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:
Jun. 10, 2003
Filed:
Jan. 11, 2001
Masataka Hamada, Osakasayama, JP;
Minolta Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A variable focus position spatial modulator, which has a satisfactory image forming performance. The modulator includes: a variable refractive index part that is able to deflect an incident light; element pairs arranged at intervals in a concentric shape or the like generally oppositely to each other with interposition of the variable refractive index part; and a voltage applier for applying a voltage across the elements, wherein width of an element non-opposition region located between element opposition regions is wider than that of each inter-element element opposition region where the elements of each element pair face each other, and wherein the refractive index distribution of the variable refractive index part in the element non-opposition region is varied by the voltage applied to the adjacent element pairs, so that the focal position is varied.