Optical waveguide devices with electro-wetting actuation
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising:
- an optical fiber having a core with a first refractive index; and
an enclosure containing a region of fluid with a second refractive index surrounding a segment of the optical fiber;
wherein said region of fluid is controllably movable within said enclosure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tunable optical waveguide is enclosed in an enclosure containing a controllably moveable region of fluid with a refractive index greater than the optical fiber such that at least a first. transmission property of the waveguide is modified when the region of fluid is moved. In a first embodiment, the optical device comprises a Bragg grating that is tuned by moving the fluid over the grating to vary the amplitude of desired wavelengths that are reflected back through the core of the fiber. In a second embodiment, the optical device comprises a long-period grating that is tuned by moving the fluid over the grating to vary the amplitude of desired wavelengths that are transferred into the cladding of the fiber and, as a result, to decrease the amplitude of those desired wavelengths that are transmitted through the core of the fiber.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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an optical fiber having a core with a first refractive index; and
an enclosure containing a region of fluid with a second refractive index surrounding a segment of the optical fiber;
wherein said region of fluid is controllably movable within said enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for modifying at least a first transmission property of an optical fiber, wherein at least one segment of said length of optical fiber is enclosed within an enclosure, said method comprising:
controllably moving a region of fluid within said enclosure in a way such that it covers at least a portion of said segment of optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus comprising:
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an optical waveguide;
an enclosure surrounding a portion of said optical waveguide;
wherein at least one property of the optical waveguide is modifiable by controllably moving a region of fluid within said enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus comprising:
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a waveguide having a core with a first refractive index and a cladding with a second refractive index at least partially surrounding the core; and
a fluid with a third refractive index disposed on at least a first portion of said waveguide;
wherein said fluid is controllably movable relative to said waveguide to modify at least one property of at least a first portion of the waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification