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US5285508A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical wavelength converter

Assignee: Pioneer Corp
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Filing: 1993-01-14
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Granted: 1994-02-08
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Expires: 2013-01-14
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Abstract

Abstract An optical wavelength converter comprises a substrate, a first waveguide formed in the substrate and allowing a fundamental wave to enter therein, and a second waveguide extending parallel to the first waveguide and disposed on the substrate at a predetermined distance spaced from the first waveguide, wherein the second waveguide has refractive index gratings formed and arranged periodically in the extending direction thereof, each refractive index grating having an equivalent refractive index different from that of the second waveguide. The optical wavelength converter is of high conversion efficiency.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kiyofumi Chikuma

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 02:46
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/12004; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/35; G02F1/37; G02F1/377; G02F1/3775; G02B2006/12035; G02B2006/1204; G02B2006/12083; G02B2006/12107; G02B2006/12133; G02B2006/12147; G02B2006/12166; G02B2006/12183

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 163 words
An optical wavelength converter comprising: a substrate, a first waveguide formed in said substrate and allowing a fundamental wave to enter therein, and a second waveguide disposed parallel to said first waveguide at a predetermined distance spaced therefrom, and refractive index gratings formed in said second waveguide and arranged periodically in the extending direction thereof, each refractive index grating having an equivalent refractive index different from that of said second waveguide, wherein a cyclic period of said refractive index gratings Λ is given by Λ≈0.5λ/(N.sub.2(2ω) -N.sub.2(ω)) wherein λ represents a wavelength and ω a frequency of the fundamental wave, N 2 (ω) represents an equivalent refractive index of said second waveguide to the fundamental wave, and N 2 (2ω) represents an equivalent refractive index of said second waveguide to the second harmonic, and said first and second waveguides made of optical materials satisfying N.sub.1(ω) ≈N.sub.2(2ω) wherein N 1 (107 ) represents an equivalent refractive index of said first wavelength to the fundamental wave.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 163 words
An optical wavelength converter comprising: a substrate, a first waveguide formed in said substrate and allowing a fundamental wave to enter therein, and a second waveguide disposed parallel to said first waveguide at a predetermined distance spaced therefrom, and refractive index gratings formed in said second waveguide and arranged periodically in the extending direction thereof, each refractive index grating having an equivalent refractive index different from that of said second waveguide, wherein a cyclic period of said refractive index gratings Λ is given by Λ≈0.5λ/(N.sub.2(2ω) -N.sub.2(ω)) wherein λ represents a wavelength and ω a frequency of the fundamental wave, N 2 (ω) represents an equivalent refractive index of said second waveguide to the fundamental wave, and N 2 (2ω) represents an equivalent refractive index of said second waveguide to the second harmonic, and said first and second waveguides made of optical materials satisfying N.sub.1(ω) ≈N.sub.2(2ω) wherein N 1 (107 ) represents an equivalent refractive index of said first wavelength to the fundamental wave.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
An optical converter according to claim 1, wherein said refractive index gratings are formed in said second waveguide by a proton exchange method.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
An optical converter according to claim 1, wherein said refractive index gratings are formed by a plurality of periodical SiO 2 thin films formed on an optical glass constituting said second waveguide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
An optical converter according to claim 1, wherein said first waveguide is constructed of multiple layers each made of semiconductor material so as to form a GaAs semiconductor laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
An optical converter according to claim 1, further comprising a buffer layer interposed between said first waveguide and said second waveguide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
An optical converter according to claim 1, wherein said second waveguide is formed as a linear periodic array separated by air spaces, and the air spaces form said refractive index gratings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 79 words
An optical converter according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance between said first waveguide and said second waveguide is determined by: |χ.sub.ab |≧k|N.sub.1(107 ) -N.sub.1(2ω) | where χ ab represents a degree of superposition of electric field distributions in fundamental modes for said first and second waveguides, k represents 2π/λ, λ represents a wavelength of the fundamental wave, and N 1 (ω) and N 1 (2ω) represent equivalent refractive indexes to the fundamental wave and second harmonic, respectively.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5200939A Cited
US5123070A Cited

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Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-02-07 1997-08-09 1998-02-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
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