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US5533151A
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Active cladding optical modulator using an electro-optic polymer on an inorganic waveguide
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1995-04-28
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Granted: 1996-07-02
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Expires: 2015-04-28
Abstract
Abstract Generally, the present invention is an optical waveguide circuit comprising a substrate 30, a non-organic waveguide channel 34 disposed within one or more cladding layers 32, 36 upon the substrate and an active cladding region comprising electro-optic 40, 43 or optically non-linear polymer material 46 adjacent to the waveguide channel wherein the phase of an optical signal within the waveguide channel may be modulated by controlling the index of refraction of the active cladding region. An embodiment of the present invention uses an inorganic optical waveguide 34 with a region of active organic cladding to provide a phase modulator for a Mach-Zender interferometer which can be used to implement high speed low loss switching of optical signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerry Leonard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:46
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/061; G02F1/065; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/122; G02B6/1221; G02B2006/12133; G02B2006/12159; G02B2006/12164
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
An optical waveguide circuit comprising: (a) a substrate; (b) at least one inorganic waveguide core disposed within at least one cladding layer upon said substrate; and (c) an active cladding region comprising an organic polymer material having an index of refraction lower than that of said inorganic waveguide core fabricated adjacent to said waveguide core, wherein the phase of an optical signal having a mode primarily within said waveguide core may be modulated by controlling the index of refraction of said active cladding region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
An optical waveguide circuit comprising: (a) a substrate; (b) at least one inorganic waveguide core disposed within at least one cladding layer upon said substrate; and (c) an active cladding region comprising an organic polymer material having an index of refraction lower than that of said inorganic waveguide core fabricated adjacent to said waveguide core, wherein the phase of an optical signal having a mode primarily within said waveguide core may be modulated by controlling the index of refraction of said active cladding region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
99 words
The circuit of claim 1, further comprising: (d) two inorganic waveguide cores with inputs within said cladding layer and upon said substrate; (e) a first 3 dB coupler to provide 3 dB splitting between said waveguide cores subsequent to said inputs; (f) a non-coupling interferometric region subsequent to said coupler; and (g) a second 3 dB coupler between said two waveguide cores subsequent to said non-coupling region with outputs, wherein said active cladding region is adjacent to said waveguide cores in said non-coupling region such that the phase of at least one waveguide core optical signal can be modulated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The circuit of claim 2, wherein the core material is glass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The circuit of claim 2, wherein the organic polymer is an electro-optic polymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The circuit of claim 2, wherein the organic polymer is an optically non-linear polymer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
The circuit of claim 1, further comprising: (d) an input on said inorganic waveguide core; (e) a first Y-branch to provide 3 dB splitting of an optic signal on said waveguide cores subsequent to said input to two optic waveguide branches; (f) a second Y-branch to combine said two waveguide branches; and (g) a non-coupling region between said Y-branches; wherein said active cladding region is adjacent to said waveguide cores in said non-coupling region such that the phase of at least one waveguide core optical signal can be phase modulated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The circuit of claim 6, wherein the organic polymer is an electro-optic polymer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The circuit of claim 6, wherein the organic polymer is an optically non-linear polymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The circuit of claim 6, wherein the core material is glass.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of fabricating an optical waveguide circuit comprising: (a) forming a substrate; (b) forming at least one inorganic waveguide core disposed within at least one cladding layer upon said substrate; and (c) forming an active cladding region comprising an organic polymer material having an index of refraction lower than that of said inorganic waveguide core adjacent to said waveguide core, wherein the phase of an optical signal having a mode primarily within said waveguide core may be modulated by controlling the index of refraction of said active cladding region.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of fabricating an optical waveguide circuit comprising: (a) forming a substrate; (b) forming at least one inorganic waveguide core disposed within at least one cladding layer upon said substrate; and (c) forming an active cladding region comprising an organic polymer material having an index of refraction lower than that of said inorganic waveguide core adjacent to said waveguide core, wherein the phase of an optical signal having a mode primarily within said waveguide core may be modulated by controlling the index of refraction of said active cladding region.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the organic polymer is an electro-optic polymer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the organic polymer is an optically non-linear polymer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the core material is glass.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
104 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising: (d) forming two inorganic waveguide cores having inputs within said cladding layer and upon said substrate; (e) forming a first 3 dB coupler to provide 3 dB splitting between said waveguide cores subsequent to said inputs; (f) forming a non-coupling region subsequent to said coupler; (g) forming a second 3 dB coupler between said two waveguide cores subsequent to said non-coupling region with outputs; and wherein said active cladding region is adjacent to at least one waveguide core in said non-coupling region such that the phase of at least one waveguide core optical signal can be modulated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising: (d) forming an optic waveguide with an input; (e) forming a first Y-branch to provide 3 dB splitting of an optic signal on said optic waveguide subsequent to said input to two waveguide core branches; (f) forming a second Y-branch to combine said two waveguide branches; and (g) forming a non-coupling region between said Y-branches; wherein said active cladding region is adjacent to said waveguide cores in said non-coupling region such that the phase of at least one waveguide core optical signal can be phase modulated.
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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) | 1999-07-02 | 2000-01-01 | 2000-07-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-02 | 2004-01-01 | 2004-07-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-02 | 2008-01-01 | 2008-07-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |