US 12,461,403 B2
Acousto-optic modulation for photoreceptor protection
Brian Gunther, St. Louis, MO (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Feb. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/162,849.
Prior Publication US 2024/0255786 A1, Aug. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. G02F 1/11 (2006.01); B64C 1/14 (2006.01); B64D 47/08 (2006.01)
CPC G02F 1/113 (2013.01) [B64C 1/1476 (2013.01); B64D 47/08 (2013.01); G02F 2203/01 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An acousto-optic modulator system, comprising:
a transducer array connected to a major surface of a glass portion, wherein the glass portion is situated between a laser source and a photoreceptor; and
an electronic control unit (“ECU”) in communication with the transducer array, wherein the ECU is configured to selectively energize the transducer array and thereby cause the transducer array to emit sound pressure waves into the glass portion, the sound pressure waves having predetermined oscillation characteristics configured to change a refractive index of the glass portion sufficiently for diffracting an incident laser beam from the laser source away from the photoreceptor to protect the photoreceptor from the incident laser beam.