Patent · US Active

All optical modulation and switching with patterned optically absorbing polymers

US8798406B1 · kind B1 · utility

35Cited by
23References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 25, 2009
Grant dateAug 5, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 25, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F2203/13
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

All-optical processing devices that include patterned optically active polymers. The devices that are constructed according to principles of the invention include at least one optical input port and at least one optical output port, respectively configured to accept optical input signals and provide optical output signals. The devices include optically active material such as organic polymers that interact with illumination at a first wavelength to change at least one optical property in a non-linear manner. The optically active polymer can be placed adjacent one or more waveguides that allow the input illumination to propagate. As the optical property of the optically active material is changed by the incident illumination, the propagating illumination undergoes a modulation or change in phase, thereby providing an optical output signal having a desired relation to the optical input signal, such as the result of a logical or a computational operation.

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