Optical modulators based on polymers
First Claim
1. A device for electrooptic modulation of an optical beam, said device being a laminate comprising a coherent film of a conjugated polymer having semi-conducting properties as the active component laminated with two or more layers of electrically conducting, insulating or semi-conducting materials or combinations thereof, at least the active component in the laminate being capable of interacting with the optical beam when under the influence of an electric signal and thereby result in a modulated beam, means for establishing electrical contact with one or more layers of the laminate in such a manner that enables an electrical signal to be applied across the active component in the laminate and means for detection of the extent of modulation of the modulated beam energing from the active component layer.
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Abstract
This invention relates to a device for electrooptic modulation of an optical beam. The device is a laminate comprising a coherent film of a conjugated polymer having semi-conducting properties as the active component laminated with two or more layers of electrically conducting, insulating or semi-conducting materials. At least the active component in the laminate is capable of interacting with the optical beam when under the influence of an electric signal and thereby result in a modulated beam. Means are provided for (i) establishing electrical contact with one or more layers of the laminate so as to enable an electrical signal to be applied across the active component and (ii) detection of the extent of modulation of the modulated beam emerging from the active component layer.
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Citations
22 Claims
- 1. A device for electrooptic modulation of an optical beam, said device being a laminate comprising a coherent film of a conjugated polymer having semi-conducting properties as the active component laminated with two or more layers of electrically conducting, insulating or semi-conducting materials or combinations thereof, at least the active component in the laminate being capable of interacting with the optical beam when under the influence of an electric signal and thereby result in a modulated beam, means for establishing electrical contact with one or more layers of the laminate in such a manner that enables an electrical signal to be applied across the active component in the laminate and means for detection of the extent of modulation of the modulated beam energing from the active component layer.
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22. A process for the electrooptic modulation of an optical beam, said process comprising
(a) allowing the beam to be incident upon an active component which comprises a coherent film of a conjugated polymer having semiconducting properties and being capable of interacting with said incident beam when under the influence of an electric signal, (b) simultaneously, during the period when the beam is incident upon the active component, applying to said active component a variable electrical signal whereby the applied signal causes the intensity of the incident beam to be modulated and emerge from the active component as a modulated beam, and (c) means for detection of the extent of modulation in the modulated beam.
Specification