Optical time delay system
View Patent ↗Optical systems utilizing pixellated switchable elements to provide interaction between at least two White Cells.
1. An optical system comprising:
a first subsystem comprising:
a first reflecting optical component;
at least one other reflecting optical component optically disposed to provide, for an input beam of electromagnetic radiation, a plurality of propagation paths between said first reflecting optical component and said at least one other reflecting optical component;
a first pixellated volume holographic switchable element optically disposed between said first reflecting optical component and said at least one other reflecting optical component; and
a second subsystem comprising:
a second reflecting optical component;
at least one other second reflecting optical component optically disposed to provide, for an incoming beam of electromagnetic radiation, a plurality of propagation paths between said second reflecting optical component and said at least one other reflecting optical component;
a second pixellated volume holographic switchable element optically disposed between said second reflecting optical component and said at least one other second reflecting optical component;
said first pixellated volume holographic switchable element being capable of directing electromagnetic radiation, from said first sub-system, to said second pixellated switchable element;
said second pixellated volume holographic switchable element being capable of directing received electromagnetic radiation to said second reflecting optical component or said at least one other reflecting optical component of the second subsystem.
2. The optical system of claim 1 further comprising:
an imaging optical element optically disposed between said first reflecting optical component and said first pixellated volume holographic switchable element.
3. The optical system of claim 1 further comprising:
an imaging optical element optically disposed between said at least one other reflecting optical component and said first pixellated volume holographic switchable element.
4. The optical system of claim 1 further comprising:
an imaging optical element optically disposed between said second reflecting optical component and said second pixellated volume holographic switchable element.
5. The optical system of claim 1 further comprising:
an imaging optical element optically disposed between said at least one other reflecting optical component of the second subsystem and said second pixellated volume holographic switchable element.
6. The optical system of claim 1 further comprising:
an imaging optical element optically disposed between said first said first pixellated volume holographic switchable element and said second pixellated volume holographic switchable element.
7. The optical system of claim 1 further comprising:
a variable optical path length element optically disposed to intersect at least some of the plurality of propagation paths in said first subsystem.
8. The optical system of claim 1 further comprising:
a variable optical path length element optically disposed to intersect at least some of the plurality of propagation paths in said second subsystem.
9. The optical system of claim 1 wherein said first pixellated switchable element comprises a first pixellated volume holographic switchable volume holographic transmission grating, and said second pixellated volume holographic switchable element comprises a second pixellated switchable volume holographic transmission grating.
10. The optical system of claim 1 wherein said first pixellated volume holographic switchable element comprises a first pixellated switchable volume holographic reflection grating, and said second pixellated volume holographic switchable element comprises a second pixellated switchable volume holographic reflection grating.
11. An optical system comprising:
a first plurality of reflecting optical components;
a second plurality of reflecting optical components;
a pixellated switchable volume reflecting element optically disposed between said first plurality of reflecting optical components and said second pluralities of reflecting optical components;
a first imaging optical element optically disposed between said first plurality of reflecting optical components and said pixellated switchable volume reflecting element; and
a second imaging optical element optically disposed between said second plurality of reflecting optical elements and said pixellated switchable volume reflecting element;
said first plurality of reflecting optical components being optically disposed to provide, for an input beam of electromagnetic radiation, a plurality of propagation paths between said first plurality of reflecting optical components and said pixellated switchable volume reflecting element;
said first plurality of reflecting optical components, said first imaging optical element and said pixellated switchable volume reflecting element comprising a first sub-system;
said second plurality of reflecting optical components being optically disposed to provide, for another input beam of electromagnetic radiation, a plurality of propagation paths between said second plurality of reflecting optical components and said pixellated switchable volume reflecting element;
said second plurality of reflecting optical components, said second imaging optical element and said pixellated switchable volume reflecting element comprising a second sub-system;
said pixellated switchable volume reflecting element being capable of transmitting electromagnetic radiation from said first sub-system to said second sub-system and being also capable of transmitting electromagnetic radiation from said second sub-system to said first sub-system, when said pixellated switchable volume reflecting element is a transmissive state.
12. The optical system of claim 11 further comprising:
a variable optical path length element optically disposed to intersect at least some of the plurality of propagation paths in said first subsystem.
13. The optical system of claim 11 further comprising:
a variable optical path length element optically disposed to intersect at least some of the plurality of propagation paths in said second subsystem.