US6034809A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical plasmon-wave structures
Assignee: Verifiber Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1998-03-26
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Granted: 2000-03-07
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Expires: 2018-03-26
Abstract
Abstract Optical plasmon-wave attenuator and modulator structures for controlling the amount of coupling between an guided optical signal and a surface plasmon wave. Optical power coupled to the plasmon wave mode is dissipated in varying amounts producing an intensity modulation effect on the optical signal. For electrical modulation, an additional dielectric (or polymer) layer with variable refractive index in optical contact with a metal layer supporting at least one plasmon wave mode is used to perturb or vary the propagation constant of plasmon wave. Propagation constant variation results in the power coupling variation between the surface plasmon wave and the optical wave. The refractive index variation of the dielectric (or polymer) layer can be accomplished via an electro-optic traveling-wave, a lump-element, or any other integrated optics modulator configuration situated to affect the layer, thereby permitting data rates into tens of GHz. Because of the extremely small interaction lengths needed, the optical plasmon-wave modulator is a very compact device which can be implemented on the top of a fiber or as an integrated optical planar structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Emmanuel Anemogiannis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:07
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/011; G02F1/19; G02F1/195; G02F2203/00; G02F2203/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 58
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
An integrated optics modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave having a given wavelength, said modulator comprising: a multilayer waveguide comprising: a thin metallic layer having a thickness designed to support at least one surface plasmon wave mode, and a first dielectric layer located on one side of said metallic layer forming a guiding layer of the waveguide and supporting at least one guided mode of said lightwave into and out of said waveguide; and a modulation structure comprising: a second dielectric layer located on the other side of the metallic layer and formed of electro-optic material whose refractive index may be varied, and means for electrically varying the refractive index of said electro-optic material to perturb the propagation constant of said at least one plasmon wave mode in said thin metallic layer and thereby the coupling coefficient of the guided lightwave into the surface plasmon wave, said varying means having a set of electrodes on and electrically connected to the electro-optic material opposite the metallic layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
An integrated optics modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave having a given wavelength, said modulator comprising: a multilayer waveguide comprising: a thin metallic layer having a thickness designed to support at least one surface plasmon wave mode, and a first dielectric layer located on one side of said metallic layer forming a guiding layer of the waveguide and supporting at least one guided mode of said lightwave into and out of said waveguide; and a modulation structure comprising: a second dielectric layer located on the other side of the metallic layer and formed of electro-optic material whose refractive index may be varied, and means for electrically varying the refractive index of said electro-optic material to perturb the propagation constant of said at least one plasmon wave mode in said thin metallic layer and thereby the coupling coefficient of the guided lightwave into the surface plasmon wave, said varying means having a set of electrodes on and electrically connected to the electro-optic material opposite the metallic layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An integrated optical modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said guiding layer has a planar geometry.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An integrated optical modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said guiding layer has a cylindrical geometry.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An integrated optical modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said guiding layer is the core of an optical fiber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
An integrated optical modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said refractive index is varied by an electric field that is applied through a set of substantially coplanar electrodes located on the surface of said electro-optic material opposite said thin metallic layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
An integrated optical modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said refractive index is varied by an electric field that is applied through a pair of substantially parallel electrodes located on the sides of said electro-optic material opposite said thin metallic layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
An integrated optical modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises: means for matching the propagation constant of the guided lightwave in the guiding layer to the real part of the complex propagation constant of a selected mode of a surface plasmon wave in said thin metallic layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
An integrated optical modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said matching means comprises: an optical grating interposed between the guiding layer and the thin metallic layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An integrated optical modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 8, wherein said matching means comprises: a surface relief optical grating interposed between the guiding layer and the thin metallic layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
An integrated optical modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 7, wherein said matching means comprises: an optical index grating integrated into said guiding layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
An integrated optical modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 1, wherein; said thin metallic layer is produced from the group consisting of gold, silver, copper, cadmium, aluminum, indium and chromium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
An integrated optical modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said thin metallic layer is comprised of more than one metallic layer component.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An integrated optics attenuator as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said more than one metallic layer component is produced from the group consisting of gold, aluminum, cadmium, silver, copper, indium and chromium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
125 words
An integrated optics attenuator for the intensity modification of a guided lightwave having a given wavelength, said attenuator comprising: a multilayer waveguide comprising: a thin metallic layer having a thickness designed to support at least one surface plasmon wave mode; a dielectric layer located on one side of said metallic layer forming a guiding layer of the waveguide and supporting at least one guided mode of the lightwave into and out of said waveguide; and means for matching the propagation constant of the guided lightwave in the guided layer to the real part of the complex propagation constant of a selected mode of a surface plasmon wave in said thin metallic layer, said matching means comprising: an optical index grating integrated into said guiding layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
125 words
An integrated optics attenuator for the intensity modification of a guided lightwave having a given wavelength, said attenuator comprising: a multilayer waveguide comprising: a thin metallic layer having a thickness designed to support at least one surface plasmon wave mode; a dielectric layer located on one side of said metallic layer forming a guiding layer of the waveguide and supporting at least one guided mode of the lightwave into and out of said waveguide; and means for matching the propagation constant of the guided lightwave in the guided layer to the real part of the complex propagation constant of a selected mode of a surface plasmon wave in said thin metallic layer, said matching means comprising: an optical index grating integrated into said guiding layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
An integrated optics attenuator for the intensity modification of a guided lightwave having a given wavelength as set forth in claim 14, wherein: said guiding layer has a planar geometry.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
An integrated optics attenuator as set forth in claim 14, wherein: said guiding layer has a cylindrical geometry.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
An integrated optics attenuator as set forth in claim 16, wherein: said guiding layer is the core of an optical fiber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
An integrated optics attenuator as set forth in claim 14, wherein: said thin metallic layer is produced from the group consisting of gold, aluminum, cadmium, silver, copper, indium and chromium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
An integrated optics attenuator as set forth in claim 14, wherein: said thin metallic layer is comprised of more than one metallic layer component.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
An integrated optics attenuator as set forth in claim 18, wherein: said more than one metallic layer component is produced from the group consisting of gold, aluminum, cadmium, silver, copper, indium and chromium.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
176 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator for the intensity modification of a guided lightwave, said attenuator comprising: a multilayer waveguide comprising: a thin metallic layer having a thickness designed to support at least one surface plasmon wave mode; a dielectric layer located on one side of said metallic layer forming a guiding layer of the waveguide and supporting at least one guided mode of the lightwave into and out of said waveguide; means for matching the propagation constant of the guided lightwave in the guiding layer to the real part of the complex propagation constant of a selected mode of a surface plasmon wave in said thin metallic layer; and means for biasing said waveguide structure with a bias voltage to perturb the matching condition, said biasing means, said biasing means comprising: an electro-optic layer in optical contact with said metallic layer; a set of electrodes on and electrically connected to the surface of the electro-optic layer opposite the metallic layer; and means for varying the refractive index of said electro-optic layer with said electrical bias voltage.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
176 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator for the intensity modification of a guided lightwave, said attenuator comprising: a multilayer waveguide comprising: a thin metallic layer having a thickness designed to support at least one surface plasmon wave mode; a dielectric layer located on one side of said metallic layer forming a guiding layer of the waveguide and supporting at least one guided mode of the lightwave into and out of said waveguide; means for matching the propagation constant of the guided lightwave in the guiding layer to the real part of the complex propagation constant of a selected mode of a surface plasmon wave in said thin metallic layer; and means for biasing said waveguide structure with a bias voltage to perturb the matching condition, said biasing means, said biasing means comprising: an electro-optic layer in optical contact with said metallic layer; a set of electrodes on and electrically connected to the surface of the electro-optic layer opposite the metallic layer; and means for varying the refractive index of said electro-optic layer with said electrical bias voltage.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said bias voltage is a variable DC voltage.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said bias voltage is a fixed DC voltage.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said bias voltage is an AC voltage.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said guiding layer has a planar geometry.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said guiding layer has a cylindrical geometry.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 26, wherein: said guiding layer is the core of an optical fiber.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 21, wherein said matching means includes: an optical grating interposed between the guided layer and the thin metallic layer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 28, wherein said matching means comprises: a surface relief optical grating interposed between the guiding layer and the thin metallic layer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 21, wherein said matching means comprises: an optical index grating integrated into said guiding layer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said thin metallic layer is produced from the group consisting of gold, aluminum, cadmium, silver, copper, indium and chromium.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said thin metallic layer is comprised of more than one metallic layer component.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 32, wherein: said more than one metallic layer component is produced from the group consisting of gold, aluminum, cadmium, silver, copper, indium and chromium.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
56 words
An integrated optics attenuator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said refractive index is varied by an electric field that is applied through said electrodes, said electrodes comprising a set of substantially coplanar electrodes located on the surface of said electro-optic layer opposite said thin metallic layer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
56 words
An integrated optics attenuator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said refractive index is varied by an electric field that is applied through said electrodes, said electrodes comprising a pair of substantially parallel electrodes located on the sides of said electro-optic layer opposite said thin metallic layer.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
196 words
An integrated optics modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave having a given wavelength, said modulator comprising: a multilayer waveguide comprising: a thin metallic layer having a thickness designed to support at least one surface plasmon wave mode, and a first dielectric layer located on one side of said metallic layer forming a guiding layer of the waveguide and supporting at least one guided mode of said lightwave into and out of said waveguide; a modulation structure comprising: a second dielectric layer located on the other side of the metallic layer and formed of electro-optic material whose refractive index may be varied, and means for electrically varying the refractive index of said electro-optic material to perturb the propagation constant of said at least one plasmon wave mode in said thin metallic layer and thereby the coupling coefficient of the guided lightwave into the surface plasmon wave; and means for matching the propagation constant of the guided lightwave in the guiding layer to the real part of the complex propagation constant of a selected mode of a surface plasmon wave in said thin metallic layer comprising: an optical index grating integrated into said guiding layer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
196 words
An integrated optics modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave having a given wavelength, said modulator comprising: a multilayer waveguide comprising: a thin metallic layer having a thickness designed to support at least one surface plasmon wave mode, and a first dielectric layer located on one side of said metallic layer forming a guiding layer of the waveguide and supporting at least one guided mode of said lightwave into and out of said waveguide; a modulation structure comprising: a second dielectric layer located on the other side of the metallic layer and formed of electro-optic material whose refractive index may be varied, and means for electrically varying the refractive index of said electro-optic material to perturb the propagation constant of said at least one plasmon wave mode in said thin metallic layer and thereby the coupling coefficient of the guided lightwave into the surface plasmon wave; and means for matching the propagation constant of the guided lightwave in the guiding layer to the real part of the complex propagation constant of a selected mode of a surface plasmon wave in said thin metallic layer comprising: an optical index grating integrated into said guiding layer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
An integrated optical modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 36, wherein: said guiding layer has a planar geometry.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
An integrated optical modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 36, wherein: said guiding layer has a cylindrical geometry.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
29 words
An integrated optical modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 38, wherein: said guiding layer is the core of an optical fiber.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
51 words
An integrated optical modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 36, wherein: said refractive index is varied by an electric field that is applied through a set of substantially coplanar electrodes located on the surface of said electro-optic material opposite said thin metallic layer.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
51 words
An integrated optical modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 36, wherein: said refractive index is varied by an electric field that is applied through a pair of substantially parallel electrodes located on the sides of said electro-optic material opposite said thin metallic layer.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
38 words
An integrated optical modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 36, wherein; said thin metallic layer is produced from the group consisting of gold, silver, copper, cadmium, aluminum, indium and chromium.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
32 words
An integrated optical modulator for the intensity modulation of a guided lightwave as set forth in claim 42, wherein: said thin metallic layer is comprised of more than one metallic layer component.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
167 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator for the intensity modification of a guided lightwave, said attenuator comprising: a multilayer waveguide comprising: a thin metallic layer having a thickness designed to support at least one surface plasmon wave mode; a dielectric layer located on one side of said metallic layer forming a guiding layer of the waveguide and supporting at least one guided mode of the lightwave into and out of said waveguide; means for matching the propagation constant of the guided lightwave in the guiding layer to the real part of the complex propagation constant of a selected mode of a surface plasmon wave in said thin metallic layer, said matching means comprising: an optical index grating integrated into said guiding layer; and means for biasing said waveguide structure with a bias voltage to perturb the matching condition, said biasing means comprising: an electro-optic layer in optical contact with said metallic layer; and means for varying the refractive index of said electro-optic layer with said electrical bias voltage.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
167 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator for the intensity modification of a guided lightwave, said attenuator comprising: a multilayer waveguide comprising: a thin metallic layer having a thickness designed to support at least one surface plasmon wave mode; a dielectric layer located on one side of said metallic layer forming a guiding layer of the waveguide and supporting at least one guided mode of the lightwave into and out of said waveguide; means for matching the propagation constant of the guided lightwave in the guiding layer to the real part of the complex propagation constant of a selected mode of a surface plasmon wave in said thin metallic layer, said matching means comprising: an optical index grating integrated into said guiding layer; and means for biasing said waveguide structure with a bias voltage to perturb the matching condition, said biasing means comprising: an electro-optic layer in optical contact with said metallic layer; and means for varying the refractive index of said electro-optic layer with said electrical bias voltage.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
20 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 44, wherein: said bias voltage is a variable DC voltage.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
20 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 44, wherein: said bias voltage is a fixed DC voltage.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
19 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 44, wherein: said bias voltage is an AC voltage.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
19 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 44, wherein: said guiding layer has a planar geometry.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
19 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 44, wherein: said guiding layer has a cylindrical geometry.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
22 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 49, wherein: said guiding layer is the core of an optical fiber.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
31 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 44, wherein: said thin metallic layer is produced from the group consisting of gold, aluminum, cadmium, silver, copper, indium and chromium.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
25 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 44, wherein: said thin metallic layer is comprised of more than one metallic layer component.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
34 words
An integrated optics variable attenuator as set forth in claim 52, wherein: said more than one metallic layer component is produced from the group consisting of gold, aluminum, cadmium, silver, copper, indium and chromium.
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