Article comprising a planar optical waveguide mach-zehnder interferometer device, and method of making same
US5636309A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 21, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jun 3, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 21, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/29355
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The disclosed Mach-Zehnder (MZ)-type devices are planar waveguide devices, with interferometer arms of essentially equal length, with a maximum spacing between the arms (e.g., between the waveguide core centers) selected to make possible simultaneous exposure of both arms to refractive index-altering radiation. Exemplarily the maximum spacing is in the range 20-100 .mu.m. The simultaneous exposure of both waveguides makes it possible to form gratings of essential equal strength, such that typically no individual trimming is required. The resulting devices (typically add-drop filters) are substantially less sensitive to environmental changes (e.g., temperature gradients, mechanical vibrations) than prior art fiber-based devices, and are advantageously used in, for instance, WDM optical communication systems.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.