Patent · US Active

Frequency-shifting micro-mechanical optical modulator

US7894122B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
21References
33Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 9, 2009
Grant dateFeb 22, 2011
Priority date—
Expiry dateApr 13, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B26/002
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus for shifting the frequency of light comprises a modulator comprising one or more light-reflective elements. The elements are arranged in N groups that are interleaved along the surface of the modulator. The elements are deflected in time in a periodic sawtooth or sinusoidal N-phase manner. The frequency shift can be varied continuously and quickly. Such a modulator may be operated at zero frequency shift, to produce an optical phase shift.

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