Optical modulator and optical modulator array
US5909303A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 3, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jun 1, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 3, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/213
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A reversible and conservative photon routing switch is implemented as a room temperature, optical, vertical cavity X-gate (also sometimes known as a Fredkin gate). Such gates are primitive structures into which all logic functions can be decomposed. The construction of the device makes it uniquely suited to dense packed arrays of optoelectronic components for optical routing and logic. In one of the switching states, light incident on the device from either side of the wafer will pass through the device (the device is bi-directionally transmissive). In the other switching state, light incident from either side of the wafer will be reflected. Switching can be performed using either electrical or optical control. Thus incident photons are either routed through the device or reflected from the device. The characteristics of the device operation for both transmission and reflection are designed to be nearly identical regardless of whether the incident light impinges upon the top of the device or the bottom of the device (after passing through the substrate). This ability to have input light from either side makes the device reversible. This dual reversible and conservative nature along…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.