Interferometric multimode fiber optic switch and modulator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In combination:
- first electro-optical crystal means,second electro-optical crystal means,a dielectric beam splitting coating affixed to portions of both of said crystal means with coated portions of both of said crystal means being juxtaposed, andmeans for varying an index of refraction of one of said crystal means with respect to an index of refraction of the other of said crystal means.
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Abstract
Interferometric multimode fiber optic switches and modulators include combinations of various components. Two electro-optical crystals have a dielectric beam splitting coating affixed to portions thereof. The coated portions of the two crystals are juxtaposed. Means are provided for varying indices of refraction of the two crystals with respect to each other. Light entering into the first crystal and traveling within the two crystals can be switched to selectively exit from one crystal or from the other by varying the index of refraction of one of the crystals with respect to that of the other. By interferometric principle of operation, the phase relation of light is transformed into spatial direction. The crystals can be selected from the group consisting of lithium niobate, lithium tantalate, and barium strontium niobate. The dielectric beam splitting coating can be formed of multiple layers of material such as zirconium oxide and silicon dioxide. The indices of refraction of the crystals are varied by applying electric fields of one polarity at opposite surfaces thereof. Light enters the various crystals, and is reflected, and is transmitted at various surfaces thereof so that, upon entering a particular area within the crystals, reinforcement or interference of light can occur.
24 Citations
21 Claims
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1. In combination:
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first electro-optical crystal means, second electro-optical crystal means, a dielectric beam splitting coating affixed to portions of both of said crystal means with coated portions of both of said crystal means being juxtaposed, and means for varying an index of refraction of one of said crystal means with respect to an index of refraction of the other of said crystal means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In combination:
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a first electro-optical crystal having a first surface adapted to receive a first beam of collimated and polarized light from a first external source for transmission through said first crystal, a second surface adapted to receive such transmitted light from said first surface of said first crystal at a first spot, a first reflective surface oriented to receive light from said first spot of said second surface of said first crystal and to reflect such received light, a third surface adapted to receive such reflected light from said first reflective surface of said first crystal upon a second spot, and a fourth surface adapted to externally pass light impinged thereupon from said second spot of said first crystal; a second electro-optical crystal having a first surface adapted to receive a second beam of collimated and polarized light from a second external source for transmission through said second crystal, a second surface adapted to receive such transmitted light from said first surface of said second crystal at a first spot, a first reflective surface oriented to receive light from said first spot of said second surface of said second crystal and to reflect such received light, a third surface adapted to receive such reflected light from said first reflective surface of said second crystal upon a second spot, and a fourth surface adapted to externally pass light impinged thereupon from said second spot of said second crystal; a dielectric beam splitting coating, said first crystal, said second crystal, and said coating being so oriented that said first spot of said second surface of said first crystal, and said first spot of said second surface of said second crystal are substantially juxtaposed with a first portion of said coating oriented therebetween, and said second spot of said third surface of said first crystal, and said second spot of said third surface of said second crystal are substantially juxtaposed with a second portion of said coating oriented therebetween; and means for varying an index of refraction of one of said crystals with respect to an index of refraction of the other of said crystals; and
whereinsaid beams of collimated light from said first external source and said second external source are polarized in the same direction.
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17. In combination:
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a first electro-optical crystal having a first surface adapted to receive a first beam of collimated and polarized light from a first external source for transmission through said first crystal, a second surface adapted to receive such transmitted light from said first surface of said first crystal at a first spot, a first reflective surface oriented to receive light from said first spot of said second surface of said first crystal and to reflect such received light, a third surface adapted to receive such reflected light from said first reflective surface of said first crystal upon a second spot, and a fourth surface adapted to externally pass light impinged thereupon from said second spot of said first crystal; a second electro-optical crystal having a first surface adapted to receive a second beam of collimated and polarized light from a second external source for transmission through said second crystal, a second surface adapted to receive such transmitted light from said first surface of said second crystal at a first spot, a first reflective surface oriented to receive light from said first spot of said second surface of said second crystal and to reflect such received light, a third surface adapted to receive such reflected light from said first reflective surface of said second crystal upon a second spot, and a fourth surface adapted to externally pass light impinged thereupon from said second spot of said second crystal; a dielectric beam splitting coating, said first crystal, said second crystal, and said coating being so oriented that said first spot of said second surface of said first crystal, and said first spot of said second surface of said second crystal are substantially juxtaposed with a first portion of said coating oriented therebetween, and said second spot of said third surface of said first crystal, and said second spot of said third surface of said second crystal are substantially juxtaposed with a second portion of said coating oriented therebetween; and means for varying an index of refraction of one of said crystals with respect to an index of refraction of the other of said crystals; and
whereinsaid beams of collimated light from said first external source and said second external source are polarized in the same direction, whereby, collimated and polarized light from said first external source can pass through said first surface of said first crystal to said second surface of said first crystal at said first spot of said first crystal, whereupon, due to said dielectric beam splitting coating, a first portion of said light impinging upon said first crystal first spot is reflected to said first reflective surface of said first crystal and in turn is reflected to said third surface of said first crystal at said second spot of said first crystal and a second portion of said light impinging upon said first crystal first spot is transmitted through said first portion of said coating through said first spot of said second crystal to said reflective surface of said second crystal and in turn is reflected to said third surface of said second crystal at said second spot of said second crystal; and
collimated and polarized light from said second external source can pass through said first surface of said second crystal to said second surface of said second crystal at said first spot of said second crystal, whereupon, due to said dielectric beam splitting coating, a first portion of said light impinging upon said second crystal first spot from said second crystal first surface is reflected to said first reflective surface of said second crystal and in turn is reflected to said third surface of said second crystal at said second spot of said second crystal and a second portion of said light impinging upon said second crystal first spot from said second crystal first surface is transmitted through said first portion of said coating through said first spot of said first crystal to said reflective surface of said first crystal and in turn is reflected to said third surface of said first crystal at said second spot of said first crystal, and,when said indices of refraction of both of said crystals remain unchanged, collimated and polarized light from said first external source at said second spots of said crystals both (a) reinforce and externally pass out through said fourth surface of said second crystal, and (b) interfere and fail to externally pass out through said fourth surface of said first crystal, and collimated and polarized light from said second external source at said second spots of said crystals both (a) reinforce and externally pass out through said fourth surface of said first crystal, and (b) interfere and fail to externally pass out through said fourth surface of said second crystal, and when said indices of refraction of both said crystals are changed so that light passes through one crystal at a specific rate of speed different from the rate of speed of light through the remaining crystal, collimated and polarized light from said first external source at said second spots of said crystals both (a) reinforce and externally pass out through said fourth surface of said first crystal, and (b) interfere and fail to externally pass out through said fourth surface of said second crystal, and collimated and polarized light from said second external source at said second spots of said crystals both (a) reinforce and externally pass out through said fourth surface of said second crystal, and (b) interfere and fail to externally pass out through said fourth surface of said first crystal.
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18. In combination:
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a first electro-optical crystal having a first surface adapted to receive a first beam of collimated and polarized light from a first external source for transmission through said first crystal, a second surface adapted to receive such transmitted light from said first surface of said first crystal at a first spot, a first reflective surface oriented to receive light from said first spot of said second surface of said first crystal and to reflect such received light, a third surface adapted to receive such reflected light from said first reflective surface of said first crystal upon a second spot, and a fourth surface adapted to externally pass light impinged thereupon from said second spot of said first crystal; a second electro-optical crystal having a first surface adapted to receive a second beam of collimated and polarized light from a second external source for transmission through said second crystal, a second surface adapted to receive such transmitted light from said first surface of said second crystal at a first spot, a first reflective surface oriented to receive light from said first spot of said second surface of said second crystal and to reflect such received light, a third surface adapted to receive such reflected light from said first reflective surface of said second crystal upon a second spot, and a fourth surface; a dielectric beam splitting coating, said first crystal, said second crystal, and said coating being so oriented that said first spot of said second surface of said first crystal, and said first spot of said second surface of said second crystal are substantially juxtaposed with a first portion of said coating oriented therebetween, and said second spot of said third surface of said first crystal, and said second spot of said third surface of said second crystal are substantially juxtaposed with a second portion of said coating oriented therebetween; and means for varying an index of refraction of one of said crystals with respect to an index of refraction of the other of said crystals; and
whereinsaid beams of collimated light from said first external source and said second external source are polarized in the same direction.
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19. In combination:
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a first electro-optical crystal having a first surface adapted to receive a first beam of collimated and polarized light from a first external source for transmission through said first crystal, a second surface adapted to receive such transmitted light from said first surface of said first crystal at a first spot, a first reflective surface oriented to receive light from said first spot of said second surface of said first crystal and to reflect such received light, a third surface adapted to receive such reflected light from said first reflective surface of said first crystal upon a second spot, and a fourth surface adapted to externally pass light impinged thereupon from said second spot of said first crystal; a second electro-optical crystal having a first surface adapted to receive a second beam of collimated and polarized light from a second external source for transmission through said second crystal, a second surface adapted to receive such transmitted light from said first surface of said second crystal at a first spot, a first reflective surface oriented to receive light from said first spot of said second surface of said second crystal and to reflect such received light, a third surface adapted to receive such reflected light from said first reflective surface of said second crystal upon a second spot, and a fourth surface; a dielectric beam splitting coating, said first crystal, said second crystal, and said coating being so oriented that said first spot of said second surface of said first crystal, and said first spot of said second surface of said second crystal are substantially juxtaposed with a first portion of said coating oriented therebetween, and said second spot of said third surface of said first crystal, and said second spot of said third surface of said second crystal are substantially juxtaposed with a second portion of said coating oriented therebetween; and means for varying an index of refraction of one of said crystals with respect to an index of refraction of the other of said crystals; and
whereinsaid beams of collimated light from said first external source and said second external source are polarized in the same direction, whereby, collimated and polarized light from said first external source can pass through said first surface of said first crystal to said second surface of said first crystal at said first spot of said first crystal, whereupon, due to said dielectric beam splitting coating, a first portion of said light impinging upon said first crystal first spot is reflected to said first reflective surface of said first crystal and in turn is reflected to said third surface of said first crystal at said second spot of said first crystal and a second portion of said light impinging upon said first crystal first spot is transmitted through said first portion of said coating through said first spot of said second crystal to said reflective surface of said second crystal and in turn is reflected to said third surface of said second crystal at said second spot of said second crystal; and
collimated and polarized light from said second external source can pass through said first surface of said second crystal to said second surface of said second crystal at said first spot of said second crystal, whereupon, due to said dielectric beam splitting coating, a first portion of said light impinging upon said second crystal first spot from said second crystal first surface is reflected to said first reflective surface of said second crystal and in turn is reflected to said third surface of said second crystal at said second spot of said second crystal and a second portion of said light impining upon said second crystal first spot from said second crystal first surface is transmitted through said first portion of said coating through said first spot of said first crystal to said reflective surface of said first crystal and in turn is reflected to said third surface of said first crystal at said second spot of said first crystal, andwhen said indices of refraction of both of said crystals remain unchanged collimated and polarized light from said first external source at said second spots of said crystals interfere and fail to externally pass out through said fourth surface of said first crystal, and collimated and polarized light from said second external source at said second spots of said crystals reinforce and externally pass out through said fourth surface of said first crystal, and when, the indices of refraction of both said crystals are changed so that light passes through one crystal at a specific rate of speed different from the rate of speed of light through the remaining crystal, collimated and polarized light from said first external source at said second spots of said crystals reinforce and externally pass out through said fourth surface of said first crystal, and collimated and polarized light from said second external source at said second spots of said crystals interfere and fail to externally pass out through said fourth surface of said first crystal.
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20. In combination:
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a first electro-optical crystal having a first surface adapted to receive a beam of collimated and polarized light from an external source for transmission through said first crystal, a second surface adapted to receive such transmitted light from said first surface of said first crystal at a first spot, a first reflective surface oriented to receive light from said first spot of said second surface of said first crystal and to reflect such received light, a third surface adapted to receive such reflected light from said first reflective surface of said first crystal upon a second spot, and a fourth surface adapted to externally pass light impinged thereupon from said second spot of said first crystal; a second electro-optical crystal having a first surface, a second surface oriented to receive transmitted light from said second surface of said first crystal at a first spot, a first reflective surface oriented to receive light from said first spot of said second surface of said second crystal and to reflect such received light, a third surface adapted to receive such reflected light from said first reflective surface of said second crystal upon a second spot, and a fourth surface adapted to externally pass light impinged thereupon from said second spot of said second crystal; a dielectric beam splitting coating; and
wherein said first crystal, said second crystal, andsaid coating are so oriented that said first spot of said second surface of said first crystal, and said first spot of said second surface of said second crystal are substantially juxtaposed with a first portion of said coating oriented therebetween, and said second spot of said third surface of said first crystal, and said second spot of said third surface of said second crystal are substantially juxtaposed with a second portion of said coating oriented therebetween; and means for varying an index of refraction of one of said crystals with respect to an index of refraction of the other of said crystals.
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21. In combination:
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a first electro-optical crystal having a first surface adapted to receive a beam of collimated and polarized light from an external source for transmission through said first crystal, a second surface adapted to receive such transmitted light from said first surface of said first crystal at a first spot, a first reflective surface oriented to receive light from said first spot of said second surface of said first crystal and to reflect such received light, a third surface adapted to receive such reflected light from said first reflective surface of said first crystal upon a second spot, and a fourth surface adapted to externally pass light impinged thereupon from said second spot of said first crystal; a second electro-optical crystal having a first surface, a second surface oriented to receive transmitted light from sid second surface of said first crystal at a first spot, a first reflective surface oriented to receive light from said first spot of said second surface of said second crystal and to reflect such received light, a third surface adapted to receive such reflected light from said first reflective surface of said second crystal upon a second spot, and a fourth surface adapted to externally pass light impinged thereupon from said second spot of said second crystal; a dielectric beam splitting coating, said first crystal, said second crystal, and said coating being so oriented that said first spot of said second surface of said first crystal, and said first spot of said second surface of said second crystal are substantially juxtaposed with a first portion of said coating oriented therebetween, and said second spot of said third surface of said first crystal, and said second spot of said third surface of said second crystal are substantially juxtaposed with a second portion of said coating oriented therebetween; and means for varying an index of refraction of one of said crystals with respect to an index of refraction of the other of said crystals, whereby, collimated and polarized light from said external source can pass through said first surface of said first crystal to said second surface of said first crystal at said first spot of said first crystal, whereupon, due to said dielectric beam splitting coating, a first portion of said light impinging upon said first crystal first spot is reflected to said first reflective surface of said first crystal and in turn is reflected to said third surface of said first crystal at said second spot of said first crystal and a second portion of said light impinging upon said first crystal first spot is transmitted through said first portion of said coating through said first spot of said second crystal to said reflective surface of said second crystal and in turn is reflected to said third surface of said second crystal at said second spot of said second crystal; and when said indices of refraction of both of said crystals remain unchanged, collimated and polarized light from said external source at said second spots of said crystals both (a) reinforce and externally pass out through said fourth surface of said second crystal, and (b) interfere and fail to externally pass out through said fourth surface of said first crystal, and when said indices of refraction of both said crystals are changed so that light passes through one crystal at a specific rate of speed different from the rate of speed of light through the remaining crystal, collimated and polarized light from said external source at said second spots of said crystals both (a) reinforce and externally pass out through said fourth surface of said first crystal, and (b) interfere and fail to externally pass out through said fourth surface of said second crystal.
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Specification
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Current AssigneeGTE Laboratories Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
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Original AssigneeGTE Laboratories Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
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InventorsMelman, Paul, Carlsen, W. John
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Primary Examiner(s)ARNOLD, BRUCE
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Application NumberUS06/317,362Time in Patent Office1,226 DaysField of Search350/385, 350/355, 350/354, 350/353, 350/356-358, 350/389, 350/392, 350/393, 350/381, 350/388, 350/96.14, 350/96.19, 350/96.2, 350/377US Class Current359/247CPC Class CodesG02F 1/225 in an optical waveguide str...G02F 1/31 Digital deflection, i.e. op...
