Electromagnetic effect resistant spatial light modulator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10108069-B2
Application number	US-201715414072-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2017
Priority date	Jan 24, 2017
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

A reconfigurable optical device includes a spatial light modulator and an optical signal generator. The spatial light modulator includes a layer of optically-sensitized carbon nanotubes, and each optically-sensitized carbon nanotube is configured to transition between a conductive state and a semiconductive state responsive to an optical signal. The optical signal generator is configured to provide the optical signal to the spatial light modulator to cause the layer of optically-sensitized carbon nanotubes to form a pattern of conductive nanotubes, the pattern of conductive nanotubes configured to modify interfering signal to form an optical vortex.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A reconfigurable optical device comprising:
a spatial light modulator comprising a layer of optically-sensitized carbon nanotubes, each optically-sensitized carbon nanotube configured to transition between a conductive state and a semiconductive state responsive to an optical signal; and
an optical signal generator configured to provide the optical signal to the spatial light modulator to cause the layer of optically-sensitized carbon nanotubes to form a pattern of conductive nanotubes, the pattern of conductive nanotubes configured to modify an interfering signal to form an optical vortex.

2. The reconfigurable optical device of claim 1 , wherein the spatial light modulator is configured to receive a reflection signal corresponding to reflected light from an image target and to direct the reflection signal to an imaging system, the imaging system configured to generate image data based on the reflection signal.

3. The reconfigurable optical device of claim 1 , wherein each optically-sensitized carbon nanotube includes one or more quantum dots, wherein the optically-sensitized carbon nanotubes comprise single-walled carbon nanotubes, and wherein the single-walled carbon nanotubes have a chiral angle that is associated with semiconductive carbon nanotubes.

4. The reconfigurable optical device of claim 3 , wherein the one or more quantum dots are configured to absorb the optical signal to generate a charge, wherein the charge causes an optically-sensitized carbon nanotube to transition from the semiconductive state to the conductive state.

5. The reconfigurable optical device of claim 1 , wherein the spatial light modulator further comprises a second layer of optically-sensitized carbon nanotubes, wherein the optical signal generator is further configured to provide a second optical signal to the spatial light modulator to cause the second layer of optically-sensitized carbon nanotubes to form a second pattern of conductive nanotubes, wherein the pattern of conductive nanotubes and the second pattern of conductive nanotubes modify the interfering signal to form the optical vortex, and wherein the optical vortex reduces an intensity of the interfering signal.

6. The reconfigurable optical device of claim 1 , wherein the spatial light modulator further comprises a second layer of optically-sensitized carbon nanotubes configured to form the pattern of conductive nanotubes responsive to receiving the optical signal, wherein the layer of optically-sensitized carbon nanotubes includes carbon nanotubes aligned in a first direction, and wherein the second layer of optically-sensitized carbon nanotubes includes carbon nanotubes aligned in a second direction that is different from the first direction.

7. The reconfigurable optical device of claim 1 , wherein the optical signal has a first wavelength that is less than a second wavelength of the interfering signal, and wherein the optical vortex reduces an intensity of the interfering signal.

8. The reconfigurable optical device of claim 1 , wherein the interfering signal is generated by a laser weapon or a laser targeting system.

9. The reconfigurable optical device of claim 1 , wherein the optical signal generator includes:
one or more light emitting diodes configured to generate light corresponding to the optical signal;
one or more liquid-crystal display spatial light modulators configured to modify the light and to direct the optical signal to a lens; and
the lens configured to direct the optical signal to the spatial light modulator.

10. The reconfigurable optical device of claim 1 , further comprising a memory configured to store pattern data associated with wavelengths of external interfering signal sources, position data associated with positions of the external interfering signal sources, or both.

11. The reconfigurable optical device of claim 10 , wherein the optical signal generator comprises a controller configured to determine the pattern of conductive nanotubes based on the pattern data, the position data, sensor data, information received from an external source, or a combination thereof.

12. The reconfigurable optical device of claim 1 , wherein the pattern of conductive nanotubes is further configured to modify a second interfering signal to form a second optical vortex, the second interfering signal corresponding to a second laser weapon or a second laser targeting system.

13. The reconfigurable optical device of claim 1 , wherein the spatial light modulator and the optical signal generator are included on board an aircraft, a helicopter, an airship, a satellite, a spacecraft, a rocket, a ship, a vehicle, or a weapon.

14. The reconfigurable optical device of claim 1 , wherein the optical signal generator is configured to adjust the optical signal based on movement of a platform which includes the spatial light modulator, based on movement of a source of the interfering signal, or both, and wherein adjusting the optical signal adjusts the pattern of conductive nanotubes.

15. The reconfigurable optical device of claim 14 , wherein the platform includes one or more sensors configured to generate movement data based the movement of the platform, the movement of the source of the interfering signal, or both, and wherein the optical signal generator is configured to adjust the optical signal based on the movement data.

16. An imaging system comprising:
a spatial light modulator comprising a layer of optically-sensitized carbon nanotubes, each optically-sensitized carbon nanotube configured to transition between a conductive state and a semiconductive state responsive to an optical signal; and
an optical signal generator configured to provide the optical signal to the spatial light modulator to cause the layer of optically-sensitized carbon nanotubes to form a pattern of conductive nanotubes, the pattern of conductive nanotubes configured to modify an interfering signal to form an optical vortex; and
an image sensor configured to capture a reflection signal and generate image data based on the reflection signal, wherein the spatial light modulator is configured to receive the reflection signal corresponding to reflected light from an image target and to direct the reflection signal to the image sensor.

17. The imaging system of claim 16 , wherein the optical signal generator comprises a controller configured to determine the pattern of conductive nanotubes based on a direction of the interfering signal, wherein the pattern of conductive nanotubes corresponds to a spiral pattern, and wherein an eccentricity of the spiral pattern corresponds to the direction of the interfering signal.

18. The imaging system of claim 17 , wherein the spatial light modulator includes multiple layers of optically-sensitized carbon nanotubes, and wherein the controller is further configured to select the layer of optically-sensitized carbon nanotubes based on a wavelength of the interfering signal.

19. A method comprising:
determining a pattern of conductive nanotubes based on a source of interfering signal, the pattern of conductive nanotubes configured to modify the interfering signal to form an optical vortex;
directing an optical signal corresponding to the pattern of conductive nanotubes to a spatial light modulator, the spatial light modulator comprising a layer of optically-sensitized carbon nanotubes, each optically-sensitized carbon nanotube configured to transition between a conductive state and a semiconductive state responsive to an optical signal, wherein the optical signal causes th

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Weaver Thomas L

Classifications

• H04N23/75

  by influencing optical camera components · CPC title

• G02F1/0126

  Opto-optical modulation, i.e. control of one light beam by another light beam, not otherwise provided for in this subclass · CPC title

• G02F1/293 Primary

  by another light beam, i.e. opto-optical deflection · CPC title

• G02F1/0054

  Structure, phase transitions, NMR, ESR, Moessbauer spectra · CPC title

• G02B27/0068

  having means for controlling the degree of correction, e.g. using phase modulators, movable elements (controlling the phase of light using moving or deformable elements G02B26/06) · CPC title