Patent US4128300A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4128300A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical logic elements
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1977-09-26
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Granted: 1978-12-05
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Expires: 1997-09-26
Abstract
Abstract An improved optical element is provided by an arrangement of optical waveguides disposed with two photoconductive paths and a plurality of electrodes arranged to impress an electric field across the optical waveguide configuration and the photoconductive paths. Optical energy is fed into an input optical waveguide and, dependent upon the optical inputs to the first and second photoconductive paths, an output is produced by the optical waveguide configuration in the manner of a logic gate. Variant configuration of the optical waveguide assembly can be made to perform in the manner of an AND gate, and OR gate, an exclusive OR gate, a NOR gate, or a NAND gate; alternatively, combination configurations can simultaneously perform multiple logic functions.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry B. Stotts
- 👤 William E. Martin
- 👤 Paul S. Catano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:39
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F3/00; G02F1/00; G02F1/29; G02F1/31; G02F1/313; G02F1/3136
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
An optical logic element comprising: an input optical waveguide for transmitting single mode optical energy, and diverging into first and second single mode optical waveguide branches of equal optical length which reconverge at a multi-mode optical waveguide; first, second, and third output optical waveguides connecting in common to said multi-mode optical waveguide for propagating lowest order, first order and second order modes of light energy, respectively; first and second photoconductive paths disposed outside and spaced from said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches, respectively; a grounded electrode positioned between said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches; an electrode positioned between said first single mode optical waveguide branch and said first photoconductive path; an electrode positioned between said second single mode optical waveguide branch and said second photoconductive path; and means for impressing a dc electric field across said optical waveguide branches, photoconductive paths, and electrodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
An optical logic element comprising: an input optical waveguide for transmitting single mode optical energy, and diverging into first and second single mode optical waveguide branches of equal optical length which reconverge at a multi-mode optical waveguide; first, second, and third output optical waveguides connecting in common to said multi-mode optical waveguide for propagating lowest order, first order and second order modes of light energy, respectively; first and second photoconductive paths disposed outside and spaced from said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches, respectively; a grounded electrode positioned between said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches; an electrode positioned between said first single mode optical waveguide branch and said first photoconductive path; an electrode positioned between said second single mode optical waveguide branch and said second photoconductive path; and means for impressing a dc electric field across said optical waveguide branches, photoconductive paths, and electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical logic element as claimed in claim 1 wherein said optical waveguides, photoconductive paths, and electrodes are supported on a common substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical logic element as claimed in claim 1 wherein said input optical waveguide diverges into parallel first and second single mode optical waveguide branches.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical logic element as claimed in claim 3 wherein said parallel first and second single mode optical waveguide branches are co-extensive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An optical logic element as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second photoconductive paths are disposed in parallel relationship to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical logic element as claimed in claim 5 wherein said photoconductive paths are parallel to said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
An optical logic element as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for impressing a dc electric field across the assembly of said optical waveguide branches, photoconductive paths, and electrodes comprises additional electrodes laterally disposed to encompass said assembly and connected to a source of dc potential.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
150 words
An optical NOR gate comprising: an input optical waveguide for transmitting single mode optical energy and diverging into first and second single mode optical waveguide branches which reconverge for providing optical paths of equal optical length; an output optical waveguide for propagating only lowest order mode of light energy and connected to receive the light energy propagated by said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches; first and second photoconductive paths disposed outside and spaced from said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches, respectively; a grounded electrode positioned between said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches; an electrode positioned between said first single mode optical waveguide branch and said first photoconductive path; an electrode positioned between said second single mode optical waveguide branch and said second photoconductive path; and means for impressing a dc electric field across said optical waveguide branches, photoconductive paths, and electrodes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
150 words
An optical NOR gate comprising: an input optical waveguide for transmitting single mode optical energy and diverging into first and second single mode optical waveguide branches which reconverge for providing optical paths of equal optical length; an output optical waveguide for propagating only lowest order mode of light energy and connected to receive the light energy propagated by said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches; first and second photoconductive paths disposed outside and spaced from said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches, respectively; a grounded electrode positioned between said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches; an electrode positioned between said first single mode optical waveguide branch and said first photoconductive path; an electrode positioned between said second single mode optical waveguide branch and said second photoconductive path; and means for impressing a dc electric field across said optical waveguide branches, photoconductive paths, and electrodes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
151 words
An optical exclusive OR gate comprising: an input optical waveguide for transmitting single mode optical energy and diverging into first and second single mode optical waveguide branches which reconverge for providing optical paths of equal optical length; an output optical waveguide for propagating only first order mode of light energy and connected to receive the light energy propagated by said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches; first and second photoconductive paths disposed outside and spaced from said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches, respectively; a grounded electrode positioned between said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches; an electrode positioned between said first single mode optical waveguide branch and said first photoconductive path; an electrode positioned between said second single mode optical waveguide branch and said second photoconductive path; and means for impressing a dc electric field across said optical waveguide branches, photoconductive paths, and electrodes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
151 words
An optical exclusive OR gate comprising: an input optical waveguide for transmitting single mode optical energy and diverging into first and second single mode optical waveguide branches which reconverge for providing optical paths of equal optical length; an output optical waveguide for propagating only first order mode of light energy and connected to receive the light energy propagated by said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches; first and second photoconductive paths disposed outside and spaced from said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches, respectively; a grounded electrode positioned between said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches; an electrode positioned between said first single mode optical waveguide branch and said first photoconductive path; an electrode positioned between said second single mode optical waveguide branch and said second photoconductive path; and means for impressing a dc electric field across said optical waveguide branches, photoconductive paths, and electrodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
149 words
An optical AND gate comprising: an input optical waveguide for transmitting single mode optical energy and diverging into first and second single mode optical waveguide branches which reconverge for providing optical paths of equal optical length; an output waveguide for propagating only second order mode of light energy and connected to receive the light energy propagated by said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches; first and second photoconductive paths disposed outside and spaced from said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches, respectively; a grounded electrode positioned between said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches; an electrode positioned between said first single mode optical waveguide branch and said first photoconductive path; an electrode positioned between said second single mode optical waveguide branch and said second photoconductive path; and means for impressing a dc electric field across said optical waveguide branches, photoconductive paths, and electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
149 words
An optical AND gate comprising: an input optical waveguide for transmitting single mode optical energy and diverging into first and second single mode optical waveguide branches which reconverge for providing optical paths of equal optical length; an output waveguide for propagating only second order mode of light energy and connected to receive the light energy propagated by said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches; first and second photoconductive paths disposed outside and spaced from said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches, respectively; a grounded electrode positioned between said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches; an electrode positioned between said first single mode optical waveguide branch and said first photoconductive path; an electrode positioned between said second single mode optical waveguide branch and said second photoconductive path; and means for impressing a dc electric field across said optical waveguide branches, photoconductive paths, and electrodes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
166 words
An optical NAND gate comprising: an input optical waveguide for transmitting single mode optical energy, and diverging into first and second single mode optical waveguide branches of equal optical length which reconverges at a first multi-mode optical waveguide; first and second optical waveguides connecting in common to said first multi-mode optical waveguide for propagating lowest order and first order modes of light energy, respectively; a second multi-mode optical waveguide connected to receive the light energy propagated by said first and second optical waveguides; first and second photoconductive paths disposed outside and spaced from said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches, respectively; a grounded electrode positioned between said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches; an electrode positioned between said first single mode optical waveguide branch and said first photoconductive path; an electrode positioned between said second single mode optical waveguide branch and said second photoconductive path; and means for impressing a dc electric field across said optical waveguide branches, photoconductive paths, and electrodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
166 words
An optical NAND gate comprising: an input optical waveguide for transmitting single mode optical energy, and diverging into first and second single mode optical waveguide branches of equal optical length which reconverges at a first multi-mode optical waveguide; first and second optical waveguides connecting in common to said first multi-mode optical waveguide for propagating lowest order and first order modes of light energy, respectively; a second multi-mode optical waveguide connected to receive the light energy propagated by said first and second optical waveguides; first and second photoconductive paths disposed outside and spaced from said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches, respectively; a grounded electrode positioned between said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches; an electrode positioned between said first single mode optical waveguide branch and said first photoconductive path; an electrode positioned between said second single mode optical waveguide branch and said second photoconductive path; and means for impressing a dc electric field across said optical waveguide branches, photoconductive paths, and electrodes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
166 words
An optical OR gate comprising: an input optical waveguide for transmitting single mode optical energy, and diverging into first and second single mode optical waveguide branches of equal optical length which reconverge at a first multi-mode optical waveguide; first and second optical waveguides connecting in common to said first multi-mode optical waveguide for propagating first order and second order modes of light energy, respectively; a second multi-mode optical waveguide connected to receive the light energy propagated by said first and second optical waveguides; first and second photoconductive paths disposed outside and spaced from said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches, respectively; a grounded electrode positioned between said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches; an electrode positioned between said first single mode optical waveguide branch and said first photoconductive path; an electrode positioned between said second single mode optical waveguide branch and said second photoconductive path; and means for impressing a dc electric field across said optical waveguide branches, photoconductive paths, and electrodes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
166 words
An optical OR gate comprising: an input optical waveguide for transmitting single mode optical energy, and diverging into first and second single mode optical waveguide branches of equal optical length which reconverge at a first multi-mode optical waveguide; first and second optical waveguides connecting in common to said first multi-mode optical waveguide for propagating first order and second order modes of light energy, respectively; a second multi-mode optical waveguide connected to receive the light energy propagated by said first and second optical waveguides; first and second photoconductive paths disposed outside and spaced from said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches, respectively; a grounded electrode positioned between said first and second single mode optical waveguide branches; an electrode positioned between said first single mode optical waveguide branch and said first photoconductive path; an electrode positioned between said second single mode optical waveguide branch and said second photoconductive path; and means for impressing a dc electric field across said optical waveguide branches, photoconductive paths, and electrodes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-12-04 | 1982-06-05 | 1982-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-12-04 | 1986-06-05 | 1986-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-12-04 | 1990-06-05 | 1990-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |