Patent US5729641A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5729641A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical device employing edge-coupled waveguide geometry
Assignee: Viavi Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1996-05-30
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Granted: 1998-03-17
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Expires: 2016-05-30
Abstract
Abstract An optical device for modulating or interacting with radiation guided and propagating along an optical longitudinal axis of an optical waveguide, such as, an optical fiber, has a different directional geometry compared to conventionally comparable devices such as, for example, plasmon or planar surface modulators for optical fibers. The geometry includes a nonlinear, electro-optic medium formed between two spatially disposed electrodes. The medium/electrode sandwich is aligned along the waveguide longitudinal propagating axis and extends in a radial direction from the optical waveguide core with the inner end of the medium in spatial proximity to the waveguide core for evanescent coupling with the radiation field propagating in the waveguide. An applied electric field to the spatially disposed electrodes varies the refractive index of the electro-optic medium from just below the effective refractive index of the waveguide to just above the effective refractive index waveguide to induce a lossy condition on the propagating radiation. Modulation of the applied electric field will bring about intensity modulation of the propagating radiation.
Inventors
- 👤 Alain Chandonnet
- 👤 Andre Fougeres
- 👤 Gilles Larose
- 👤 Yves Painchaud
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:18
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/29; G02F1/295; G02F1/01; G02F1/011; G02F1/0115; G02F1/0118; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2821; G02B6/2826
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 55
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
An optical device for modulating or interacting with radiation guided and propagating along an optical longitudinal axis of an optical waveguide comprising: a pair of spatially disposed electrodes positioned adjacent to said waveguide and extending substantially parallel with and outward from said longitudinal axis; an electro-optic medium between said electrodes having one end thereof in juxtaposed relation with said optical waveguide, said electro-optic medium having a refractive index close to the minimum value required to couple said radiation from said optical waveguide into said electro-optic medium; said electro-optic medium having a portion thereof exposed to an evanescent field of said propagating radiation; and an electric field applied between said electrodes to vary a refractive index of said electro-optic medium affecting the amount of loss of said propagating radiation via said optical device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
An optical device for modulating or interacting with radiation guided and propagating along an optical longitudinal axis of an optical waveguide comprising: a pair of spatially disposed electrodes positioned adjacent to said waveguide and extending substantially parallel with and outward from said longitudinal axis; an electro-optic medium between said electrodes having one end thereof in juxtaposed relation with said optical waveguide, said electro-optic medium having a refractive index close to the minimum value required to couple said radiation from said optical waveguide into said electro-optic medium; said electro-optic medium having a portion thereof exposed to an evanescent field of said propagating radiation; and an electric field applied between said electrodes to vary a refractive index of said electro-optic medium affecting the amount of loss of said propagating radiation via said optical device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical device of claim 1 wherein said waveguide is an all fiber waveguide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical device of claim 2 wherein said fiber waveguide lies in a V-groove etched on a silicon substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The optical device of claim 3 wherein said single mode fiber waveguide is birefringent, the two birefringent axis of said birefringent fiber waveguide being aligned respectively parallel and perpendicular to the plane of said electrodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical device of claim 4 herein the birefringence of said birefringent fiber waveguide is equal to the birefringence of said electro-optic medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical device of claim 3 wherein said substrate includes fiducial marks to allow precise positioning of said electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The optical device of claim 2 wherein said all-fiber waveguide comprises a side-polished optical fiber or a D-shaped optical fiber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The optical device of claim 2 wherein said fiber waveguide is single mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The optical device of claim 2 wherein each of said electrodes is supported by a dielectric substrate that has a step near and parallel to said electrode surface such that when said steps of said substrates including said electrodes are brought in contact with the sides of said fiber waveguide, then said electrode gap is formed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The optical device of claim 2 wherein said fiber waveguide is multimode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The optical device of claim 1 wherein said electro-optic medium is a mixture of polymers that are poled by heating said optical device and applying a voltage across said electrodes and letting said optical device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical device of claim 11 wherein said electro-optic polymers have different refractive indices and are mixed in such proportion as to obtain said refractive index of said electro-optic medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical device of claim 12 wherein at least one of said polymers is fluoridated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The optical device of claim 11 wherein said polymer mixture is fluoridated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical device of claim 1 wherein said waveguide is an optical planar waveguide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical device of claim 15 wherein said optical planar waveguide comprises high-silica planar channel waveguide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The optical device of claim 1 wherein said electrodes are spaced by approximately the same distance as the width of said optical waveguide, said electrodes having a length between about 1 mm and 10 mm and having a width less than 200 μm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The optical device of claim 1 wherein said electro-optic medium is obtained by dissolving a dye in a polymer matrix that is thereafter poled by heating said optical device, applying a voltage across said electrodes and letting said optical device cool down while maintaining said voltage.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical device of claim 1 wherein each of said electrodes is supported by a dielectric substrate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical device of claim 1 wherein said electrodes comprise a conductive metal or optically transparent material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The optical device of claim 1 wherein said electro-optic medium is a polymer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical device of claim 21 wherein said polymer comprises the synthesis of dye-grated copolymer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical device of claim 21 wherein said dye-grated copolymer comprises p(3FMA-DR1MA), P(6FPA-DR1MA) or PMMA-NAT.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
The optical device of claim 21 wherein said polymer is pooled by heating said optical device, applying a voltage across said electrodes and permitting said optical device to cool while maintaining said applied voltage.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The optical device of claim 21 wherein monomers of different composition and specific mixing ratio are used to synthesize said polymer with said refractive index of said electro-optic medium.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical device of claim 25 wherein at least one of said monomers is fluoridated.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical device of claim 21 wherein said polymer is reticulated and said poling is carried on during polymerization.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical device of claim 1 further comprising a rare-earth doped laser or amplifier.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical device of claim 1 further comprising a Raman or Brillouin laser or amplifier.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical device of claim 1 further comprising a thermoelectric cooler to control and stabilize the temperature of said optical device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical device of claim 1 wherein said electrodes are designed to form a traveling electric waveguide parallel to the optical waveguide and terminated in its characteristic impedance.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The optical device of claim 1 wherein a dielectric superstrate having a refractive index slightly higher than that of said optical waveguide is deposited on top of said electrodes.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
69 words
The optical device of claim 1 wherein said waveguide comprises: an optical fiber having a core with a surrounding cladding; said electrodes having a planar configuration having a first plane extending in the direction of said optical longitudinal axis and a second orthogonal plane extending radially of said core, said electro-optic medium extending radially of said core and having its inner end positioned in close proximity to said core.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
The optical device of claim 33 wherein said optical fiber is single mode.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical device of claim 34 wherein said optical fiber is birefringent having two birefringent axis aligned, respectively, parallel and perpendicular to said first and second orthogonal planes.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical device of claim 34 wherein the birefringence of said birefringent single mode fiber is substantially equal to the birefringence of said electro-optic medium.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
12 words
The optical device of claim 33 wherein said optical fiber is multimode.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical device of claim 37 wherein said optical fiber is birefringent having two birefringent axis aligned, respectively, parallel and perpendicular to said first and second orthogonal planes.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical device of claim 38 wherein the birefringence of said birefringent single mode fiber is substantially equal to the birefringence of said electro-optic medium.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
41 words
The optical device of claim 33 wherein said electro-optic medium is a mixture of polymers that are poled by heating said optical device and applying a voltage across said electrodes and letting said optical device cool down while maintaining said voltage.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical device of claim 40 wherein said electro-optic polymers have different refractive indices and are mixed in such proportion as to obtain said refractive index of said electro-optic medium.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical device of claim 41 wherein at least one of said polymers is fluoridated.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
47 words
The optical device of claim 33 wherein said electro-optic medium is obtained by dissolving a dye in a polymer matrix that is thereafter poled by heating said optical device and applying a voltage across said electrodes and letting said optical device cool down while maintaining said voltage.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
29 words
The optical device of claim 33 wherein a dielectric superstrate having a refractive index slightly higher than that of said optical waveguide is deposited on top of said electrodes.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of poling an electro-optic medium sandwiched between two electrodes in an optical device comprising the steps of: spatially maintaining a pair of electrodes in substantial parallel alignment defining a gap therebetween; forming a solution of the electro-optic medium; pouring the electro-optic medium into the formed gap; heating the optical device; applying a voltage across the electrodes; and maintaining the applied voltage while permitting the optical device to cool through withdraw of the applied heat.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of poling an electro-optic medium sandwiched between two electrodes in an optical device comprising the steps of: spatially maintaining a pair of electrodes in substantial parallel alignment defining a gap therebetween; forming a solution of the electro-optic medium; pouring the electro-optic medium into the formed gap; heating the optical device; applying a voltage across the electrodes; and maintaining the applied voltage while permitting the optical device to cool through withdraw of the applied heat.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 45 comprising the step of mounting the optical device on a birefringent single mode fiber.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 46 wherein birefringence of said birefringent single mode fiber is substantially equal to birefringence of said electro-optic medium.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the electro-optic medium is a polymer.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 45 wherein the electro-optic medium is a polymer.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 45 wherein the electro-optic medium is a mixture of polymers.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 50 wherein said electro-optic polymers have different refractive indices and are mixed in such proportion as to obtain said refractive index of said electro-optic medium.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 51 wherein at least one of said polymers is fluoridated.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 45 comprising the further step of forming a dielectric superstrate on top of said electrodes.
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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) | 2001-03-16 | 2001-09-15 | 2002-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-16 | 2005-09-15 | 2006-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-16 | 2009-09-15 | 2010-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |