Bidirectional optical modulator having lightwave signal conservation
First Claim
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1. A bidirectional optical modulating element having energy recapture of deflected light, comprising:
- modulating means for conveying, modulating and deflecting light;
first waveguide means, connected to said modulating means, for conveying light to or from said modulating means;
second waveguide means, connected to said modulating means, for conveying light to or from said modulating means;
absorbing means, connected to said modulating means, for absorbing light deflected by said modulating means; and
detection means, connected to said absorbing means, for recapturing and converting the absorbed light to an electrical current.
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Abstract
A modulating optical element having ports wherein either port can output or receive light signals. An electrooptic effect is applied to the optical element to allow the light signals to pass or not pass through the optical element. Due to the electrooptic effect in preventing signals from passing through the optic element, light signals radiate out of the optical element and are absorbed by the substrate of the optical element assembly. Rather than being lost, the energy from the light signal is converted to current which may be used for other purposes in the modulator system, such as bias stabilization.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A bidirectional optical modulating element having energy recapture of deflected light, comprising:
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modulating means for conveying, modulating and deflecting light; first waveguide means, connected to said modulating means, for conveying light to or from said modulating means; second waveguide means, connected to said modulating means, for conveying light to or from said modulating means; absorbing means, connected to said modulating means, for absorbing light deflected by said modulating means; and detection means, connected to said absorbing means, for recapturing and converting the absorbed light to an electrical current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A plurality of bidirectional optical modulating elements wherein:
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each bidirectional optical modulating element comprises; a modulator for modulating light; a first port, connected to said modulator, for conveying light to said modulator; a second port, connected to said modulator for conveying light from said modulator; an absorbing device, connected to said modulator, for absorbing light from said modulator and converting the absorbed light into electrical power; a light source, connected to said first port, for providing light; a voltage source, connected to said modulator, for providing a voltage to said modulator to implement a degree of modulation of light in accordance with the voltage; a control logic device, connected to said absorbing device and to said voltage source, for monitoring the electrical power from said absorbing device and for controlling a magnitude of the voltage provided by said voltage source to said modulator; and a processing element, connected to said control logic device, for processing information received from or sent to said control logic device; and said plurality of bidirectional optical modulating elements are interconnected with one another; and said plurality of bidirectional optical modulating elements are connected to a master controller, said master controller designating when each bidirectional optical modulating element can transmit information or receive information. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A bidirectional optical modulator comprising:
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a first waveguide, having first and second ends, for conveying light; at least one electrode proximate to said waveguide; an electrical signal source, connected to said at least one electrode, for providing an electrical signal to said at least one electrode, effecting an electrooptic effect deflecting light in said first waveguide, resulting in modulating of the light conveyed in said first waveguide; second waveguide connected to the first end of said first waveguide, for conveying light to and from said first waveguide; a third waveguide, connected to the second end of said first waveguide, for conveying light to and from said first waveguide; a light absorber, proximate to said first, second and third waveguides, for absorbing light deflected from said first, second or third waveguide; and a first detector, proximate to said light absorber, in conjunction with said light absorber for converting the light deflected from said first, second or third waveguide, into electrical power. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A bidirectional optical modulator comprising:
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a substrate; a first waveguide, having first and second ends, formed on said substrate; a first electrode formed on said first waveguide; a first detector having a second electrode formed on said substrate; and wherein; said first waveguide is for conveying a significant amount of light from the first end to the second end of said first waveguide; first said electrode is for applying an electrooptic effect to the light in said first waveguide upon application of a sufficient voltage on said first electrode, the electrooptic effect deflecting the light into said substrate, to be absorbed by said substrate, resulting in an insignificant amount of light exiting from the second end of said first waveguide, and an application of an insufficient voltage on said first electrode resulting in a significant amount of light exiting from the second end of said first waveguide; and the second electrode of said first detector collects current from said substrate caused by light absorbed in said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A bidirectional optical modulating element having energy recapture of deflected light, comprising:
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modulating means for conveying, modulating and deflecting light; absorbing means, connected to said modulating means, for absorbing light deflected by said modulating means; and detection means, connected to said absorbing means, for recapturing and converting the absorbed light to an electrical current. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification