US4573767A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical flip-flop system
Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
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Filing: 1984-05-31
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Granted: 1986-03-04
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Expires: 2004-05-31
Abstract
Abstract An optical flip-flop system having a pair of optically aligned nonlinear Fabry-Perot etalons, one of which acting as a bistable optical device, the other acting as a negative optical gate. The negative optical gate is initially tuned for high transmission and will remain transmissive until impinged upon by a first optical pulse, at which time it will momentarily become nontransmissive. If this nontransmissive state is longer than the recovery time of the bistable optical device, then the bistable optical device will become nontransmissive. The bistable optical device will remain nontransmissive until impinged upon by a second optical pulse. Thereupon, the bistable optical device will remain transmissive until such time the negative optical gate becomes nontransmissive again. In this manner the flip-flop system can be readily controlled by the application of the pair of optical pulses thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack L. Jewell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 01:24
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F3/00; G02F3/02; G02F3/024
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
An optical flip-flop system comprising: first means in the form of a nonlinear Fabry-Perot etalon for receiving a beam of electromagnetic radiation at a preselected wavelength and for transmitting said beam therethrough when said first means is in a transmissive state and for preventing said beam from passing therethrough upon the application of a first signal thereto which changes said first means to a nontransmissive state; and second means in the form of a nonlinear Fabry-Perot etalon being initially in a nontransmissive state and optically aligned with said first means for receiving said beam of electromagnetic radiation from said first means and for transmitting said beam therethrough upon the application of a second signal thereto which causes said second means to be in a transmissive state, and for preventing said beam from passing therethrough when said first means is in the nontransmissive state, said nontransmissive state of said first means causing said second means to change back to said nontransmissive state; and whereby said transmissive or nontransmissive states of said flip-flop system are controlled by said signals applied to said first and second means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
An optical flip-flop system comprising: first means in the form of a nonlinear Fabry-Perot etalon for receiving a beam of electromagnetic radiation at a preselected wavelength and for transmitting said beam therethrough when said first means is in a transmissive state and for preventing said beam from passing therethrough upon the application of a first signal thereto which changes said first means to a nontransmissive state; and second means in the form of a nonlinear Fabry-Perot etalon being initially in a nontransmissive state and optically aligned with said first means for receiving said beam of electromagnetic radiation from said first means and for transmitting said beam therethrough upon the application of a second signal thereto which causes said second means to be in a transmissive state, and for preventing said beam from passing therethrough when said first means is in the nontransmissive state, said nontransmissive state of said first means causing said second means to change back to said nontransmissive state; and whereby said transmissive or nontransmissive states of said flip-flop system are controlled by said signals applied to said first and second means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
An optical flip-flop system as defined in claim 1 wherein said beam of electromagnetic radiation is at a preselected intensity and said second signal received by said second means is at a lesser preselected intensity, wherein said second means is incapable of changing to said transmissive state upon the receiving of only said beam and is capable of changing to said transmissive state upon receiving both said beam and said second signal and remaining in said transmissive state even upon the removal of said second signal therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical flip-flop system as defined in claim 2 wherein said first means changes to said nontransmissive state when said first signal is received thereby.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An optical flip-flop system as defined in claim 3 wherein said beam of electromagnetic radiation is in the form of a light beam and said first and second signals are in the form of optical pulses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical flip-flop system as defined in claim 4 wherein said light beam is provided by a laser source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical flip-flop system as defined in claim 5 wherein said optical pulses are provided by at least one laser source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
An optical flip-flop system as defined in claim 4 wherein each of said Fabry-Perot etalons comprises a pair of reflective elements having sandwiched therebetween a medium capable of having its index of refraction shifted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical flip-flop system as defined in claims 7 wherein said medium is a thin layer of GaAs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical flip-flop system as defined in claim 8 wherein said light beam is provided by a laser source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical flip-flop system as defined in claim 9 wherein said optical pulses are provided by at least one laser source.
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) | 1989-03-03 | 1989-09-02 | 1990-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-03 | 1993-09-02 | 1994-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-03 | 1997-09-02 | 1998-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |