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Patent Number: |
7412144 |
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Case ID: |
0 |
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Patent Title:
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Photonic crystal-based optical waveguide modulator
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Status: |
ACTIVE |
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Status Date: |
2/27/2009 11:31:35 AM |
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Issue Date:
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8/12/2008 |
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Filed Date:
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7/22/2005 |
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Serial #:
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1/188,062 |
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Assignee Name:
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The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
(Washington,
DC)
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Inventor(s):
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Bloemer, Mark J. , Scalora, Michael , Poliakov, Evgenl Y. |
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Lab Name: |
Army Aviation & Missile Research, Development & Engineering Center |
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Location: |
AMSRD-AMR-AS-TI
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5000 |
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Contact: |
Contact Lab About This Patent |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to the field of photonic bandgap technology. More particularly, the invention pertains to a waveguide that permits the virtually lossless unidirectional propagation and phase shift of light.
2. Discussion of the Background
Over the past couple of decades, active and passive devices ranging from optical switches to complex integrated networks have been developed in the data communication and optics industries
Recently, the data communications and optics industries have experienced high demand for various types of small-scale opto-electronic devices. The importance of optical waveguides for both single and multi-mode transmission is
unquestionable--particularly in the 1.3-1.6 .mu.m region of commercial S-, C- and L-bands.
Along with index-step guiding, or guiding through total internal reflection, certain classes of waveguides can guide light by Bragg reflecti . . . . More |
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A waveguide has upper and lower cladding regions. A core of the waveguide
made of a non-linear optical polymer is positioned between the upper and
lower cladding regions. A first electrode is connected to the upper
cladding region and a second electrode is connected to the lower cladding
region. The upper cladding region and the lower cladding region are made
of photonic band gap materials and have multiple periods of cladding
layers with each period having a first layer having a linear refractive
index of n.sub.1 and each period having a second layer having a linear
refractive index of n.sub.2. The waveguide allows for minimal distances
to exist between the electrodes while allowing for virtual lossless
cm-long transmission of propagating light. By applying a voltage to the
electrodes, the propagated light can be modulated.
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What is claimed is:
1. A waveguide modulator comprising: a waveguide having a core having a linear refractive index of n.sub.0; a plurality of cladding layers repeated in periodic patterns with
a first layer of each respective periodic pattern having a linear refractive index of n.sub.1, and a second layer of each respective periodic pattern having a linear refractive index of n.sub.2, said second layer of each respective periodic pattern being
further from the core than said first layer of each respective periodic pattern, said second layer of each respective periodic pattern having a linear refractive index which is substantially equal to the linear refractive index of said core, said
plurality of cladding layers comprise an upper cladding region and a lower cladding region, said core being positioned between said upper cladding region and said lower cladding region; a first electrode connecting to said upper cladding region and a
second electrode connecting to said lower . . . . More |
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