Surface-plasmon-based optical modulator
US8218226B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 28, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jul 10, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 22, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2203/10
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical modulator that utilizes Bloch surface plasmon (BSP) effects is disclosed. The BSP optical (BSPO) modulator (10) includes a permittivity-modulated (P-M) grating (20) that can be one-dimensional or two-dimensional. Electro-optic (EO) substrates (30) sandwich the P-M grating. The EO substrates have electrodes (64) arranged thereon, and a voltage source (60) connected to the electrodes is used to provide an applied voltage (V30) via a modulation voltage signals (SM) that switches the modulator. Index-matching layers (40) may be used to mitigate adverse reflection effects. The BSPO modulator allows for normally incident input light (100I) to be modulated directly without having to generate oblique angles of incidence for the input light in order to excite the surface plasmon.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.