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. 09, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 26, 1997
Margarete Neumann, Penetanguishene, CA;
Robert Pursel, Victoria Harbor, CA;
Raytheon Company, Lexington, MA (US);
Abstract
A beamsplitter (70) for separating a beam of light (48, 90, 92) into three frequency bands (94, 96, 98) corresponding to a first color (94), a second color (98), and a third color (96) adapted for use with a beam of white light (92). The inventive beamsplitter (70) includes first (78) and second (80) surfaces for reflecting the first color of light (94) and for transmitting the second color of light (98). A third (82) and fourth (84) surface reflect the second color of light (96) and transmit the third color of light (98). A glass support structure (72) supports the first (78), second (80), third (82), and fourth (84) surfaces in a predetermined configuration. The configuration is chosen so that the first color of light (94) is directed in a first direction (94), the second color of light (96) is directed in a second direction (96), and the third color of light (96) is directed in a third direction (96). The support structure (72) includes a first material having a second index of refraction that is sufficiently different than the index of refraction of a surrounding material (86) to minimize undesirable polarization effects. In the illustrative embodiment, the surrounding material (86) is air.