Multichannel optical waveguide page scanner with individually addressable electro-optic modulators
First Claim
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1. A page scanner, comprising:
- a diode laser;
a substrate having an index of refraction;
a primary optical channel waveguide formed on said substrate;
means for coupling light from said diode into said primary channel waveguide;
multiple secondary side channels formed on said substrate each having a thin-film electro-optic waveguide modulator formed therein including variable absorbers formed on each secondary side channel to equalize light in each side channel;
a series of identical T-branch couplers formed on said substrate and distributing light in parallel from said primary channel to said secondary side channels so that a diminishing portion of light is coupled into each successive side channel; and
means for electrically addressing each of said electro optic waveguide modulators.
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Abstract
A mulitchannel optical waveguide page scanner has a diode laser and a primary optical channel waveguide. Light is coupled from the diode into the primary channel waveguide. Multiple secondary side channels each have a thin-film electro-optic waveguide modulator. A series of T-branch connectors distribute light from the primary channel to the secondary side channels. Each of the electro-optic waveguide modulators is addressable individually.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A page scanner, comprising:
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a diode laser; a substrate having an index of refraction; a primary optical channel waveguide formed on said substrate; means for coupling light from said diode into said primary channel waveguide; multiple secondary side channels formed on said substrate each having a thin-film electro-optic waveguide modulator formed therein including variable absorbers formed on each secondary side channel to equalize light in each side channel; a series of identical T-branch couplers formed on said substrate and distributing light in parallel from said primary channel to said secondary side channels so that a diminishing portion of light is coupled into each successive side channel; and means for electrically addressing each of said electro optic waveguide modulators.
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2. A page scanner, comprising:
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a diode laser; a substrate having an index of refraction; a primary optical channel waveguide formed on said substrate; means for coupling light from said diode into said primary channel waveguide; multiple secondary side channels formed on said substrate each having a thin-film electro-optic waveguide modulator formed therein; a series of T-branch connectors formed on said substrate and distributing light in parallel from said primary channel to said secondary side channels; means for electrically addressing each of said electro optic waveguide modulators; and grating couplers oriented at a 45°
angle of incidence to the light in said primary channel waveguide so that a portion of the light is diffracted into said second side channels. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
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6. A page scanner, comprising:
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a diode laser; a substrate having an index of refraction; a primary optical channel waveguide formed on said substrate; means for coupling light from said diode into said primary channel waveguide; multiple secondary side channels formed on said substrate each having a thin-film electro-optic waveguide modulator formed therein; a series of T-branch connectors formed on said substrate and distributing light in parallel from said primary channel to said second side channels; means for electrically addressing each of said electro-optic waveguide modulators; and a plurality of T-branch gratings with each of said T-branch gratings having equal diffraction efficiency and light levels in individual secondary side channels are controlled by variable length thin metal absorption layers deposited on top of the second side channel waveguides.
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7. A page scanner, comprising:
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a diode laser; a substrate having an index of refraction; a primary optical channel waveguide having a main section and a widened section tapering down adiabatically to join said main section; means for coupling light from said diode into said primary channel waveguide; multiple secondary side channels formed on said substrate each having a first single mode secondary said channel dividing into separate first and second single mode channel waveguides at a first Y-branch and recombining at a second Y-branch to form a second single mode channel waveguide, each of said first and second waveguides having a width; an MZ interferometer section defined by said first and second Y-branches and said first and second waveguide channels; and a transparent electrical ground plane deposited on said substrate and extending over said first and second channel waveguides.
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8. A page scanner, comprising:
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a diode laser; a substrate having an index of refraction; a primary optical channel waveguide having a main section and a widened section tapering down adiabatically to join said main section; means for coupling light from said diode into said primary channel waveguide; multiple secondary side channels formed on said substrate each having a first single mode secondary said channel dividing into separate first and second single mode channel waveguides at a first Y-branch and recombining at a second Y-branch to form a second single mode channel waveguide, each of said first and second waveguides having a width; an MZ interferometer section defined by said first and second Y-branches and said first and second waveguide channels; and a transparent electrical ground plane deposited on said substrate and extending over said first and second channel waveguides. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification