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:
Feb. 04, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 24, 2001
Juan C. Carillo, Jr., Torrance, CA (US);
Bruce A. Ferguson, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Richard A. Fields, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Mark Kintis, Manhattan Beach, CA (US);
Elizabeth T. Kunkee, Manhattan Beach, CA (US);
Lawrence J. Lembo, Torrance, CA (US);
Stephen R. Perkins, Harbor City, CA (US);
David L. Rollins, Woodinville, WA (US);
Eric L. Upton, Bellevue, WA (US);
TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Abstract
An optical inverting system employs a first optical structure having an index of refraction that varies with the intensity of an incident beam and a second optical structure having a constant index of refraction, and forming an interface therebetween. An optical pulse stream is combined with a laser beam and the combined beam is applied to the first optical structure, impinging the interface at a predetermined angle of incidence. If the angle of incidence is less than a critical angle, the beam is refracted into the second optical structure. If the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, the beam is completely reflected at the interface. Thus the output of the second optical structure is an inversion, and the output of the first optical structure is a level shifted replica, of the optical digital pulse stream.