Patent · US Expired

Wavelength selective variable reflector

US6603902B1 · kind B1 · utility

25Cited by
25References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 20, 2000
Grant dateAug 5, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 26, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04J14/0201
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An arrangement is provided having an optical waveguide, a Chirp grating and an electro-optic material arranged adjacent the Chirp grating, the electro-optic material, for example liquid crystal material, having a refractive index which can be varied by applying an electric field to the material so as to control how the Chirp grating interacts with the optical waveguide. The Chirp grating has a spatial period that increases gradually along a length of the grating. The arrangement may function as a wavelength selective variable reflector, or as a wavelength selective variable attenuator. The optical waveguide may have a region of cladding made of the electro-optic material, with the Chirp grating arranged adjacent the region of cladding to cause a reflection of particular wavelengths of light when propagating within the optical waveguide, the arrangement being adapted to receive the applied electric field which controls how the Chirp grating interacts with the waveguide.

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