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. 05, 2004
Filed:
Sep. 20, 2001
Donald Bruns, San Diego, CA (US);
Trey Enterprises Corp., San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
A light sampling system for sampling scattered light from mirrors in an optical switch. The system includes four basic components: an imaging lens, a multi-channel liquid crystal light valve (LCLV), a collecting lens, and a light sensor. Light scattered by each mirror, is collected by the imaging lens, which re-images the light onto the LCLV. The LCLV is divided into multiple regions, one for each mirror to be monitored. Each region can independently be made opaque (“closed”) or transparent (“open”) to light reaching it. Light passing through all open regions of the LCLV is collected by the collecting lens, which focuses the light onto the light sensor. The light sensor registers a response to light passing through the LCLV. Each region of the LCLV can be programmed to be open or closed for any length of time, in any combination or sequence with any other region or regions, depending upon how the user wishes to monitor the scattered light. The system is particularly useful for individually sampling scattered light from each of multiple mirrors.