Laser with electrically-controlled grating reflector

USRE37809E1 · kind E1 · reissue

Assignee

• GEMFIRE CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• David A. G. Deacon · Sunnyvale, US
• Simon J. Field · Menlo Park, US
• Michael J. Brinkman · Redwood City, US
• William K. Bischel · Menlo Park, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 1, 1998
• Grant date: Jul 30, 2002
• Expiry date: Apr 1, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC —): General

Abstract

One or more lasers are combined with optical energy transfer devices and energy guiding devices which use an electric field for control. The optical energy transfer devices may form gratings, mirrors, lenses and the like using a class of poled structures in solid material. The poled structures may be combined with waveguide structures. Electric fields applied to the poled structures control routing, reflection and refraction of optical energy. Adjustable tunability is obtained by a poled structure which produces a spatial gradient in a variable index of refraction along an axis in the presence of a variable electric field.