Charge packets 19 in the HACT channel 28 invoke electric fields within the MQW region 22 which determines the optical absorption and/or index-of-refraction thereof, thereby determining the intensity and/or phase of each output light beam 46. Light modulation is achieved by modulating the amount of charge injected and/or the characteristics of the SAW 11. Various different materials for the substrate 10 may be used to provide desired efects.