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:
May. 16, 2006
Filed:
Nov. 17, 2003
Applicants:
John E. Minardi, Dayton, OH (US);
John L. Janning, Dayton, OH (US);
Inventors:
John E. Minardi, Dayton, OH (US);
John L. Janning, Dayton, OH (US);
Assignee:
St. Clair Intellectual Property Consultants, Inc., Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G02F 1/29 (2006.01); G02F 1/03 (2006.01); G02F 1/13 (2006.01); G02F 1/295 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
An optical switching device contains an active stage coupled to a passive stage. The index of refraction in the active stage is variable to change the entry direction of a light beam into the passive stage, which has a fixed index of refraction. Because the light beam can enter the passive stage at different angles, the exit direction of the light beam from the passive stage can be changed. The resulting optical switch allows switching without any mechanical components.