US3584230A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light wave coupling into thin films
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1969-01-24
•
Granted: 1971-06-08
•
Expires: 1989-01-24
Abstract
Abstract Coupling of light waves through a major surface of a thin film for propagation therein is achieved by means of a distributed action of the evanescent field of a light wave in an internalreflection prism disposed so close to the film that internal reflection is partially frustrated. Phase-matching of the evanescent wave and the wave propagating in the thin film is obtained by directing the input light beam at the proper angle within the prism toward the internal reflection surface and by providing appropriate indices of refraction of the components. Light-utilizing integrated circuits, including dielectric waveguides, modulators, parametric devices and amplifiers are provided with input and output coupling in this fashion. Systems employing directional coupling and channel dropping and adding are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Ping K Tien
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:56
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/23; H01S3/2383; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/34; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/03; G02F1/035; G02F1/35; G02F1/3515; G02F1/37; G02F1/377; G02F1/39; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/063; H01S5/00; H01S5/40; H01S5/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A light-wave coupling arrangement comprising a body of substantially lossless optical material, said body having two major plane parallel surfaces and an index of refraction n2, a prism of substantially lossless optical material having an index of refraction n3, said prism being adapted for internal reflection of light therein and being disposed with a first surface parallel to said major surfaces of said body and separated therefrom by a gap of index n1, to partially frustrate internal reflection said environment adjacent the major surface remote from the gap having an index n4, n3 being larger than the largest one of n4 and n1, said arrangement being oriented to receive a coherent input light beam at an angle providing phasematched coupling of said beam to a wave propagating in said body transverse to the direction of said beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A light-wave coupling arrangement comprising a body of substantially lossless optical material, said body having two major plane parallel surfaces and an index of refraction n2, a prism of substantially lossless optical material having an index of refraction n3, said prism being adapted for internal reflection of light therein and being disposed with a first surface parallel to said major surfaces of said body and separated therefrom by a gap of index n1, to partially frustrate internal reflection said environment adjacent the major surface remote from the gap having an index n4, n3 being larger than the largest one of n4 and n1, said arrangement being oriented to receive a coherent input light beam at an angle providing phasematched coupling of said beam to a wave propagating in said body transverse to the direction of said beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 including means for extracting from the body a portion of the light wave propagating therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 including means within the body for utilizing the light wave propagating therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including a source of the input coherent light beam, said source including an optical resonator having at least one reflector disposed to intercept light that has passed through the prism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 including two output coupling prisms disposed to couple out of the body light waves propagating in different directions therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the prism and the body are mutually decoupled beyond the region of frustrated intErnal reflection in a direction in which light propagates in the body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the prism and the body are mutually decoupled in that said prism and said body are mutually shaped to increase the spacing therebetween beyond the region of frustrated internal reflection in a direction in which light propagates in the body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the prism is cut to have a second surface forming an obtuse angle with the first surface parallel to the major surfaces of the body, said second surface being disposed beyond said first surface in a direction in which light propagates in the body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the body is bent away from the prism beyond the region of frustrated internal reflection in a direction in which light propagates in the body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the body is associated with means for modulating light propagating therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including a substantially lossless optical medium separating said prism and said body and having an index of refraction n1 less than both n3 and n2.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the prism is adapted to receive differing coherent light beams at differing angles providing phase-matched coupling of all of them to different waves propagating in the body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 including a second prism adapted for coupling out of the body at differing angles portions of a plurality of different waves propagating therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 in which both of the prisms have multiple faces through different ones of which the different beams and waves are coupled.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 including a plurality of communication channel transmitters adapted for directing modulated light beams on respective faces of the first prism, and including a respective plurality of communication channel receivers adapted for receiving modulated light beams from respective faces of the second prism.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 including a pump beam source and a signal beam source adapted for directing a pump light beam and a modulated signal light beam on respective faces of the first prism, and including a receiver for an amplified signal or idler light beam adapted to receive a modulated signal or idler light beam from one of the faces of the second prism, the body including optically nonlinear material adapted for transferring power from the pump beam into other beams called the amplified signal and idler beams.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the body is a semiconductive junction region, said apparatus including differing types of semiconductive material forming said junction region.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3420596A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-07 | 1974-12-07 | 1975-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-07 | 1978-12-07 | 1979-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-07 | 1982-12-07 | 1983-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |