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:
Jan. 01, 2008
Filed:
Feb. 10, 2005
Applicant:
Michael H. Anderson, Lyons, CO (US);
Inventor:
Michael H. Anderson, Lyons, CO (US);
Assignee:
Meadowlark Optics, Inc., Fredrick, CO (US);
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B 6/00 (2006.01); G02F 1/335 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
A polarization controller includes a plurality of liquid crystal cells positioned as cladding on a waveguide that propagates a beam of light so that the evanescent field extends into the liquid crystal cells, and a ½-wave birefringent retarder for rotating the eigenstates of polarization between the liquid crystal cells. For fast response, the evanescent field preferably extends only into the surface effect region of the liquid crystal cells, where directors in the liquid crystal respond faster to changes in voltages applied across the liquid crystal cells.