Distributed resonant cavity light beam modulator
First Claim
1. An optical device comprisinga transparent layer means for receiving a coherent polarized beam of electromagnetic radiation having a preselected wavelength, and for supporting at least one resonant mode,grating means imposed on said layer means for establishing optical interaction with the layer means and having a grating period less than said preselected wavelength, said grating means being characterized by a pair of coupling constants;
- controlling means for controlling the coupling constants characterizing said grating means to optimize the angular bandwidth of the grating means relative to its spectral bandwidth, andthe layer means and grating means interacting responsive to receiving the polarized beam to couple the layer means with the grating means to produce a standing wave resonance by Bragg reflection in said layer means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical apparatus consisting of a laser for producing a coherent polarized beam of electromagnetic radiation of a preselected wavelength. A substrate of silicon has a first transparent cover layer for receiving the polarized beam substantially normally incident thereto, and a second transparent guide layer for receiving the polarized beam from the first layer and for supporting at least one resonant mode. The first and second layers have a preselected index of refraction and a grating is interposed between them, having a grating period less than half the preselected wavelength. The layers and grating interact to produce a standing wave resonance by Bragg reflection. A control obtains a resonance wavelength in the guide layer equal to the predetermined radiation wavelength and thereby high reflectance to modulate the polarized beam. The grating can be optimized for angular bandwidth by controlling the grating'"'"'s Fourier components either in a single layer or in two grating layers which can also include a termination.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An optical device comprising
a transparent layer means for receiving a coherent polarized beam of electromagnetic radiation having a preselected wavelength, and for supporting at least one resonant mode, grating means imposed on said layer means for establishing optical interaction with the layer means and having a grating period less than said preselected wavelength, said grating means being characterized by a pair of coupling constants; -
controlling means for controlling the coupling constants characterizing said grating means to optimize the angular bandwidth of the grating means relative to its spectral bandwidth, and the layer means and grating means interacting responsive to receiving the polarized beam to couple the layer means with the grating means to produce a standing wave resonance by Bragg reflection in said layer means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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11. An optical apparatus comprising means for producing a coherent polarized beam of electromagnetic radiation having a preselected wavelength,
a transparent layer means for receiving the polarized beam and for supporting at least one resonant mode, grating means imposed on said layer means for establishing optical interaction with the layer means and having a grating period less than said preselected wavelength, said grating means being characterized by a pair of coupling constants; -
controlling means for controlling the coupling constants characterizing said grating means to optimize the angular bandwidth of the grating means relative to its spectral bandwidth, and the layer means and grating means interacting responsive to receiving the polarized beam to couple the layer means with the grating means to produce a standing wave resonance by Bragg reflection in the layer means, and control means for controlling the interaction of the layer means and the grating means for obtaining a resonance wavelength in the layer means equal to the preselected radiation wavelength and thereby high reflectance to modulate the polarized beam. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A spatial light modulator comprising an array of modulators, drive means connected to drive each modulator and photosensor means to sense light and responsive thereto to control said drive means, each said modulator of said array comprising means for producing a coherent polarized beam of electromagnetic radiation having a preselected wavelength,
a transparent layer means for receiving the polarized beam and for supporting at least one resonant mode, grating means imposed on said layer means for establishing optical interaction with the layer means and having a grating period less than said preselected wavelength, said grating means being characterized by a pair of coupling constants; -
controlling means for controlling the coupling constants characterizing said grating means to optimize the angular bandwidth of the grating means relative to its spectral bandwidth, the layer means and grating means interacting to produce a standing wave resonance by Bragg reflection in the layer means, and said drive means associated with each modulator controlling same to obtain in said layer means a resonance wavelength in the layer means equal to the preselected radiation wavelength and thereby high reflectance to modulate the polarized beam.
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Specification