1. A delay-line interferometric demodulator comprising:
a beam-splitter surface;
at least two reflective surfaces positioned so as to reflect back circularly to the beam-splitter surface along a substantially common optical path a transmission beam and a reflection beam produced by an input beam incident on the beam-splitter surface, said transmission and reflection beams producing respective separate output beams 180 degrees out of phase after interference therebetween; and
an optical delay element along an optical path of at least one of said transmission beam and reflection beam.
2. The demodulator of claim 1, further including a thermal phase tuner to tune a phase of the delay-line interferometric demodulator.
3. The demodulator of claim 2, further including a compensator to compensate for a thermal drift in the phase tuner.
4. The demodulator of claim 1, wherein said at least two reflective surfaces are three reflective surfaces, each positioned at a 45-degree angle with respect to said transmission and reflection beams as they propagate though their respective circular optical paths.
5. The demodulator of claim 4, wherein said beam-splitter surface and a parallel reflective surface are incorporated in an optical structure, and two reflective surfaces are incorporated in a right-angle prism.
6. The demodulator of claim 5, further including a thermal phase tuner to tune a phase of the delay-line interferometric demodulator.
7. The demodulator of claim 6, further including a compensator to compensate for a thermal drift in the phase tuner.
8. The demodulator of claim 5, further including an upfront beam splitter dividing said input beam into two parallel beams directed into the optical structure, thereby providing two delay-line interferometric demodulators.
9. The demodulator of claim 8, further including a thermal phase tuner to tune a phase in each of said delay-line interferometric demodulators.
10. The demodulator of claim 9, further including a compensator to compensate for a thermal drift in said thermal phase tuner in each of said delay-line interferometric demodulators.
11. A method for demodulating optical signals interferometrically, the method comprising the following steps:
splitting an input beam containing said optical signals into a reflection beam and a transmission beam with a beam-splitter surface;
reflecting said reflection beam and transmission beam with at least two reflective surfaces positioned so as to reflect back circularly said transmission beam and reflection beam to the beam-splitter surface along a substantially common optical path, said transmission and reflection beams producing respective separate output beams 180 degrees out of phase after interference therebetween; and
delaying at least one of said transmission beam and reflection beam along said substantially common optical path.
12. The method of claim 11, further including the step of phase tuning a phase of at least one of said transmission beam and reflection beam.
13. The method of claim 12, further including the step of compensating for a thermal drift in a phase tuner utilized for said phase tuning step.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein said at least two reflective surfaces are three reflective surfaces, each positioned at a 45-degree angle with respect to said transmission and reflection beams as they propagate though their respective circular optical paths.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein said beam-splitter surface and a parallel reflective surface are incorporated in an optical structure, and two reflective surfaces are incorporated in a right-angle prism.
16. The method of claim 15, further including the step of phase tuning a phase of at least one of said transmission beam and reflection beam.
17. The method of claim 16, further including the step of compensating for a thermal drift in a phase tuner utilized for said phase tuning step.
18. The method of claim 15, further including the step of dividing said input beam into two parallel beams directed into the optical structure, thereby providing two delay-line interferometric circuits.
19. The method of claim 18, further including the step of phase tuning a phase of at least one of said transmission beam and reflection beam.
20. The method of claim 19, further including the step of compensating for a thermal drift in a phase tuner utilized for said phase tuning step.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A merchandising system, comprising:
a consumer product; and
at least one of the consumer product, packaging for the consumer product, and advertisement material pertaining to the consumer product comprising:
a) indicia andor an image that relates or is analogous to an attribute andor targeted benefit of the consumer product; and
b) an optical waveguide for illuminating at least a portion of the indicia andor image.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is defined by a multi-layer polymeric film comprising a first polymer layer having an index of refraction that is higher than that of a second polymer layer.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is defined by a multi-layer polymeric film comprising:
a) a first planar polymer layer having an index of refraction that is higher than that of a second planar polymer layer; and
b) at least one optical element;
wherein light projected into the first planar polymer layer in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the first planar polymer layer is guided through the first planar polymer layer by internal reflection, and wherein the at least one optical element is capable of altering a wavefront form or energy distribution of the light.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the optical waveguide is sufficiently flexible to assume a non-planar configuration when affixed to the at least one of the consumer product, packaging for the consumer product, and advertisement material pertaining to the consumer product.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide comprises a first polymer layer having at least one optical element formed therein for operating on light in a predetermined manner, the first polymer layer having at least two sides and a second polymer layer having at least two sides wherein one of the at least two sides of the first polymer layer is disposed adjacent to one of the at least two sides of the second polymer layer, the first polymer layer having a first index of refraction, the second polymer layer having a second index of refraction, the first index of refraction being higher than the second index of refraction, wherein light projected into the first polymer layer in a direction substantially parallel to the first and second sides of the first polymer layer will be guided through the first polymer layer by internal reflection.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicia andor image comprises a photograph or illustration of mammalian keratinous tissue.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicia andor image comprises a photograph or illustration of at least a portion of a human face.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the consumer product is marketed for changing the appearance andor condition of a substrate or environment to which it is applied.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of mammalian keratinous tissue, clothing, textiles, hard surfaces, architectural surfaces, furniture, appliances, vehicles, personal andor home decor and accessories, and teeth.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the consumer product is marketed for at least one of: cleaning the substrate, brightening the substrate, whitening the substrate and lightening the substrate.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the consumer product is a beauty care product.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the beauty care product is marketed for one or more of the following: improving the appearance of fine lines or wrinkles, diminishing discoloration, reducing yellow appearance of skin, reducing redness of skin, improving skin texture, improving skin tone,combating manifestations of aging, and promoting defined or luminous skin appearance.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicia andor image and the micro-optic structure are included in a label that is associated with the at least one of the consumer product, packaging for the consumer product, and advertisement material pertaining to the consumer product.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the label is removably affixed to the at least one of the consumer product, packaging for the consumer product, and advertisement material pertaining to the consumer product.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the removably affixed label can be affixed to a substrate after it is removed from the at least one of the consumer product, packaging for the consumer product, and advertisement material pertaining to the consumer product.
16. The system of claim 1, wherein the consumer product comprises a skin care active.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the skin care active is selected from the group consisting of hydroquinone, arbutin, sugar amines, kojic acid, mulberry extract, licorice extract, hexamidine, n-acyl amino acid compounds, vitamin C or a derivative thereof, vitamin B3 or a derivative thereof, panthenol, vitamin E acetate, n-acetyl glucosamine, ascorbyl glucoside, retinyl propionate, organic sunscreens, metal oxide sunscreens, glycerol, petrolatum, caffeine, salicylic acid, vitamin B6, glycosyl hesperidin, phytosterol, cetyl pyridinium chloride, thiotaine, carnosine, hexanediol, tetrahydrocurcumin, peptide, dehydroacetic acid, green tea extract, and zinc pyrthione.
18. The system of claim 1, wherein the consumer product comprises an exfoliation agent, an optical brightner, a bleaching agent, an anti-oxidantradical scavenger, an anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-microbial agent, an anti-acne agent, an anti-dandruff agent, a tanning agent, a UV protection agent, andor an anti-cellulite agent.
19. The system of claim 1, wherein advertisement material pertaining to the consumer product comprises the indicia andor image and the micro-optic structure, and wherein the advertisement material is selected from the group consisting of point-of-sale devices andor materials, coupons, mailers, periodical advertisement documents, product brochures, product inserts, product displays, shelf talkers, billboards, posters, buses, outdoor seating, and combinations thereof.
20. The system of claim 1, wherein consumer product is selected from the group consisting of dentifrice, floss, toothbrushes, mouth rinses, gum care, tooth whitening products, detergents, fabric conditioners, dish care products, household cleaners, bleach, vehicle care, fabric and home cleaning implements, architectural surface treatment products, pet care, mammalian wipes, and toweling.