Micromechanical phase-shifting gate optical modulator
US6377718B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 23, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3594
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A micromechanical optical modulator includes an input optical waveguide that projects a beam across a gap to an output optical waveguide. A phase shifting gate is mounted between the input and output optical waveguides and has a light transmissive panel which may have at least two sections of different thicknesses. The phase shifting gate is translatable between a position in which the beam of light is transmitted and a second position in which a section of the gate panel is interposed in the beam path and the beam of light is reflected by interference effects. A micromechanical actuator may be connected to the phase shifting gate to switch it between its positions. The optical waveguides may be mounted at an angle to the surfaces of the sections of the gate such that when the beam is reflected from the gate it is directed to a second output optical waveguide, which receives the beam and directs it on a new path, thereby allowing switching of optical beam paths in an optical communication system. The optical modulator may also be used as a sensor to detect effects which displace the phase shifting gate, such as in an accelerometer in which a mass is connected to the gate to move th…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.