Electro-optical device, notably for optical distribution
First Claim
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1. Electro-optical device of the type having a structure comprising at least:
- one lower confining layer (1) and one upper confining layer (3) placed on either side of a lightwave guiding layer (2), two at least partially parallel primary lines (4-1,4-2), placed on the upper confining layer (3), opposite the guide layer (2), the materials and dimensions of these layers and primary lines being chosen so as to define, substantially straight with the primary lines (4-i), two waveguides operating according to a first propagation mode, and electro-optical control means (E-1) placed at a selected location in order to vary the coupling between the two guides, characterised in that the electro-optical control means (E-1) are placed between the two primary lines (4-1,4-2) and arranged, on the one hand, to permit locally a second propagation mode affecting both waveguides together and, on the other hand, to control the transfer of the first mode between the two waveguides which enclose it, by acting chiefly on this second mode.
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Abstract
A multilayer structure (S,1-3) is surmounted by parallel primary lines (4-1, 4-2) which define, in the regions situated below them, waveguides operating according to a first propagation mode. At least one electro-optical control means (E-1) is placed at a selected location between each pair of primary lines and, under certain conditions, enables the local existence of a second propagation mode affecting the two regions together, so that the transfer of the first mode between the two guides which enclose it can be controlled by acting on the second mode. This makes it possible to produce an energy distributor based on a so-called “cascade” architecture.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. Electro-optical device of the type having a structure comprising at least:
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one lower confining layer (1) and one upper confining layer (3) placed on either side of a lightwave guiding layer (2), two at least partially parallel primary lines (4-1,4-2), placed on the upper confining layer (3), opposite the guide layer (2), the materials and dimensions of these layers and primary lines being chosen so as to define, substantially straight with the primary lines (4-i), two waveguides operating according to a first propagation mode, and electro-optical control means (E-1) placed at a selected location in order to vary the coupling between the two guides, characterised in that the electro-optical control means (E-1) are placed between the two primary lines (4-1,4-2) and arranged, on the one hand, to permit locally a second propagation mode affecting both waveguides together and, on the other hand, to control the transfer of the first mode between the two waveguides which enclose it, by acting chiefly on this second mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification