US4859876A — Nonlinear optical materials and devices

Claim 1

Independent Claim 63 words

An optical device comprising a non-crystalline second order optically nonlinear element, means for providing an optical input to and an optical output from said element wherein said element comprises an organic compound having a second order optical susceptibility incorporated in a directionally oriented manner in an optically clear glassy polymer so as to impart a net second order optical susceptibility to said element.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 63 words

An optical device comprising a non-crystalline second order optically nonlinear element, means for providing an optical input to and an optical output from said element wherein said element comprises an organic compound having a second order optical susceptibility incorporated in a directionally oriented manner in an optically clear glassy polymer so as to impart a net second order optical susceptibility to said element.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

An optical device as recited in claim 1 including means for applying an electric field to said element for altering an optical property thereof.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 15 words

The device recited in claim 1 wherein the element is a film on a substrate.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 18 words

The device recited in claim 3 wherein the film is from 1 μm to 200 μm in thickness.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

The device recited in claim 1 wherein the organic compound is dissolved in said polymer to about the limit of its solubility therein.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 44 words

The device recited in claim 1 wherein the organic compound is represented by the formula ##STR23## wherein X and Y are selected from nitrogen and carbon, R 1 is a strong electron withdrawing group and R 2 is an electron donating or neutral group.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 53 words

The device recited in claim 6 wherein R 1 is selected from a member of the group consisting of ##STR24## where R is an organic radical, and wherein R 2 is ##STR25## wherein R x and R y are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl group and an alkyl derivative.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 25 words

The device recited in claim 6 wherein the polymer is selected from a member of the group consisting of polymethacrylates, polyacrylates, epoxy, polystyrene and polycarbonate.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The device recited in claim 1 wherein the organic molecule is dispersed red 1 azo dye and the polymer is polymethylmethacrylate.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 16 words

The device recited in claim 1 wherein the organic compound is covalently bonded to said polymer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 234 words

The device recited in claim 1 wherein the organic compound is at least one member of the group consisting of ##STR26## wherein (a) R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl, (b) R 1 is selected from the group consisting of ##STR27## C.tbd.N, O═C--R, O═C--OR, NO 2 , SO 2 R, PO 2 R 2 , PO(OR) 2 , a halogen and an alkyl, (c) A and B are selected from the group consisting of O, N, S Se, Te and C where both A and B are not carbon and wherein the cyclic ring incorporating A and B has from 5 to 8 members and is electron donating in nature and may be saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated, (d) X, Y and Z are selected from the group consisting of H, C.tbd.N, O═C--R, O═C--OR,NO 2 , SO 2 R, PO 2 R 2 , PO(OR) 2 , halogen and an alkyl provided all three are not hydrogen atoms, (e) R 11 is an electron donating group selected from the group consisting of amines, amides, OR, SR, hydrazine, alkylamines and substituted alkylamines, (f) M is selected from the group consisting of C and N, (g) M 1 is selected from the group consisting of CR 3 , NR 3 and C--C═CR 3 wherein R 3 is selected from an aromatic group and an aromatic group having an R 11 substitution.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 12 words

The device recited in claim 11 wherein the organic compound is ##STR28##

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 12 words

The device recited in claim 11 wherein the organic compound is ##STR29##

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 12 words

The device recited in claim 11 wherein the organic compound is ##STR30##

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 12 words

The device recited in claim 11 wherein the organic compound is ##STR31##

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 169 words

An electrooptical directional coupler or switch comprising an electrooptically active film on a substrate, said film comprising an organic compound having its molecules directionally oriented in an optically clear, glassy, polymer host, said compound having second order optical susceptibility and means for applying an electrical field to said film for altering an optical property thereof, said film being present on said substrate in the form of two separated arms having a closely spaced, parallel central region from which the arms diverge on each side of said region, the spacing between arms and arm lengths of said central region being such that light of a given wavelength passing through one arm can be coupled to the other arm and emitted therefrom in the absence of an applied field and such emission from said other arm can be reduced or eliminated upon the application of an electric field to said arms and including means for providing an optical input to one of said arms and means for detecting an optical output.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 169 words

An electrooptical directional coupler or switch comprising an electrooptically active film on a substrate, said film comprising an organic compound having its molecules directionally oriented in an optically clear, glassy, polymer host, said compound having second order optical susceptibility and means for applying an electrical field to said film for altering an optical property thereof, said film being present on said substrate in the form of two separated arms having a closely spaced, parallel central region from which the arms diverge on each side of said region, the spacing between arms and arm lengths of said central region being such that light of a given wavelength passing through one arm can be coupled to the other arm and emitted therefrom in the absence of an applied field and such emission from said other arm can be reduced or eliminated upon the application of an electric field to said arms and including means for providing an optical input to one of said arms and means for detecting an optical output.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 36 words

The device recited in claim 16 wherein the means for applying an electric field comprises spaced electrodes said electrodes being in the same plane as and adjacent each of said arms in the central region thereof.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 37 words

The device recited in claim 16 wherein the means for applying an electric field comprises at least one spaced electrode pair consisting of an electrode below and an electrode over said film in the central region thereof.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 84 words

An integrated injection laser tuner and frequency stabilizer comprises a p-n junction laser grown on a semiconductor substrate, an optical waveguide on said substrate contiguous with and extending from the laser junction, said waveguide comprising a film having a non-centrosymmetric molecule of an organic compound which exhibits a second order optical susceptibility incorporated in a directionally oriented manner in an optically clear glassy polymer host, means for applying an electric field to said wavelength film for tuning or stabilizing the output of said laser.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 84 words

An integrated injection laser tuner and frequency stabilizer comprises a p-n junction laser grown on a semiconductor substrate, an optical waveguide on said substrate contiguous with and extending from the laser junction, said waveguide comprising a film having a non-centrosymmetric molecule of an organic compound which exhibits a second order optical susceptibility incorporated in a directionally oriented manner in an optically clear glassy polymer host, means for applying an electric field to said wavelength film for tuning or stabilizing the output of said laser.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 63 words

A second harmonic generator comprising means for passing light of one frequency through a second order nonlinear optical element so as to produce a coincidental wave of a second frequency which is twice the original frequency wherein said optical element comprises an optically clear, glassy polymer host having dissolved therein in directional alignment, molecules of an organic compound having second order optical susceptibility.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 63 words

A second harmonic generator comprising means for passing light of one frequency through a second order nonlinear optical element so as to produce a coincidental wave of a second frequency which is twice the original frequency wherein said optical element comprises an optically clear, glassy polymer host having dissolved therein in directional alignment, molecules of an organic compound having second order optical susceptibility.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 17 words

The device recited in claim 20 wherein the means for splitting the coincidental beams is a prism.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 20 words

The device recited in claim 20 wherein the nonlinear optical element is a film deposited on an optically clear substrate.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 29 words

The second harmonic generator recited in claim 20 including means for splitting the coincidental waves to allow one to extract said second frequency wave independent of the original frequency.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 73 words

An electrooptical phase modulator comprising means for passing light of a first phase through a transparent linear electrooptic element and means for applying an electric field to said element sufficient to cause a phase change in the incident light passing therethrough to create light of a second phase, wherein said element comprises an optically clear glassy polymer host having dissolved therein directionally oriented molecules of an organic compound having second order optical susceptibility.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 73 words

An electrooptical phase modulator comprising means for passing light of a first phase through a transparent linear electrooptic element and means for applying an electric field to said element sufficient to cause a phase change in the incident light passing therethrough to create light of a second phase, wherein said element comprises an optically clear glassy polymer host having dissolved therein directionally oriented molecules of an organic compound having second order optical susceptibility.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 36 words

The modulator recited in claim 24 including a polarizer situated in the light path after said electrooptic element which allows light of either said first phase or said second phase, but not both, to pass therethrough.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 86 words

An electrooptic amplitude modulator comprises an interferometric waveguide of a material having a second order optical susceptibility incorporated in a directionally oriented manner in an optically clear glassy polymer, means for applying an electric field to an arm of said waveguide to change the index of refraction of said arm, means for providing an optical input to said waveguide and means for detecting an optical output from said waveguide, the intensity of said output being dependent upon the field applied to said arm of said waveguide.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 86 words

An electrooptic amplitude modulator comprises an interferometric waveguide of a material having a second order optical susceptibility incorporated in a directionally oriented manner in an optically clear glassy polymer, means for applying an electric field to an arm of said waveguide to change the index of refraction of said arm, means for providing an optical input to said waveguide and means for detecting an optical output from said waveguide, the intensity of said output being dependent upon the field applied to said arm of said waveguide.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 62 words

The modulator recited in claim 26 wherein said interferometer is of the Mach-Zehnder type and wherein the waveguide is a thin film deposited on a conductive substrate having an insulating layer between said waveguide film and said conductive substrate and one arm of said film having an electrode thereover such that a voltage can be applied between the substrate and said electrode.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 34 words

A second order optically nonlinear optical element comprises an organic compound having second order optical susceptibility incorporated in an optically clear glassy polymer such that the molecules of said compound are directionally oriented therein.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 34 words

A second order optically nonlinear optical element comprises an organic compound having second order optical susceptibility incorporated in an optically clear glassy polymer such that the molecules of said compound are directionally oriented therein.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 16 words

The optical element recited in claim 28 wherein said element comprises a film of said polymer.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 17 words

The optical element recited in claim 29 wherein said film is adherent upon an optically clear substrate.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 19 words

The optical element recited in claim 30 wherein the film is from 1 μm to 200 μm in thickness.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 24 words

The optical element recited in claim 28 wherein the organic compound is dissolved in said polymer to about the limit of its solubility therein.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 45 words

The optical element recited in claim 28 wherein the organic compound is represented by the formula ##STR32## wherein X and Y are selected from nitrogen and carbon, R 1 is a strong electron withdrawing group and R 2 is an electron donating or neutral group.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 50 words

The optical element recited in claim 33 wherein R 1 is selected from a member of the group consisting of ##STR33## where R is an organic radical and R 2 is ##STR34## wherein R x and R y are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl group.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 23 words

The optical element recited in claim 33 wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polymethacrylates, polyacrylates, epoxy, polystyrene and polycarbonate.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 22 words

The optical element recited in claim 28 wherein the organic molecule is disperse red 1 azo dye and the polymer is polymethylmethacrylate.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 16 words

The optical element recited in claim 29 including means for applying a voltage across said film.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 32 words

The optical element recited in claim 37 wherein said voltage means comprises at least one pair of spaced electrodes, at least one of said electrodes being on a surface of said film.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 16 words

The optical element recited in claim 28 wherein said compound is covalently bonded to said polymer.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 100 words

An optical device comprising a non-crystalline second order optically nonlinear element, means for providing an optical input to and an optical output from said element wherein said element comprises an organic compound having second order optical susceptibility incorporated in a directionally oriented manner in an optically clear glassy polymer so as to impart a net second order optical susceptibility to said element wherein the organic compound is represented by the formula ##STR35## wherein X represents an atom selected from nitrogen and carbon, R 1 is a strong electron withdrawing group and R 2 is an electron donating or neutral group.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 100 words

An optical device comprising a non-crystalline second order optically nonlinear element, means for providing an optical input to and an optical output from said element wherein said element comprises an organic compound having second order optical susceptibility incorporated in a directionally oriented manner in an optically clear glassy polymer so as to impart a net second order optical susceptibility to said element wherein the organic compound is represented by the formula ##STR35## wherein X represents an atom selected from nitrogen and carbon, R 1 is a strong electron withdrawing group and R 2 is an electron donating or neutral group.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-08-21	1993-02-20	1993-08-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-08-21	1997-02-20	1997-08-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-08-21	2001-02-20	2001-08-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Nonlinear optical materials and devices

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