US4121167A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Amplifying characteristics of a cavity-enclosed nonlinear medium
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1976-10-27
•
Granted: 1978-10-17
•
Expires: 1996-10-27
Abstract
Abstract A device is disclosed which is capable of amplifying optical signals. The absorptive and dispersive properties of a cavity-enclosed nonlinear medium are combined with the transmission properties of the cavity to yield an input-output characteristic curve that displays gain or bistability.
Inventors
- 👤 Hyatt McDonald Gibbs
- 👤 Samuel Leverte McCall, Jr.
- 👤 Thirumalai Nallan Chakravarthy Venkatesan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 06:39
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F3/00; G02F3/02; G02F3/024; F; F03; F03G; F03G7/00; F03G7/06; F03G7/061; F03G7/0614; F03G7/06143
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 70
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of amplifying variations in an optical signal of a given wavelength comprising: introducing light of the given wavelength into a cavity formed by at least two surfaces that reflect light of the given wavelength, and which surfaces are separated at least in part by a positive-temperature nonlinear medium; fixing the cavity and medium characteristics such that the dispersive properties of the medium dominate or are equal to the absorptive properties of the medium at the given wavelength and such that there is a single valued relationship between the intensities of the incident and transmitted signals which exhibits gain; and extracting the amplified signal from said cavity, the invention characterized in that the dispersive properties of the medium are made to dominate its absorptive properties by inducing transitions within the material through the absorption of light, which transitions introduce dispersive contributions due to nondriven states, which contributions are greater than 10 percent of the dispersive contributions due to the driven states.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of amplifying variations in an optical signal of a given wavelength comprising: introducing light of the given wavelength into a cavity formed by at least two surfaces that reflect light of the given wavelength, and which surfaces are separated at least in part by a positive-temperature nonlinear medium; fixing the cavity and medium characteristics such that the dispersive properties of the medium dominate or are equal to the absorptive properties of the medium at the given wavelength and such that there is a single valued relationship between the intensities of the incident and transmitted signals which exhibits gain; and extracting the amplified signal from said cavity, the invention characterized in that the dispersive properties of the medium are made to dominate its absorptive properties by inducing transitions within the material through the absorption of light, which transitions introduce dispersive contributions due to nondriven states, which contributions are greater than 10 percent of the dispersive contributions due to the driven states.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 where the cavity and medium characteristics are determined by combining the intracavity equations ##EQU10## with the cavity boundary conditions, to yield a single valued input-output characteristic curve that exhibits gain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the dispersive contributions due to the nondriven states are greater than 50 percent of the dispersive contributions due to the driven states.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the dispersive contributions due to the nondriven states dominate the dispersive contributions due to the driven states.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 where the absorptive contributions associated with the driven states dominate the dispersive contributions associated with the driven states.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one of the driven states is an electronic state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 where a transition introduced by the absorption of light creates an exciton.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 where at least one of the driven states is an impurity state.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7 where the material is selected from the group consisting of InP, GaAs, GaAsSb and CdS.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 6 where the material is ruby.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 where the cavity is a Fabry-Perot cavity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 where the light wavelength is greater than 4500 Angstroms and less than or equal to 7500 Angstroms.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 where the light wavelength is greater than 7500 Angstroms and less than or equal to 25 microns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 where the light wavelength is greater than 500 Angstroms and less than or equal to 4500 Angstroms.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 where the wavelength is such that the medium has a value of |n 2 | > 10 -13 cm 2 /statvolt 2 .
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 where the medium conditions are fixed by introducing additional light beams into the cavity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 where the nonlinear medium is a solid.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
172 words
A device to amplify variations in optical signals of a given wavelength comprising a cavity formed by at least two surfaces that reflect light of the given wavelength together with means for introducing light into, and extracting light from, the cavity and which surfaces are separated at least in part by a positive-temperature nonlinear medium, which separation is of such a value and which medium is maintained under such conditions, that the dispersive properties of the medium dominate or are equal to the absorptive properties at the given wavelength, and such that there is a single valued relationship between the intensity of the signal of said wavelength impinging on and emitted by the said device that displays gain, the invention characterized in that the dispersive properties of the medium are made to dominate its absorptive properties by inducing transitions within the material through the absorption of light, which transitions introduce dispersive contributions due to nondriven states, which contributions are greater than 10 percent of the dispersive contributions due to the driven states.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
172 words
A device to amplify variations in optical signals of a given wavelength comprising a cavity formed by at least two surfaces that reflect light of the given wavelength together with means for introducing light into, and extracting light from, the cavity and which surfaces are separated at least in part by a positive-temperature nonlinear medium, which separation is of such a value and which medium is maintained under such conditions, that the dispersive properties of the medium dominate or are equal to the absorptive properties at the given wavelength, and such that there is a single valued relationship between the intensity of the signal of said wavelength impinging on and emitted by the said device that displays gain, the invention characterized in that the dispersive properties of the medium are made to dominate its absorptive properties by inducing transitions within the material through the absorption of light, which transitions introduce dispersive contributions due to nondriven states, which contributions are greater than 10 percent of the dispersive contributions due to the driven states.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 18 where the cavity and medium characteristics are determined by combining the intracavity equations ##EQU11## with the cavity boundary conditions, to yield a single valued input-output characteristic curve that exhibits gain.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 18 wherein the dispersive contributions due to the nondriven states are greater than 50 percent of the dispersive contributions due to the driven states.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 18 wherein the dispersive contributions due to the nondriven states dominate the dispersive contributions due to the driven states.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 18 where the absorptive contributions associated with the driven states dominate the dispersive contributions associated with the driven states.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 18 where one of the driven states is an electronic state.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 18 where a transition induced by the absorption of light creates an exciton.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 18 where at least one of of the driven states is an impurity state.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 24 where the material is selected from the group consisting of InP, GaAs, GaAsSb and CdS.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 23 where the material is ruby.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 18 where the cavity is a Fabry-Perot cavity.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 18 where the light wavelength is greater than 4500 Angstroms and less than or equal to 7500 Angstroms.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 18 where the light wavelength is greater than 7500 Angstroms and less than or equal to 25 microns.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 18 where the light wavelength is greater than 500 Angstroms and less than or equal to 4500 Angstroms.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 18 where the medium, at the said wavelength, has a value of |n 2 | > 10 -13 cm 2 /statvolt 2 .
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 18 where the medium conditions are fixed by introducing additional light beams into the cavity.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 18 where the nonlinear medium is a solid.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
188 words
A device to treat optical signals of a given wavelength, and whose input-output characteristic curve displays a region of bistability comprising a cavity formed by at least two surfaces that reflect light of the given wavelength, together with means for introducing light into, and extracting light from, the cavity, and which cavity is at least partially filled with a positive temperature nonlinear medium of |n 2 | > 10 -13 cm 2 /statvolt 2 , which, at the given wavelength, has dispersive properties that dominate or are equal to its absorptive properties, and which medium is maintained under such conditions, that when light of the given wavelength is introduced into the said cavity a bistable relationship exists between the intensity of the signal of said wavelength impinging on, and emitted by, the said device, the invention characterized in that the dispersive properties of the medium are made to dominate its absorptive properties by inducing transitions within the material through the absorption of light, which transitions introduce dispersive contributions due to nondriven states, which contributions are greater than 10 percent of the dispersive contributions due to the driven states.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
188 words
A device to treat optical signals of a given wavelength, and whose input-output characteristic curve displays a region of bistability comprising a cavity formed by at least two surfaces that reflect light of the given wavelength, together with means for introducing light into, and extracting light from, the cavity, and which cavity is at least partially filled with a positive temperature nonlinear medium of |n 2 | > 10 -13 cm 2 /statvolt 2 , which, at the given wavelength, has dispersive properties that dominate or are equal to its absorptive properties, and which medium is maintained under such conditions, that when light of the given wavelength is introduced into the said cavity a bistable relationship exists between the intensity of the signal of said wavelength impinging on, and emitted by, the said device, the invention characterized in that the dispersive properties of the medium are made to dominate its absorptive properties by inducing transitions within the material through the absorption of light, which transitions introduce dispersive contributions due to nondriven states, which contributions are greater than 10 percent of the dispersive contributions due to the driven states.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 35 where the cavity and medium characteristics are determined by combining the intracavity equations ##EQU12## with the cavity boundary conditions, to yield an input-output characteristic curve with a region of bistability.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 35 wherein the dispersive contributions due to the nondriven states are greater than 50 percent of the dispersive contributions due to the driven states.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 35 wherein the dispersive contributions due to the nondriven states dominate the dispersive contributions due to the driven states.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 35 where the absorptive contributions associated with the driven states dominate the dispersive contributions associated with the driven states.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 35 where one of the driven states is an electronic state.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 35 where the transition introduced by the absorption of light creates an exciton.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 35 where at least one of the driven states is an impurity state.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 41 where the material is selected from the group consisting of InP, GaAs, GaAsSb and CdS.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 40 where the material is ruby.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 35 where the cavity is a Fabry-Perot cavity.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 35 where the light wavelength is greater than 4500 Angstroms and less than 7500 Angstroms.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 35 where the light wavelength is greater than 7500 Angstroms and less than 25 microns.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 35 where the light wavelength is greater than 500 Angstroms and less than 4500 Angstroms.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 35 where the medium conditions are fixed by introducing additional light beams into the cavity.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 35 where the medium is a solid.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of switching an optical signal from one power level to another comprising: introducing light of the given wavelength into a cavity formed by at least two surfaces that reflect light of the given wavelength, and which surfaces are separated at least in part by a positive temperature nonlinear medium of |n 2 | > 10 -13 cm 2 /statvolt 2 which, at the given wavelength, has dispersive properties that dominate or are equal to its absorptive properties; fixing the cavity and medium characteristics such that there is a dual valued relationship between the intensities of the incident and transmitted signals, and extracting the switched signal from said cavity; the invention characterized in that the dispersive properties of the medium are made to dominate its absorptive properties by inducing transitions within the material through the absorption of light, which transitions introduce dispersive contributions due to nondriven excited states, which contributions are greater than 10 percent of the dispersive contributions due to the driven states.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of switching an optical signal from one power level to another comprising: introducing light of the given wavelength into a cavity formed by at least two surfaces that reflect light of the given wavelength, and which surfaces are separated at least in part by a positive temperature nonlinear medium of |n 2 | > 10 -13 cm 2 /statvolt 2 which, at the given wavelength, has dispersive properties that dominate or are equal to its absorptive properties; fixing the cavity and medium characteristics such that there is a dual valued relationship between the intensities of the incident and transmitted signals, and extracting the switched signal from said cavity; the invention characterized in that the dispersive properties of the medium are made to dominate its absorptive properties by inducing transitions within the material through the absorption of light, which transitions introduce dispersive contributions due to nondriven excited states, which contributions are greater than 10 percent of the dispersive contributions due to the driven states.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 51 where the cavity and medium characteristics are determined by combining the intracavity equations ##EQU13## with the cavity boundary conditions, to yield a dual valued input-output characteristic curve.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 51 wherein the dispersive contributions due to the nondriven states are greater than 50 percent of the dispersive contributions due to the driven states.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 51 wherein the dispersive contributions due to the nondriven states dominate the dispersive contributions due to the driven states.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 51 where the absorptive contributions associated with the driven states dominate the dispersive contributions associated with the driven states.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 51 where one of the driven states is an electronic state.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 51 where the transition introduced by the absorption of light creates an exciton.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 51 where at least one of the driven states is an impurity state.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 57 where the material is selected from the group consisting of InP, GaAs, GaAsSb and CdS.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 56 where the material is ruby.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 51 where the cavity is a Fabry-Perot cavity.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 51 where the light wavelength is greater than 4500 Angstroms and less than 7500 Angstroms.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 51 where the light wavelength is greater than 7500 Angstroms and less than 25 microns.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 51 where the light wavelength is greater than 500 Angstroms and less than 4500 Angstroms.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 51 where the medium conditions are fixed by introducing additional light beams into the cavity.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 51 where the nonlinear medium is a solid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3610731A
Cited
US3813605A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-10-16 | 1982-04-17 | 1982-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-10-16 | 1986-04-17 | 1986-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-10-16 | 1990-04-17 | 1990-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |