Thin film ferroelectric light modulators

    公开(公告)号:US06535321B2

    公开(公告)日:2003-03-18

    申请号:US10053862

    申请日:2002-01-22

    IPC分类号: G02F107

    摘要: A solid state device used to modulate the intensity of reflected or transmitted light by modulating with an external voltage the optical thickness of a thin film ferroelectric placed in an etalon cavity is disclosed. The device is constructed by selecting a generally planar supporting substrate, preferably silicon or sapphire in order to be compatible with silicon integrated circuits. A dielectric stack consisting of alternating layers of different index of refraction materials, also specifically selected to be compatible with later growth of the thin film ferroelectric, is deposited thereon to form a partially reflective and partially transmitting mirror, followed by a transparent electrically conductive layer. The thin film ferroelectric is deposited on the conductive layer, followed by a second transparent conductive layer and a second dielectric stack. Leads are connected to the conductive layers and in turn to a voltage generator. In one version of the invention, the functions of both the second (top) electrically conductive layer and dielectric stack are fulfilled by using a semi-transparent conducting film. In another version, the functions of both the first (bottom) electrically conductive layer and dielectric stack are also fulfilled by using a, preferably, highly reflective conducting film.

    High-speed low-loss fiber-optic switches
    5.
    发明授权
    High-speed low-loss fiber-optic switches 失效
    高速低损耗光纤交换机

    公开(公告)号:US06229934B1

    公开(公告)日:2001-05-08

    申请号:US09158000

    申请日:1998-09-22

    IPC分类号: G02B626

    CPC分类号: G02B6/2848 G02F1/31

    摘要: The invention provides a fiber-optic 2×2 switch using a dual-fiber 50:50 input coupler and a dual-fiber 50:50 output coupler. One fiber from each coupler makes contact to an inner transparent electrode on a planar layer of electro-optic material and the other fibers make contact to an outer transparent electrode on the layer. The electro-optic layer has its other side coated with a transparent electrode which is placed in optical contact with one end of a GRIN lens. The fibers are arranged so that the inner fibers are at conjugate points and the outer fibers also at conjugate points of the lens. The other end of the lens is coated with a mirror. Applying a voltage between either the inner or outer electrode changes the optical path length for the light from and to the fibers traveling through the material under the selected electrode causing the light from the two input fibers to be switched between the two output fibers. 2×N switches can be constructed by concatenating 2×2 switches. The switch can also be used as a modulator. A convenient fiber alignment method is described.

    摘要翻译: 本发明提供一种使用双光纤50:50输入耦合器和双光纤50:50输出耦合器的光纤2x2开关。 来自每个耦合器的一根光纤与电光材料的平面层上的内部透明电极接触,并且其它光纤与层上的外部透明电极接触。 电光层的另一侧涂有透明电极,该透明电极与GRIN透镜的一端放置成光学接触。 纤维布置成使得内纤维在共轭点处,外纤维也在透镜的共轭点处。 透镜的另一端涂有镜子。 在内部电极或外部电极之间施加电压改变来自穿过选定电极之下的材料的光的光路长度,从而使来自两个输入光纤的光在两个输出光纤之间切换。 2xN开关可以通过连接2x2开关构成。 开关也可以用作调制器。 描述了方便的光纤对准方法。