Combination splitting device composed of strip waveguides and uses thereof

US5832155A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• LDT GmbH & Co. Laser-Display-Technologie KG · DE

Inventors

• Andreas Rasch · Endingen am Kaiserstuhl, DE
• Matthias Rottschalk · Jena, DE
• Jens-Peter Ruske · Jena, DE
• Volker Groeber · Jena, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 4, 1996
• Grant date: Nov 3, 1998
• Expiry date: Oct 4, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F1/3137
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention concerns an integrated-optical junction splitter, in particular for applications in the wavelength range of visible light, which ensures a spatial and wideband combination of light in a wavelength spectrum .DELTA..lambda. greater than 75 nm (value given applies to short-wave visible light). In the case of a usable wavelength range comprising the entire spectrum of visible light, the junction splitter is a white light junction splitter. The junction splitter consists of at least three channel waveguides, at least one of which must be a single-mode integrated-optical wideband channel waveguide (SOWCW). Two channel waveguides each have a respective input and are combined into a common SOWCW at their outputs in a coupling point, which common SOWCW features a common light output at its end. This wideband junction splitter is used as a wavelength-selective or wavelength-independent switch or modulator, in interferometric and photometric devices, sensors, and microsystem-technical solutions.