Patent · US Expired

Method of tuning an optical device

US5949542A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
1References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 11, 1999
Grant dateSep 7, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 11, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/29395
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Disclosed is a tuning method for optical interference devices which comprise at least one plurality of waveguides arranged to produce a preselected phase shift in light transmitted therethrough. The tuning is carried out by irradiating the plurality of waveguides using a source of UV light. The method is faster and more reproducible than other tuning methods known in the art, such as tuning by heat induced dopant diffusion. The method is exemplified by data taken using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. However, the method is compatible with more sophisticated devices which use integrated waveguides or large numbers of waveguides in the phase changing portion of the device.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.