US PATENT SUBCLASS 359 / 237
OPTICAL MODULATOR

Current as of: June, 1999
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359 /   HD   OPTICS: SYSTEMS (INCLUDING COMMUNICATION) AND ELEMENTS

237OPTICAL MODULATOR {3}
238  DF  .~> Light wave temporal modulation (e.g., frequency, amplitude, etc.) {3}
298  DF  .~> Light wave directional modulation (e.g., deflection or scanning is representative of the modulating signal) {5}
321  DF  .~> Having particular chemical composition or structure {2}

DEFINITION

Classification: 359/237

OPTICAL MODULATOR:

(under the class definition) Subject matter wherein an optical element varies a characteristic of a traversing optical light beam in direct proportion to an applied time-varying signal which may be in any energy form.

(1) Note. Characteristics of a traversing light beam that may be varied include its direction or characteristics such as amplitude, frequency, phase, or polarization.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

109+, for optical communication systems or devices which may include an optical modulator.

325, for an optical demodulator, per se.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

250, Radiant Energy,

200+, for photocell circuit and subclasses 503.1+ for an invisible radiation source with a radiation modifying member, generally. 332, Modulators, appropriate subclasses for modulators of an electrical wave.

348, Television,

195+, for mechanical-optical scanning.

352, Optics: Motion Pictures,

84, for high speed cameras which use rotating optical elements and subclasses 105+ for motion picture optical rectifiers using roatating or scanning optical elements.

372, Coherent Light Generators, appropriate subclasses for lasers including internal light control apparatus.

385, Optical Waveguides,

1+, and 4+ for light wave modulation within an optical waveguide.

396, Photography, particularly

452+, and 505+ for shutters and diaphragms used in cameras and see (2) Note in subclass 227 above.