US5110792A
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Method and apparatus of optical modulation using superconductive oxide material
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1989-11-03
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Granted: 1992-05-05
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Expires: 2009-11-03
Abstract
Abstract An optical modulation method and apparatus uses superconductive oxide material for the optical modulation element. The current, magnetic field, temperature or pressure applied to the superconductive oxide material is varied so as to induce a superconduction-normalconduction transition, and the resulting variation in optical characteristics such as the reflectivity, transmissivity or refractive index of the superconductive oxide material modulate the input light. The method and apparatus are fast in operation and simple in structure. The method and apparatus also detect the variation in the current, magnetic field, temperature or pressure as a change in the reflectivity, transmissivity or refractive index of the superconductive oxide material on the basis of a superconduction-normalconduction transition.
Inventors
- 👤 Takahiro Nakayama
- 👤 Kunihiro Tamahashi
- 👤 Moriaki Fuyama
- 👤 Hiroyuki Minemura
- 👤 Yoshio Sato
- 👤 Nobuyoshi Tsuboi
- 👤 Hiroaki Koyanagi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:59
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/0147; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/70; Y10S505/701; Y10S505/702; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/828; Y10S505/848
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of optical modulation for producing modulated light, said method comprising the steps of: applying incident light to a superconductive oxide material having a Tc of at least 30° K., the superconductive oxide material having different optical properties depending upon whether the superconductive oxide material is in a superconductive state or not, and applying a signal from an external input device to said superconductive oxide material to induce a superconductive-normalconduction transition in said superconductive oxide material, thereby to change optical properties of the superconductive oxide material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of optical modulation for producing modulated light, said method comprising the steps of: applying incident light to a superconductive oxide material having a Tc of at least 30° K., the superconductive oxide material having different optical properties depending upon whether the superconductive oxide material is in a superconductive state or not, and applying a signal from an external input device to said superconductive oxide material to induce a superconductive-normalconduction transition in said superconductive oxide material, thereby to change optical properties of the superconductive oxide material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical modulation method according to claim 1, wherein said signal from external input means comprises at least one of electric current, magnetic field, temperature, pressure, and light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical modulation method according to claim 2, wherein said modulated light comprises light modulated in intensity or light path deflection.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical modulation method according to claim 1, wherein said modulated light comprises light modulated in intensity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical modulation method according to claim 1, wherein said modulated light comprises light modulated in light path deflection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical modulation method according to claim 1, wherein the superconductive oxide material is a superconductive oxide material having a T c greater than 77° K.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical modulation method according to claim 1, wherein the superconductive oxide material, when in the normalconductive state, is insulative.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
369 words
An optical modulation method according to claim 1, wherein the superconductive oxide material is selected from the group consisting of (La 1-x Sr x ) 2 CuO 4 , (La 1-x Ca x ) 2 CuO 4 , (La 1-x Ba x ) 2 CuO 4 , La 1 Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7 , La 2-x Na x CuO 4 , La 2-x CuO 4-y , La 2 Ba 6 LuCu 6 O y , Y 1 Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7 , Y 2 Ba 4 Cu 8 O 20-x , Y 2 Ba 4 Cu 7 O 15 , Bi 2 Sr 2 Cu 1 O y , Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca 1 Cu 2 O y , Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y , Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca y Cu 4 O y , Ba(Pb 1-x Bi x )O 3 , (Ba 1-x K x )BiO 3 , (Bi 1-x Pb x ) 2 Sr 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y , Bi 2 Sr 2 .6 Nd 0 .4 Cu 2 O y , Tl 2 Ba 2 Cu 1 O y , Tl 2 Ba.sub. 2 Ca 1 Cu 2 O y , Tl 2 Ba 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y , Tl 1 Ba 2 CuO y , Tl 1 Ba 2 Ca 1 Cu 2 O y , Tl 1 Ba 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y , Tl 1 Ba 2 Ca 3 Cu 4 O y , Tl 1 Ba 2 Ca 4 Cu 5 O y , Tl 1 Ba 3 Ca 2 Cu 4 O y , Tl 1 Sr 2 CaCu 3 O y , (Tl 0 .5 Pb 0 .5)Sr 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y , (Tl 1-x K x ) 2 Ba 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y , (Tl 0 .75 Bi 0 .25) 1 .33 (Sr 0 .5 Ca 0 .5) 27 Cu 2 O, Nd 1 .6 Sr 0 .2 Ce 0 .2 CuO 4 , and Pb 2 Sr 2 Y 0 .5 Cu 3 O 8 , where x and y are 0≦x, y≦1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical modulation method according to claim 1, wherein the superconductive oxide material is a Type-A superconductive material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical modulation method according to claim 1, wherein the superconductive oxide material is a Type-B superconductive material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical modulation method according to claim 1, wherein an output from said superconductive oxide material, upon said applying incident light, changes upon said applying the signal from external input device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
An optical modulation method according to claim 1, wherein upon said applying a signal from external input device the superconductive oxide material changes from a material that reflects the applied incident light to a material that transmits the applied incident light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical modulation method according to claim 1, wherein the superconductive oxide material is a film of superconductive oxide material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical modulation method according to claim 1, wherein the superconductive oxide material constitutes a component of an optical switch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
An optical modulation method according to claim 14, wherein the incident light is applied to the superconductive oxide material along a first path, and when applying said signal from the external input device an output of light from the superconductive oxide material is along a second path different from a path along which the output of light would pass were said signal from the external input device not applied.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of detecting an external input signal from an external input device using a superconductive oxide material having a T c of at least 30° K., the superconductive oxide material having different optical properties depending upon whether the superconductive oxide material is in a superconductive state or not, said method comprising the steps of: applying said signal from said external input device to said superconductive oxide material, to induce a superconduction-normalconduction transition in said superconductive oxide material, to thereby change optical properties of the superconductive oxide material; applying incident light to said superconductive oxide material; and measuring modulated light outputted from said superconductive oxide material.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of detecting an external input signal from an external input device using a superconductive oxide material having a T c of at least 30° K., the superconductive oxide material having different optical properties depending upon whether the superconductive oxide material is in a superconductive state or not, said method comprising the steps of: applying said signal from said external input device to said superconductive oxide material, to induce a superconduction-normalconduction transition in said superconductive oxide material, to thereby change optical properties of the superconductive oxide material; applying incident light to said superconductive oxide material; and measuring modulated light outputted from said superconductive oxide material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method of detecting an external input signal from an external input device according to claim 16, said method further comprising the step of arithmetic processing said modulated light outputted form said superconductive oxide material to detect said external input signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A signal detecting method according to claim 17, wherein said signal from said external input means comprises any of electric current, magnetic field, temperature, and pressure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A signal detecting method according to claim 17, wherein said modulated light comprises light modulated in intensity or light path deflection.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A signal detecting method according to claim 16, wherein the superconductive oxide material is a superconductive oxide material having a T c greater than 77° K.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A signal detecting method according to claim 16, wherein the superconductive oxide material, when in the normalconductive state, is insulative.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
369 words
A signal detecting method according to claim 16, wherein the superconductive oxide material is selected from the group consisting of (La 1-x Sr x ) 2 CuO 4 , (La 1-x Ca x ) 2 CuO 4 , (La 1-x Ba x ) 2 CuO 4 , La 1 Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7 , La 2-x Na x CuO 4 , La 2-x CuO 4-y , La 2 Ba 6 LuCu 6 O y , Y 1 Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7 , Y 2 Ba 4 Cu 8 O 20-x , Y 2 Ba 4 Cu 7 O 15 , Bi 2 Sr 2 Cu 1 O y , Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca 1 Cu 2 O y , Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y , Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca y Cu 4 O y , Ba(Pb 1-x Bi x )O 3 , (Ba 1-x K x )BiO 3 , (Bi 1-x Pb x ) 2 Sr 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y , Bi 2 Sr 2 .6 Nd 0 .4 Cu 2 O y , Tl 2 Ba 2 Cu 1 O y , Tl 2 Ba 2 Ca 1 Cu 2 O y , Tl 2 Ba 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y , Tl 1 Ba 2 CuO y , Tl 1 Ba 2 Ca 1 Cu 2 O y , Tl 1 Ba 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y , Tl 1 Ba 2 Ca 3 Cu 4 O y , Tl 1 Ba 2 Ca 4 Cu 5 O y , Tl 1 Ba 3 Ca 2 Cu 4 O y , Tl 1 Sr 2 CaCu 3 O y , (Tl 0 .5 Pb 0 .5)Sr 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y , (Tl 1-x K x ) 2 Ba 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y , (Tl 0 .75 Bi 0 .25) 1 .33 (Sr 0 .5 Ca 0 .5) 27 Cu 2 O, Nd 1 .6 Sr 0 .2 Ce 0 .2 CuO 4 , and Pb 2 Sr.sub. 2 Y 0 .5 Cu 3 O 8 , where x and y are 0≦x, y≦1.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
91 words
An optical modulation apparatus for producing modulated light, said apparatus comprising: a superconductive oxide material having a T c of at least 30° K., the superconductive oxide material having different optical properties depending upon whether the superconductive oxide material is in a superconductive state or not; an external input device which generates a signal to be applied to said superconductive oxide material so that a superconduction-normalconduction transition is induced in said superconductive oxide material; and a light source for generating an incident light to be applied to said superconductive oxide material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
91 words
An optical modulation apparatus for producing modulated light, said apparatus comprising: a superconductive oxide material having a T c of at least 30° K., the superconductive oxide material having different optical properties depending upon whether the superconductive oxide material is in a superconductive state or not; an external input device which generates a signal to be applied to said superconductive oxide material so that a superconduction-normalconduction transition is induced in said superconductive oxide material; and a light source for generating an incident light to be applied to said superconductive oxide material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical modulation apparatus according to claim 23, said apparatus further comprising detection means for detecting said modulated light.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical modulation apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said external input means generates at least one of an electric current, magnetic field, temperature, pressure, and light.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical modulation apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said modulated light comprises light modulated in intensity or light path deflection.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical modulation apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said modulated light comprises light modulated in intensity or light path deflection.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical modulation apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the superconductive oxide material is a superconductive oxide material having a T c greater than 77° K.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical modulation apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the superconductive oxide material, when in the normalconductive state, is insulative.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
368 words
An optical modulation apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the superconductive oxide material is selected from group consisting of (La 1-x Sr x ) 2 CuO 4 , (La 1-x Ca x ) 2 CuO 4 , (La 1-x Ba x ) 2 CuO 4 , La 1 Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7 , La 2-x Na x CuO 4 , La 2-x CuO 4-y , La 2 Ba 6 LuCu 6 O y , Y 1 Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7 , Y 2 Ba 4 Cu 8 O 20-x , Y 2 Ba 4 Cu 7 O 15 , Bi 2 Sr 2 Cu 1 O y , Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca 1 Cu 2 O y , Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y , Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca y Cu 4 O y , Ba(Pb 1-x Bi x )O 3 , (Ba 1-x K x )BiO 3 , (Bi 1-x Pb x ) 2 Sr 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y , Bi 2 Sr 2 .6 Nd 0 .4 Cu 2 O y , Tl 2 Ba 2 Cu 1 O y , Tl 2 Ba 2 Ca 1 Cu 2 O y , Tl 2 Ba 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y , Tl 1 Ba 2 CuO y , Tl 1 Ba 2 Ca 1 Cu 2 O y , Tl 1 Ba 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y , Tl 1 Ba 2 Ca 3 Cu 4 O y , Tl 1 Ba 2 Ca 4 Cu 5 O y , Tl 1 Ba 3 Ca 2 Cu 4 O y , Tl 1 Sr 2 CaCu 3 O y , (Tl 0 .5 Pb 0 .5)Sr 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y , (Tl 1-x K x ) 2 Ba 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y , (Tl 0 .75 Bi 0 .25) 1 .33 (Sr 0 .5 Ca 0 .5) 27 Cu 2 O, Nd 1 .6 Sr 0 .2 Ce 0 .2 CuO 4 , and Pb 2 Sr 2 Y 0 .5 Cu 3 O 8 , where x and y are 0≦x, y≦1.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical modulation apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the superconductive oxide material is a film of the superconductive oxide material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
An optical modulation apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the film of the superconductive oxide material has a thickness such that a desired variation in reflectivity between when the superconductive material is in a superconductive state and in a normalconductive state is achieved.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical modulation apparatus according to claim 31, wherein a thickness of the film of superconductive oxide material is substantially a magnetic field penetration depth into the superconducting oxide material.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of detecting an external input signal from an external input device using a superconductive oxide material having a T c of at least 30° K., the superconductive oxide material having different optical properties depending upon whether the superconductive oxide material is in a superconductive state or not, said method comprising the steps of: applying said signal from said external input device to said superconductive oxide material, to induce a superconduction-normalconduction transition in said superconductive oxide material, to thereby change optical properties of said superconductive material; applying incident light to said superconductive oxide material; and detecting modulated light outputted from said superconductive oxide material.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of detecting an external input signal from an external input device using a superconductive oxide material having a T c of at least 30° K., the superconductive oxide material having different optical properties depending upon whether the superconductive oxide material is in a superconductive state or not, said method comprising the steps of: applying said signal from said external input device to said superconductive oxide material, to induce a superconduction-normalconduction transition in said superconductive oxide material, to thereby change optical properties of said superconductive material; applying incident light to said superconductive oxide material; and detecting modulated light outputted from said superconductive oxide material.
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