Single-ended long period grating optical device

• US 6,275,628 B1
• Filed: 11/15/1999
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Luna Innovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Luna Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Gunther, Michael F., Jones, Mark E., Wavering, Thomas A., Elster, Jennifer L., Murphy, Kent A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONNELLY, MICHELLE R
• Application Number:
  US09/440,499
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 385/12, 385/13, 385/27, 385/28, 385/29, 385/37, 385/123, 385/124
• US Class Current: 385/29
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02057 comprising gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/14 Mode converters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29317 Light guides of the optical fibre type

Abstract

A single-ended long period grating optical device is presented. The single-ended optical device comprises an optical waveguide having at least one core mode and a plurality of cladding modes. At least one long period grating couples light from the core mode to the cladding modes. A reflector is positioned in an operable relationship to the long period grating, and the reflector reflects a signal. A mode stripper is positioned after the long period grating and removes the cladding modes from a transmitted signal and the reflected signal.

Claims

1. A single-ended optical device comprising:

an optical waveguide having at least one core mode and a plurality of cladding modes;

at least one long period grating disposed within the optical waveguide wherein the long period grating couples light from the core mode to the cladding modes;

a reflector, positioned in an operable relationship to the long period grating, wherein the reflector reflects a signal; and

a mode stripper, positioned after the long period grating, wherein the mode stripper removes the cladding modes from a transmitted signal and the reflected signal.

2. A single-ended optical device according to claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is selected from the group consisting of:

a planar optical waveguide;

an integrated optical waveguide; and

a fiber optic waveguide.

3. A single-ended optical device according to claim 1, wherein the long period grating has a plurality of index perturbations spaced apart by a periodic distance Λ

, wherein the periodic distance is 10 μ

m≦

Λ

≦

1500 μ

m.

4. A single-ended optical device according to claim 1, wherein the reflector is a broadface reflector.

5. A single-ended optical device according to claim 1, wherein the mode stripper is a modified surface region positioned between the long period grating and the reflector.

6. A single-ended optical device according to claim 5, wherein the optical waveguide has a cladding having a refractive index and wherein the modified surface region comprises a matched index coating having a refractive index approximately equal to the refractive index of the cladding wherein the matched index coating is disposed on a portion of the optical waveguide.

7. A single-ended optical device according to claim 5, wherein the modified surface region comprises an etched portion of the optical waveguide.

8. A single-ended optical device according to claim 5, wherein the modified surface region comprises an optically opaque material disposed on a portion of the optical waveguide.

9. A single-ended optical device according to claim 5, wherein the modified surface region comprises a tapered portion of the optical waveguide.

10. A single-ended optical device according to claim 1, wherein the mode stripper and the reflector are a masked reflector.

11. A single-ended optical device according to claim 1, further comprising a broadband light source positioned at a first end of the optical waveguide;

a splitter, having a first input, a second input, and at least one output, wherein the splitter is positioned between the broadband light source and the long period grating, wherein the broadband light source is coupled to the first input; and

a detector, coupled to the second input.

12. A single-ended optical device comprising:

a) a fiber-optic waveguide comprising a core having at least one core mode;

a cladding surrounding the core, wherein the cladding has a refractive index and supports a plurality of cladding modes; and

at least one long period grating disposed within the core wherein the long period grating couples light from the core mode to the cladding modes;

b) a reflector, positioned in an operable relationship to the long period grating, wherein the reflector reflects a signal; and

c) a mode stripper, positioned after the long period grating, wherein the mode stripper removes the cladding modes from a transmitted signal and the reflected signal.

13. A single-ended optical device according to claim 12, wherein the reflector is a broadface reflector.

14. A single-ended optical device according to claim 12, wherein the reflector and the mode stripper are a masked reflector.

15. A single-ended optical device according to claim 14, further comprising a broadband light source positioned at a first end of the fiber-optic waveguide;

a splitter, having a first input, a second input, and at least one output, wherein the splitter is positioned between the broadband light source and the long period grating, wherein the broadband light source is coupled to the first input; and

a detector, coupled to the second input.

16. A single-ended optical device according to claim 12, wherein the mode stripper is a modified surface region positioned between the long period grating and the reflector.

17. A single-ended optical device according to claim 16, wherein the modified surface region comprises a matched index coating disposed on a portion of the fiber-optic waveguide and wherein the matched index coating has a refractive index approximately equal to the refractive index of the cladding.

18. A single-ended optical device according to claim 16, wherein the modified surface region comprises an etched portion of the fiber-optic waveguide.

19. A single-ended optical device according to claim 16, wherein the modified surface region comprises an optically opaque material disposed on a portion of the fiber-optic waveguide.

20. A single-ended optical device according to claim 16, wherein the modified surface region comprises a tapered portion of the fiber-optic waveguide.

21. A single-ended optical device according to claim 12, further comprising a broadband light source positioned at a first end of the fiber-optic waveguide;

a splitter, having a first input, a second input, and at least one output, wherein the splitter is positioned between the broadband light source and the long period grating, wherein the broadband light source is coupled to the first input; and

a detector, coupled to the second input.

22. A process for preparing a single-ended optical device, the process comprising the steps of:

a) providing an optical waveguide having a first end and a second end, a core and a cladding;

b) writing a long period grating into the optical waveguide core;

c) modifying the cladding between the long period grating and the second end to change propagation conditions in the waveguide wherein cladding mode light is removed from a reflected signal;

d) modifying the optical waveguide at the second end to make the cladding and the core essentially flat; and

e) depositing a reflector on the modified second end of the optical waveguide.

23. A process according to claim 22, wherein the optical waveguide is selected from the group consisting of:

a planar optical waveguide;

an integrated optical waveguide; and

a fiber optic waveguide.

24. A process according to claim 23, wherein the optical waveguide is a fiber optic waveguide.

25. A process according to claim 22, wherein the long period grating has a plurality of index perturbations spaced apart by a periodic distance A, wherein the periodic distance is 10 μ

m≦

Λ

≦

1500 μ

m.

26. A process according to claim 22, wherein the cladding is modified by depositing a matched index coating on a portion of the optical waveguide.

27. A process according to claim 22, wherein the cladding is modified by etching a portion of the optical waveguide.

28. A process according to claim 22, wherein the cladding is modified by depositing an optically opaque material on a portion of the optical waveguide.

29. A process according to claim 22, wherein the cladding is modified by tapering a portion of the optical waveguide.

30. A process according to claim 22, further comprising:

a) positioning a broadband light source at the first end of the optical waveguide;

b) positioning a splitter, having a first input, a second input, and at least one output, between the broadband light source and the long period grating, wherein the broadband light source is coupled to the first input; and

c) coupling a detector to the second input.

31. A single-ended optical device prepared by the process according to claim 30.

32. A single-ended optical device prepared by the process according to claim 22.

33. A process for preparing a single-ended optical device, the process comprising the steps of:

a) providing an optical waveguide having a first end and a second end, a core and a cladding;

b) writing a long period grating into the optical waveguide core;

c) providing a mode stripper after the long period grating;

d) modifying the optical waveguide at the second end to make the cladding and the core essentially flat; and

e) depositing a reflector on the flat core of the optical waveguide.

34. A process according to claim 33, wherein the optical waveguide is selected from the group consisting of:

a planar optical waveguide;

an integrated optical waveguide; and

a fiber optic waveguide.

35. A process according to claim 34, wherein the optical waveguide is a fiber optic waveguide.

36. A process according to claim 33, wherein the long period grating has a plurality of index perturbations spaced apart by a periodic distance Λ

, wherein the periodic distance is 10 μ

m≦

Λ

≦

1500 μ

m.

37. A process according to claim 33, further comprising:

a) positioning a broadband light source at the first end of the optical waveguide;

b) positioning a splitter, having a first input, a second input, and at least one output, between the broadband light source and the long period grating, wherein the broadband light source is coupled to the first input; and

c) coupling a detector to the second input.

38. A single-ended optical device prepared by the process according to claim 37.

39. A single-ended optical device prepared by the process according to claim 33.

40. A process for detecting changes in an environmental parameter, the process comprising the steps of:

a) providing a single-ended optical device comprising;

an optical waveguide having a core, a cladding, a first end, and a second end;

at least one long period grating disposed within the core;

a broadband light source positioned at the first end of the optical waveguide;

a splitter positioned between the broadband light source and the long period grating, wherein the broadband light source is coupled to a first input of the splitter and wherein a detector is coupled to a second input of the splitter;

a reflector positioned in an operable relationship to the long period grating and opposite from the broadband light source; and

a mode stripper positioned after the long period grating;

b) launching light into the optical waveguide core wherein the light contacts the long period grating and is coupled to cladding modes;

c) exposing the single-ended optical device to an environmental parameter;

d) stripping the light from the cladding modes;

e) reflecting the remaining light back through the long period grating; and

f) detecting a spectral profile of the reflected light.

41. A process according to claim 40, wherein the mode stripper is a modified surface region.

42. A process according to claim 40, wherein the cladding has a refractive index and wherein the modified surface region comprises a matched index coating having a refractive index approximately equal to the refractive index of the cladding, wherein the matched index coating is disposed on a portion of the optical waveguide.

43. A process according to claim 40, wherein the modified surface region comprises an etched portion of the optical waveguide.

44. A process according to claim 40, wherein the modified surface region comprises an optically opaque material disposed on a portion of the optical waveguide.

45. A process according to claim 40, wherein the modified surface region comprises a tapered portion of the optical waveguide.

46. A process according to claim 40, wherein the mode stripper and the reflector are a masked reflector.

47. A process according to claim 40, wherein the optical waveguide is selected from the group consisting of:

a planar optical waveguide;

an integrated optical waveguide; and

a fiber optic waveguide.

48. A process according to claim 47, wherein the optical waveguide is a fiber optic waveguide.

49. A process according to claim 40, wherein the long period grating has a plurality of index perturbations spaced apart by a periodic distance Λ

, wherein the periodic distance is 10 μ

m≦

Λ

≦

1500 μ

m.