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:
Nov. 14, 2006
Filed:
Aug. 06, 2004
Ming LI, Chelmsford, MA (US);
Ming Li, Chelmsford, MA (US);
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A dynamically variable, amplitude grating based diffractive optic including: a substantially transmissive, elastic substrate; a substantially opaque, elastic material formed in a predetermined pattern on the first surface of the elastic substrate; and a substrate mount coupled to the elastic substrate to hold it under tension. The predetermined pattern of the substantially opaque, elastic material substrate forms an amplitude grating on the elastic substrate. The substrate mount includes a variable tensioner to stretch the elastic substrate and the substantially opaque, elastic material, thereby allowing at least one optical property of the amplitude grating to be dynamically varied. Alternatively, the elastic substrate may include at least one substantially transparent portion and at least one substantially opaque portion, the substantially opaque portion(s) arranged in a predetermined pattern to form the amplitude grating within the elastic substrate rather than on its surface.