US4940302A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integrated optics waveguides with large phase shifts
Assignee: Alabama A&M University
•
Filing: 1989-03-13
•
Granted: 1990-07-10
•
Expires: 2009-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A technique for producing an integrated optics waveguide having a large index of refraction difference with respect to an otherwise similar waveguide that does not utilize the invention. A proton exchange region is formed in a lithium niobate substrate, and a titanium waveguide is formed in the substrate within the proton exchange region. The dimensions of the waveguide and proton exchange region are selected such that substantially all of the field of the lowest guided mode of the waveguide is contained within the proton exchange region. By utilizing such a waveguide as one arm of an interferometer formed in the substrate, a large optical path length difference between the interferometer arms may be created.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore L. Houk
- 👤 R. Aaron Falk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 02:06
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/13; G02B6/134; G02B6/1345
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An integrated optic device, comprising: an electro-optic substrate comprising lithium; a proton exchange region formed in the substrate; a waveguide formed in the substrate within the proton exchange region, the waveguide having a lengthwise axis and having associated with it a lowest guided mode that defines a spatial distribution of a field of an optical signal traveling along the waveguide, the dimensions of the waveguide and the proton exchange region being selected such that substantially all of the field of the lowest guided mode is contained within the proton exchange region; and means for introducing the optical signal into an end of the waveguide such that the optical signal propagates along the lengthwise axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
An integrated optic device, comprising: an electro-optic substrate comprising lithium; a proton exchange region formed in the substrate; a waveguide formed in the substrate within the proton exchange region, the waveguide having a lengthwise axis and having associated with it a lowest guided mode that defines a spatial distribution of a field of an optical signal traveling along the waveguide, the dimensions of the waveguide and the proton exchange region being selected such that substantially all of the field of the lowest guided mode is contained within the proton exchange region; and means for introducing the optical signal into an end of the waveguide such that the optical signal propagates along the lengthwise axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the waveguide comprises titanium and the substrate comprises lithium niobate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 2, wherein the waveguide is contained entirely within the proton exchange region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device of claim 3, wherein the substrate has a planar surface in which the proton exchange region and waveguide are formed, and wherein the waveguide is centrally positioned with respect to the proton exchange region in a direction parallel to said surface and normal to said lengthwise axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 3, wherein the waveguide is a single mode waveguide, and wherein the proton exchange region extends laterally from either side of the waveguide for a distance of at least eight microns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
101 words
An interferometer formed in an electro-optic substrate comprising lithium, the interferometer comprising first and second arms along which an optical signal can pass, the first arm comprising a proton exchange region formed in the substrate, and a waveguide formed within the proton exchange region, the waveguide having associated with it a lowest guided mode that defines a spatial distribution of a field of an optical signal traveling along the waveguide, the dimensions of the waveguide and the proton exchange region being selected such that substantially all of the field of the lowest guided mode is contained within the proton exchange region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
101 words
An interferometer formed in an electro-optic substrate comprising lithium, the interferometer comprising first and second arms along which an optical signal can pass, the first arm comprising a proton exchange region formed in the substrate, and a waveguide formed within the proton exchange region, the waveguide having associated with it a lowest guided mode that defines a spatial distribution of a field of an optical signal traveling along the waveguide, the dimensions of the waveguide and the proton exchange region being selected such that substantially all of the field of the lowest guided mode is contained within the proton exchange region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The interferometer of claim 6, wherein the waveguide comprises titanium and the substrate comprises lithium niobate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The interferometer of claim 7, wherein the waveguide is contained entirely within the proton exchange region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The interferometer of claim 8, wherein the substrate has a planar surface in which the proton exchange region and waveguide are formed, wherein the waveguide has a lengthwise axis along which the optical signal passes, and wherein the waveguide is centrally positioned with respect to the proton exchange region in a direction parallel to said surface and normal to said lengthwise axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The interferometer of claim 8, wherein the second arm comprises a waveguide that does not pass through the proton exchange region.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The interferometer of claim 8, wherein the waveguide is a single mode waveguide, and wherein the proton exchange region extends laterally from either side of the waveguide for a distance of at least eight microns.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4583817A
Cited
US4707059A
Cited
US4679893A
Cited
US4799750A
Cited
US4705346A
Cited
US4547262A
Cited
US4778236A
Cited
US4695121A
Cited
US4709978A
Cited
DD249772A1
Cited
US4755014A
Cited
US4725774A
Cited
US4758060A
Cited
US4768848A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-07-09 | 1994-01-08 | 1994-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-09 | 1998-01-08 | 1998-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-09 | 2002-01-08 | 2002-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |