Apparatus and method for switching, modulation and dynamic control of light transmission using photonic crystals
US7421179B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 2006 |
| Grant date | Sep 2, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 29, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2202/32
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An active device for dynamic control of the transmission properties has at least one photonic crystal waveguide that has an electrically insulating layer formed within or near the waveguide core and two lateral conductive regions divided by the insulating layer. An alternating voltage signal induces phase and amplitude changes of electromagnetic wave propagating inside the device. Electromagnetic wave signals propagating through two such active photonic crystal waveguide devices may be mixed to produce at least one output signal through interference. Devices having one or more such active photonic crystal waveguides may be utilized as a tunable optical delay line, a tunable optical filter, a switch, or a modulator. A preferred embodiment comprises a photonic crystal waveguide made of a silicon slab with a periodic array of apertures or oxide columns therein, wherein an silicon oxide layer disposed in the waveguide core separates a p-doped region from an n-doped region.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.