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US5082341A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Integrated optical device with zero-gap and well-spaced regions

Assignee: Marconi Optical Components Ltd
•
Filing: 1991-01-04
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Granted: 1992-01-21
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Expires: 2011-01-04
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Abstract

Abstract An integrated optical device including a direction coupler between first and second waveguides whereby to transfer light energy between the first and second waveguides, the directional coupler including a first region in which the first and second waveguides converge towards one another while the electromagnetic field regions associated with the waveguides interact, and a second region in which the first and second waveguides are merged into a single waveguide structure having at least twice the width of the first or second waveguide, the first and second regions being dimensioned to control or eliminate the dependence of the directional coupler upon polarization of light in the waveguides.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert G. Walker

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 08:03
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2808; G02B6/2813; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/122; G02B6/125

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 144 words
An integrated optical device including a directional coupler for transferring light energy between first and second waveguides having widths and electromagnetic field regions, the directional coupler including a first well-spaced region in which the first and second waveguides converge toward one another while the electromagnetic field regions associated with the waveguides interact, and a second zero-gap region having at least twice the width of either waveguide, said coupler having a transfer coupler length which, in the first region, exhibits a first dependence upon polarization with the transfer coupler length being shorter for transverse electric fields than for transverse magnetic fields, whereas in the second region, the transfer coupler length exhibits a second dependence upon polarization opposite to said first dependence, said first and second regions being dimensioned to control or eliminate the dependence of the directional coupler upon polarization of light in the waveguides.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 144 words
An integrated optical device including a directional coupler for transferring light energy between first and second waveguides having widths and electromagnetic field regions, the directional coupler including a first well-spaced region in which the first and second waveguides converge toward one another while the electromagnetic field regions associated with the waveguides interact, and a second zero-gap region having at least twice the width of either waveguide, said coupler having a transfer coupler length which, in the first region, exhibits a first dependence upon polarization with the transfer coupler length being shorter for transverse electric fields than for transverse magnetic fields, whereas in the second region, the transfer coupler length exhibits a second dependence upon polarization opposite to said first dependence, said first and second regions being dimensioned to control or eliminate the dependence of the directional coupler upon polarization of light in the waveguides.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
An integrated optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first region comprises areas on each side of said second region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
An integrated optical device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second waveguides in said first region comprises arcuate sections which curve in opposite directions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
An integrated optical device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the waveguides are spaced about 1 μm at a boundary of the second region.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4669815A Cited
WO1989003055A1 Cited
US4917449A Cited
US4961619A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-01-20 1995-07-22 1996-01-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-01-20 1999-07-22 2000-01-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-01-20 2003-07-22 2004-01-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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