Integrated optical switch/amplifier with modulation capabilities
US6574381B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 23, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jun 3, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/5045
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An integrated optical switch/amplifier with modulation capabilities comprises a semiconductor waveguide with an input end-face and an output end-face. The waveguide is disposed on a substrate and separated from it by an I-region. A laser cavity is fabricated transverse to the semiconductor waveguide and supports a bleed laser during operation. A pair of switching electrodes with one placed on top of the semiconductor waveguide and another placed beneath the substrate provide for a selective injection of electron carriers from a top length of the semiconductor waveguide and from the substrate through the I-region. Thus, an optical signal presented at the input end-face is either blocked, modulated, or amplified-through according to the relative polarity of voltages applied to the pair of switching electrodes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.