Patent · US Expired

Method of disposing a polarization directing optoelectronic coupler and a coupler for carrying out the method

US4917449A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
13References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 14, 1988
Grant dateApr 17, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 14, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F2203/06
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Polarization directing optoelectronic coupler on a wafer of doubly refracting material with an optical axis (L1). The coupler has an interaction region (L1) with waveguides (L1) and an electrode means. The interaction region (L1) is divided into two sections with a central electrode and two outer electrodes in each section. Voltage sources are connected to the electrodes and generate electrical fields through the waveguides. The electrical field between the outer electrodes has in each section the same direction in both waveguides and achieves an .DELTA.H modulation. The electrical field between the central electrode and outer electrodes has mutually reverse direction in both waveguides in the sections and achieves a .DELTA..beta. modulation. For an arbitrarily polarized lightwave both the crossover state and the bar state can be achieved for both the TE and TM modes or one of its oscillation modes can be crossed over and the other of its oscillation modes can be coupled straight through. The directional coupler can be driven at low voltages and the required manufacturing accuracy is relatively low.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.