US5290730A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Wavelength conversion waveguide and fabrication method
Assignee: The AT&T MVPD Group LLC
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Filing: 1992-09-10
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Granted: 1994-03-01
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Expires: 2012-09-10
Abstract
Abstract A radiation wavelength conversion device is implemented in the form of a waveguide that includes a single crystal halide-based cladding layer, and a halide-based active layer. The active layer has a greater refractive index than the cladding layer, is approximately lattice matched with the cladding layer, and includes a dopant that causes it to respond to input radiation at one wavelength by emitting radiation at a different wavelength. The active layer can either form part of a laser resonator cavity, or can operate through spontaneous emission. It is preferably about 3.5-5 microns thick to induce single-mode propagation, and can be divided into separate waveguiding channels to limit beam fanning. The device is operable at room temperature, and can be fabricated using conventional microelectronics techniques.
Inventors
- 👤 Ross A. McFarlane
- 👤 Mark Lui
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:55
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/063; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/094092; H01S3/0941; H01S5/00; H01S5/02; H01S5/026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of fabricating a light source that responds to a pump beam at one wavelength by emitting radiation at another wavelength, comprising: growing a planar halide-based active layer upon a single crystal halide-based cladding layer by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), said active layer being approximately lattice matched with said cladding layer, and using said MBE step to simultaneously dope said active layer with a rare earth dopant, said doped active layer being grown to have a higher refractive index than, and form a waveguide with, said cladding layer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of fabricating a light source that responds to a pump beam at one wavelength by emitting radiation at another wavelength, comprising: growing a planar halide-based active layer upon a single crystal halide-based cladding layer by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), said active layer being approximately lattice matched with said cladding layer, and using said MBE step to simultaneously dope said active layer with a rare earth dopant, said doped active layer being grown to have a higher refractive index than, and form a waveguide with, said cladding layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein prior to growing said active layer, said cladding layer is grown by MBE on a semiconductor substrate with which it is approximately lattice matched.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of monolithically fabricating a diode laser on said substrate to provide a pump beam for said light source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of forming a full reflector at one end of said active layer and a partial reflector at the other end of said active layer to establish said reflectors and the intervening active layer as a laser cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of dividing said active layer into a plurality of mutually spaced, parallel waveguiding channels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said active layer is divided into channels that are on the order of about 10 microns wide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said channels are formed by ion milling the areas of the active layer between the channels.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-02-28 | 1997-08-30 | 1998-03-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-02-28 | 2001-08-30 | 2002-03-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-02-28 | 2005-08-30 | 2006-03-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |