Optical isolator device

US7782532B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Photop Technologies, Inc. · CN

Inventors

• Li Wu · Fuxing, CN
• Xianghua SHI · Fujian, CN
• Zan Gong · Fujian, CN
• Jiwu Ling · Kangzhuang, CN
• Zhaoyang Sun · Santa Clara, US
• Xiangtong Yang · Bositenghu, CN
• Yunbin Xu · Fujian, CN
• Lei Lin · Fremont, US
• Fuquan Huang · Fujian, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: May 13, 2008
• Grant date: Aug 24, 2010
• Expiry date: Jan 17, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F1/093
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical isolator includes a birefringent material and a Faraday rotator. The birefringent material receives a forward light propagating in a forward direction and a backward light propagating opposite to the forward direction. The birefringent material has an optical axis, wherein the forward light has a first polarization aligned perpendicular to the optical axis and is configured to pass the first birefringent material substantially along the forward direction. At least a portion of the backward light has a second polarization not perpendicular to the optical axis. The first birefringent material can displace the backward light to form a first displaced backward light. A Faraday rotator can rotate the forward light, and the backward light or the first displaced backward light by a same predetermined angle along the rotation direction.