Tunable silicon based optical router
US5515460A · kind A · utility
21Cited by
10References
12Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 1994 |
| Grant date | May 7, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/12033
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus is provided that allows the tunability of a waveguide bench router with a silicon-based material. This is accomplished by adding a triangular shaped layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) as an active region across the waveguide. By varying a current across the triangle, the refractive index of the layer will change causing a change to the delay of the signal going across the material. Thus eliminated are the need for Group III-V elements or Lithium Niobate as the tunable element, increasing the coupling efficiency and decreasing cost.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.