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. 10, 2015
Filed:
Aug. 10, 2011
Glenn Boreman, Charlotte, NC (US);
David Shelton, Orlando, FL (US);
Glenn Boreman, Charlotte, NC (US);
David Shelton, Orlando, FL (US);
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, Orlando, FL (US);
Abstract
A tunable optical diffraction grating apparatus, such as but not limited to a tunable Fresnel zone lens apparatus, includes a plurality of symmetric repeating structures (i.e., typically concentric rings) located over a substrate and comprising a material susceptible to a transparent to opaque transition for a designated radiation wavelength. The tunable optical diffraction grating apparatus also includes a means for separately effecting the transparent to opaque transition for each of the plurality of symmetric repeating structures to provide a plurality of transparent zones each comprising a variable first sub-plurality of adjacent transparent symmetric repeating structures alternating and interposed between a plurality of opaque zones each comprising a variable second sub-plurality of adjacent opaque symmetric repeating structures. Also included are a method for fabricating the tunable optical diffraction grating apparatus and a method for operating the tunable optical diffraction grating apparatus.