Optical device employing edge-coupled waveguide geometry
US5729641A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 30, 1996 |
| Grant date | Mar 17, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 30, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/2826
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical device for modulating or interacting with radiation guided and propagating along an optical longitudinal axis of an optical waveguide, such as, an optical fiber, has a different directional geometry compared to conventionally comparable devices such as, for example, plasmon or planar surface modulators for optical fibers. The geometry includes a nonlinear, electro-optic medium formed between two spatially disposed electrodes. The medium/electrode sandwich is aligned along the waveguide longitudinal propagating axis and extends in a radial direction from the optical waveguide core with the inner end of the medium in spatial proximity to the waveguide core for evanescent coupling with the radiation field propagating in the waveguide. An applied electric field to the spatially disposed electrodes varies the refractive index of the electro-optic medium from just below the effective refractive index of the waveguide to just above the effective refractive index waveguide to induce a lossy condition on the propagating radiation. Modulation of the applied electric field will bring about intensity modulation of the propagating radiation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.