Patent · US Expired

Optical waveguide gratings device with adjustable optical space profile

US6427040B1 · kind B1 · utility

19Cited by
3References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 22, 2000
Grant dateJul 30, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 22, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S2301/04
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In accordance with the invention, an optical waveguide grating with an adjustable optical spacing profile comprises a waveguide grating in thermal contact with one or more resistive film coatings. A coating extends along the length of the grating and its local resistance varies along the length of the grating. In one embodiment, a plurality of overlaping coatings are chosen so the resistance variation of each is different, thereby permitting a variety of heat generation profiles to be effected by independent control of the coatings. The different heat generation profiles, in turn, proportionately change the grating geometric spacing and local refractive index along the grating length, providing the desired adjustable optical spacing profile. Other embodiments use resistive films with abruptly changing or periodically changing heating variation.

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