US5625729A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optoelectronic device for coupling between an external optical wave and a local optical wave for optical modulators and detectors
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1994-08-12
•
Granted: 1997-04-29
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Expires: 2014-08-12
Abstract
Abstract An optoelectronic device for coupling between an external optical wave and a local optical wave. The local wave is supported by a multiplicity of electrodes and a structure associated with the electrodes. The electrodes are spaced in a substantially regular pattern and are adapted for two functions. First, the electrodes resonantly couple between the external wave and the local wave. Second, the electrodes allow a potential difference between adjacent electrodes.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas G. Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:34
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/015; G02F1/025; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/34; G02F1/29; G02F1/295; G02F2201/00; G02F2201/12; G02F2201/124
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 62
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
An optoelectronic device for coupling between an external optical wave and a local optical wave comprising: a multiplicity of electrodes spaced in a substantially regular pattern, the multiplicity of electrodes adapted to resonantly couple between the external wave and the local wave, the multiplicity of electrodes having a potential difference between adjacent electrodes; and a structure associated with the multiplicity of electrodes wherein the structure and the multiplicity of electrodes support the local wave.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
An optoelectronic device for coupling between an external optical wave and a local optical wave comprising: a multiplicity of electrodes spaced in a substantially regular pattern, the multiplicity of electrodes adapted to resonantly couple between the external wave and the local wave, the multiplicity of electrodes having a potential difference between adjacent electrodes; and a structure associated with the multiplicity of electrodes wherein the structure and the multiplicity of electrodes support the local wave.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the external wave comprises a wave propagating in a homogeneous medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the multiplicity of electrodes is substantially planar and the external wave is normally incident on the electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the multiplicity of electrodes is substantially planar, the external wave is described by a wavevector k and an incidence angle θ, the local wave is described by a propagation constant with real part β, and a spacing of the electrodes is described by a period T according to β=k sin θ+2πm/T, where m is an integer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
7 words
The device of claim 4 wherein |m|=1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
7 words
The device of claim 4 wherein |m|=2.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the local wave comprises a surface plasmon wave.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the local wave comprises a total-internal-reflection guided wave.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the local wave comprises a surface evanescent wave.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the external wave and the local wave lie in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the external wave and the local wave lie in the near-infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the external wave and the local wave lie in the ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the multiplicity of electrodes comprises metal electrodes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the multiplicity of electrodes comprises interdigitated electrodes including first fingers and second fingers and the electrodes are adapted to allow a potential difference between the first fingers and the second fingers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the multiplicity of electrodes is substantially planar.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the structure has an alterable attribute, and the attribute may be altered by varying the potential difference between adjacent electrodes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the alterable attribute comprises a refractive index of the structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the alterable attribute comprises a coefficient of birefringence of the structure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the alterable attribute comprises an absorption coefficient of the structure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the alterable attribute comprises an ability of the structure to absorb optical energy and the absorptive ability is altered based on resonant enhancement.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the alterable attribute is altered based on the free-carrier plasma effect.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the alterable attribute is altered based on band filling.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the alterable attribute is altered based on the quantum confined Stark effect.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the alterable attribute is altered based on the Franz-Keldysh effect.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the alterable attribute is altered based on the Kerr effect.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the alterable attribute is altered based on the Pockels effect.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the multiplicity of electrodes has an alterable attribute, and the attribute may be altered by varying the potential difference between adjacent electrodes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the multiplicity of electrodes is substantially planar and the structure comprises a substantially planar substrate in close proximity to and substantially parallel to the electrodes.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 28 wherein the substrate comprises a semiconductor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 29 wherein the semiconductor comprises silicon.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 29 wherein the semiconductor comprises a III-V system.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 29 wherein the semiconductor comprises a II-VI system.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 29 wherein the semiconductor comprises an AlGaAs compound.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 29 wherein the semiconductor comprises an InGaAsP compound.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 29 wherein the semiconductor comprises silicon carbide.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 29 wherein the electrodes and the semiconductor form an ohmic contact.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 29 wherein the electrodes and the semiconductor form a Schottky barrier.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 28 wherein the substrate comprises a silicon-on-insulator structure.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 28 wherein the substrate comprises a group IV system.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 28 wherein the structure further comprises a substantially planar cover in close proximity to and substantially parallel to the electrodes, the electrodes being located between the cover and the substrate and the substrate and cover having substantially equal indices of refraction.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the multiplicity of electrodes is substantially planar and the structure comprises a substantially planar silicon membrane in close proximity to and substantially parallel to the electrodes.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the structure comprises an electro-optic material.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 42 wherein the electro-optic material comprises an electro-optic polymer.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the structure comprises a quantum well structure.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the structure comprises a superlattice structure.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
89 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the local wave comprises a surface plasmon; the multiplicity of electrodes comprises substantially planar, metal, interdigitated electrodes including first fingers and second fingers, wherein the electrodes are adapted to allow a potential difference between the first fingers and the second fingers; the structure comprises a substantially planar semiconductor substrate having an alterable index of refraction, the substrate electrically contacting the electrodes; and the index of refraction of the substrate may be altered by varying the potential difference across the first and second fingers.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
114 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the local wave comprises a total-internal-reflection guided wave; the multiplicity of electrodes comprises substantially planar, metal, interdigitated electrodes including first fingers and second fingers, wherein the electrodes are adapted to allow a potential difference between the first fingers and the second fingers; the structure comprises a) p-doped semiconductor regions electrically contacting the first fingers, b) n-doped semiconductor regions electrically contacting the second fingers, and c) a substantially planar semiconductor substrate having an alterable index of refraction, the substrate electrically contacting the n-doped and p-doped semiconductor regions; and the index of refraction of the substrate may be altered by varying the potential difference between the first and second fingers.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 47 wherein the structure further comprises a substantially planar insulating layer in close proximity to and substantially parallel to the semiconductor substrate.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
115 words
An optical modulator for modulating an output optical wave resulting from an external optical wave comprising: a multiplicity of electrodes spaced in a substantially regular pattern, the multiplicity of electrodes adapted to a) resonantly couple between the external wave and a local optical wave, b) resonantly couple between the external wave and the output wave, and c) have a potential difference between adjacent electrodes; a structure associated with the multiplicity of electrodes, wherein the structure and the multiplicity of electrodes support the local wave and the structure has an alterable attribute; and a voltage source for impressing the potential difference between adjacent electrodes, whereby the alterable attribute is varied and the output wave is modulated.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
115 words
An optical modulator for modulating an output optical wave resulting from an external optical wave comprising: a multiplicity of electrodes spaced in a substantially regular pattern, the multiplicity of electrodes adapted to a) resonantly couple between the external wave and a local optical wave, b) resonantly couple between the external wave and the output wave, and c) have a potential difference between adjacent electrodes; a structure associated with the multiplicity of electrodes, wherein the structure and the multiplicity of electrodes support the local wave and the structure has an alterable attribute; and a voltage source for impressing the potential difference between adjacent electrodes, whereby the alterable attribute is varied and the output wave is modulated.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
16 words
The modulator of claim 49 wherein the output wave comprises a wave reflected from the electrodes.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
16 words
The modulator of claim 49 wherein the output wave comprises a wave transmitted by the electrodes.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
81 words
An optical detector for sensing the strength of an external optical wave comprising: a multiplicity of electrodes spaced in a substantially regular pattern, the multiplicity of electrodes adapted to resonantly couple between the external wave and a local optical wave and to allow a potential difference between adjacent electrodes; a structure associated with the multiplicity of electrodes, wherein the structure and the multiplicity of electrodes support the local wave; and a sensor connected to the electrodes for sensing an electrical quantity.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
81 words
An optical detector for sensing the strength of an external optical wave comprising: a multiplicity of electrodes spaced in a substantially regular pattern, the multiplicity of electrodes adapted to resonantly couple between the external wave and a local optical wave and to allow a potential difference between adjacent electrodes; a structure associated with the multiplicity of electrodes, wherein the structure and the multiplicity of electrodes support the local wave; and a sensor connected to the electrodes for sensing an electrical quantity.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
15 words
The detector of claim 52 wherein the sensor senses the current flow between adjacent electrodes.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
15 words
The detector of claim 52 wherein the sensor senses the potential difference between adjacent electrodes.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
15 words
The detector of claim 52 wherein the sensor senses the electrical resistance between adjacent electrodes.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
103 words
Method for modulating an output optical wave resulting from an external optical wave comprising: providing a multiplicity of electrodes arranged in a substantially regular pattern for resonantly coupling between the external wave and a local optical wave and for resonantly coupling between the external wave and the output wave; positioning a structure associated with the electrodes such that the structure and the electrodes support the local wave, the structure having an alterable attribute; positioning the electrodes and the structure with respect to the external wave such that the external wave couples to the local wave; and impressing a potential difference between adjacent electrodes.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
103 words
Method for modulating an output optical wave resulting from an external optical wave comprising: providing a multiplicity of electrodes arranged in a substantially regular pattern for resonantly coupling between the external wave and a local optical wave and for resonantly coupling between the external wave and the output wave; positioning a structure associated with the electrodes such that the structure and the electrodes support the local wave, the structure having an alterable attribute; positioning the electrodes and the structure with respect to the external wave such that the external wave couples to the local wave; and impressing a potential difference between adjacent electrodes.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
91 words
Method for sensing the strength of an external optical wave comprising: providing a multiplicity of electrodes arranged in a substantially regular pattern for resonantly coupling between the external wave and a local optical wave; positioning a structure associated with the electrodes such that the structure and the electrodes support the local wave; positioning the electrodes and the structure with respect to the external wave such that the external wave couples to the local wave; and using adjacent electrodes to sense an electrical quantity related to the strength of the external wave.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
91 words
Method for sensing the strength of an external optical wave comprising: providing a multiplicity of electrodes arranged in a substantially regular pattern for resonantly coupling between the external wave and a local optical wave; positioning a structure associated with the electrodes such that the structure and the electrodes support the local wave; positioning the electrodes and the structure with respect to the external wave such that the external wave couples to the local wave; and using adjacent electrodes to sense an electrical quantity related to the strength of the external wave.
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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) | 2000-04-28 | 2000-10-28 | 2001-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-04-28 | 2004-10-28 | 2005-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-04-28 | 2008-10-28 | 2009-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |