US4874216A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable-waveguide optical branching filter
Assignee: KDDI Corp
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Filing: 1988-06-23
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Granted: 1989-10-17
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Expires: 2008-06-23
Abstract
Abstract A variable-waveguide optical branching filter is disclosed, in which a diffraction grating is formed in the cross region of two crossing waveguides, only light of a particular wavelength which is determined by the period of the diffraction grating is branched to a desired one of the waveguides, and the refractive index of the cross region is changed by control of a voltage or a current, or by way of irradiation with light, thereby changing the wavelength of light to be branched.
Inventors
- 👤 Katsuyuki Utaka
- 👤 Kazuo Sakai
- 👤 Yuichi Matsushima
- 👤 Shigeyuki Akiba
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:06
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/12007; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/293; G02B6/29304; G02B6/29316; G02B6/29325; G02B6/29329; G02B6/29379; G02B6/29395; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/29; G02F1/31; G02F1/313; G02F1/3137; G02F1/01; G02F1/0126; G02F1/015; G02F1/0151; G02F1/0152; G02F1/0154; G02F1/3138; G02F2201/00; G02F2201/30; G02F2201/305; G02F2203/00; G02F2203/05; G02F2203/055
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A variable-wavelength optical branching filter, comprising: two optical waveguides intersecting each other at a predetermined angle, one of the two optical waveguides being employed in use as an input side waveguide for propaging therein incident light, the other of the two optical waveguides being employed as an output side waveguide for obtaining therefrom output light; a material having a refractive index variable in response to application of input energy to the same and disposed at an intersection of the two optical waveguides; means for applying said input energy to said material to produce the output light at the output side waveguide; and a diffraction grating disposed at the intersection of the two optical waveguides for specifying a particular wavelength of the output light by the period of the diffraction grating, and the specified wavelength being variable by changing the refractive index of said material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A variable-wavelength optical branching filter, comprising: two optical waveguides intersecting each other at a predetermined angle, one of the two optical waveguides being employed in use as an input side waveguide for propaging therein incident light, the other of the two optical waveguides being employed as an output side waveguide for obtaining therefrom output light; a material having a refractive index variable in response to application of input energy to the same and disposed at an intersection of the two optical waveguides; means for applying said input energy to said material to produce the output light at the output side waveguide; and a diffraction grating disposed at the intersection of the two optical waveguides for specifying a particular wavelength of the output light by the period of the diffraction grating, and the specified wavelength being variable by changing the refractive index of said material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A variable-wavelength optical branching filter according to claim 1 in which means for applying said input energy is means for applying an electric current.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A variable-wavelength optical branching filter according to claim 1 in which said means for applying input energy is means for applying an electric voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A variable-waveguide optical branching filter according to claim 1 in which said means for applying input energy is means for applying light.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A variable-wavelength optical branching filter according to claim 1 in which said material having a refractive index variable in response to application of input energy is a semiconductor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A variable-wavelength optical branching filter according to claim 1 in which said material having a refractive index variable in response to application of input energy is a ferrodielectric material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
169 words
In combination a plurality of variable-wavelength optical branching filters, each variable-wavelength optical branching filter, comprising: two optical waveguides intersecting each other at a predetermined angle, one of the two optical waveguides being employed in use as an input side waveguide for propaging therein incident light, the other of the two optical waveguides being employed as an output side waveguide for obtaining therefrom output light; a material having a refractive index variable in response to application of input energy to the same and disposed at an intersection of the two optical waveguides; means for applying said input energy to said material to produce output light at the output side of waveguide; a diffraction grating disposed at the intersection of the two optical waveguides for specifying a particular wavelength of the output light by the period of the diffraction grating, and the specified wavelength being variable by changing the refractive index of said material, and the respective wavelengths of successive two of the variable-wavelength optical branching filters differ from each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
169 words
In combination a plurality of variable-wavelength optical branching filters, each variable-wavelength optical branching filter, comprising: two optical waveguides intersecting each other at a predetermined angle, one of the two optical waveguides being employed in use as an input side waveguide for propaging therein incident light, the other of the two optical waveguides being employed as an output side waveguide for obtaining therefrom output light; a material having a refractive index variable in response to application of input energy to the same and disposed at an intersection of the two optical waveguides; means for applying said input energy to said material to produce output light at the output side of waveguide; a diffraction grating disposed at the intersection of the two optical waveguides for specifying a particular wavelength of the output light by the period of the diffraction grating, and the specified wavelength being variable by changing the refractive index of said material, and the respective wavelengths of successive two of the variable-wavelength optical branching filters differ from each other.
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) | 1992-10-16 | 1993-04-17 | 1993-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-16 | 1997-04-17 | 1997-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-16 | 2001-04-17 | 2001-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |