GLV based fiber optic transmitter
First Claim
1. A grating light valve (GLV) for use in communications comprising:
- a) at least one electrostatically responsive reflective ribbon oriented to receive and reflect an incident light beam having a specified bandwidth; and
b) a signal transmission device, coupled to the at least one reflective ribbon, to provide at least one analog voltage to the at least one reflective ribbon to generate mechanical movement of the reflective ribbon to impose information to the reflected incident light beam by modulating the frequency of the incident light beam to produce a modulated reflected light beam.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications transmitter is disclosed that utilizes a grating light valve (GLV) to impose information on an optical signal. The communications transmitter further includes at least one laser light source, a frequency dispersing device, an electrostatic modulator that serves as a GLV, and at least one data input source. The laser light source is configured to produce a light beam having a specific optical bandwidth and the frequency dispersing device is optically coupled to the light source and configured to disperse the light beam to produce a frequency dispersed light. The electrostatic modulator includes an electrostatically responsive reflective ribbon oriented to receive a portion of the frequency dispersed light having a specified bandwidth. The signal input source typically serves as an analog input source and is electronically coupled to each electrostatic modulator and is configured to cause electrostatic deformation of the reflective ribbon to modify the frequency of light received thereon to produce a modulated reflected light beam.
19 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A grating light valve (GLV) for use in communications comprising:
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a) at least one electrostatically responsive reflective ribbon oriented to receive and reflect an incident light beam having a specified bandwidth; and
b) a signal transmission device, coupled to the at least one reflective ribbon, to provide at least one analog voltage to the at least one reflective ribbon to generate mechanical movement of the reflective ribbon to impose information to the reflected incident light beam by modulating the frequency of the incident light beam to produce a modulated reflected light beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A communications transmitter comprising:
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a) at least one laser light source that produces a light beam having a specified optical bandwidth;
b) a frequency dispersing device, which is optically coupled to the light source, to disperse the light beam; and
c) at least one grated light valve modulator comprising an electrostatically responsive reflective ribbon oriented to receive and reflect a portion of the dispersed light beam within a specified bandwidth; and
c) an analog input source electrically coupled to the at least one grated light valve modulator, the analog input signal being utilized to cause mechanical deformation of the reflective ribbon thereby modulating the reflected portion of the dispersed light beam to produce a modulated reflected light beam. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of transmitting information comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a laser light source having a specified optical bandwidth;
b) dispersing the laser light emitted from said laser light source to create a dispersed laser light;
c) directing the dispersed laser light to at least one grated light valve modulator having an electrostatically responsive ribbon; and
d) electrostatically deforming the electrostatically responsive ribbon within the at least one grating light valve modulator using an analog voltage source to impose information on a portion of dispersed laser light to produce a modulated signal within the given bandwidth of frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification