Distributed resonant cavity light beam modulator
US5337183A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 20, 1992 |
| Grant date | Aug 9, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 20, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2203/22
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical apparatus consisting of a laser for producing a coherent polarized beam of electromagnetic radiation of a preselected wavelength. A substrate of silicon has a first transparent cover layer for receiving the polarized beam substantially normally incident thereto, and a second transparent guide layer for receiving the polarized beam from the first layer and for supporting at least one resonant mode. The first and second layers have a preselected index of refraction and a grating is interposed between them, having a grating period less than half the preselected wavelength. The layers and grating interact to produce a standing wave resonance by Bragg reflection. A control obtains a resonance wavelength in the guide layer equal to the predetermined radiation wavelength and thereby high reflectance to modulate the polarized beam. The grating can be optimized for angular bandwidth by controlling the grating's Fourier components either in a single layer or in two grating layers which can also include a termination.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.