Discrete element light modulating microstructure devices

• US 6,297,899 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2000
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TelOptics Corp.
• Original Assignee: TelOptics Corp.
• Inventors: Romanovsky, Alexander B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spector, David N.
• Application Number:
  US09/559,229
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 359/245, 359/248, 359/250, 359/257, 359/258, 359/321, 359/322, 359/323, 385/2
• US Class Current: 359/245
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12145 Switch
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3556 NxM switch, i.e. regular arrays of switches elements of matrix type constellation
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/055 the active material being a ceramic G02F1/035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0551 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/3137 with intersecting or branching waveguides, e.g. X-switches and Y-junctions
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/315 based on the use of controlled internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0003 Details

Abstract

A light modulating or switching array (10) having a plurality of discrete protrusions (16) formed of electro-optic material, each of which is electrically and optically isolated from each other. The protrusions (16) have defined a top face (20), a bottom face (30), first and second side faces (22, 24), and front and back faces (26,28). There are a plurality of electrodes (34) associated with each of the protrusions (16), these electrodes (34) being capable of inducing an electric field in the electro-optic material for independently modulating a plurality of light beams which are incident upon one of the faces (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) of the protrusions (16). The electro-optic material may be of PLZT, or a member of any of the groups of electro-optic crystals, polycrystalline electro-optic ceramics, electro-optic semiconductors, electro-optic glasses and electro-optically active polymers. Also disclosed is a light modulating array (10) of the type having a matrix (136) of electro-optic material which contains a plurality of embedded adjacent electrodes (134). These electrodes (134) are capable of inducing an electric field in the electro-optic material for independently modulating a plurality of light beams which are incident upon the matrix (136) of electro-optic material. This matrix (136) can be formed by a variety of processes, including a sol-gel process. Additionally disclosed is a system (11) in which light modulating arrays (10) are used to modulate incident light beams (42) and separate them into a plurality of data channels (94, 96).

Claims

1. An optical switch comprising:

a first non-waveguide section having an index of refraction comprising solid electro-optic material defined by a top, bottom, and side surface;

a pair of electrodes having electrode surfaces associated with said top and bottom surfaces, respectively; and

a second non-waveguide section defined by a top, bottom, and side surface and having an index of refraction,

said side surfaces of said first and second sections being juxtaposed to form a switchably reflective boundary angled with respect to said electrode surfaces,

wherein either (i) said second region comprises a material different in composition than said electro-optic material in said first region, or (ii) said second region has a different thickness than said first region;

such that a light beam entering said optical switch (i) is reflected from said switchably reflective boundary when said switch is in a first state and the refractive index of the first section has a first value, and (ii) is transmitted through said switchably reflective boundary when said switch is in a second state and said index of the first section has a second value different than the first value.

2. The optical switch of claim 1 wherein, said electrodes are formed on said top and bottom surfaces.

3. The optical switch of claim 1 wherein, said side surfaces of said first and second sections are juxtaposed such that said switchably refective boundary is substantially perpendicular to said electrode surfaces.

4. The optical switch of claim 1 wherein, said second region comprises a material different in composition than said electro-optic material in said first region.

5. The optical switch of claim 1 wherein, said second region has a different thickness than said first region.

6. The optical switch of claim 5 wherein, said first and second sections comprise a single integrated block of solid electro-optic material.

7. The optical switch of claim 1 wherein, said first and second sections are oriented such that said first section receives said light beam in both said first and second states.

8. The optical switch of claim 1 wherein, said solid electromagnetic material comprises electro-optic crystal.

9. The optical switch of claim 1 wherein, said solid electromagnetic material comprises ceramic.

10. The optical switch of claim 9 wherein, said solid electromagnetic material comprises polycrystalline electro-optic ceramic.

11. The optical switch of claim 1 wherein, said solid electromagnetic material comprises an electro-optic active polymer.

12. The optical switch of claim 1 wherein, said solid electromagnetic material comprises electro-optic semiconductor.

13. The optical switch of claim 1 wherein, said solid electromagnetic material comprises electro-optic glass.

14. The optical switch of claim 1 wherein, said solid electromagnetic material comprises lead zirconate titanate doped with lanthanum (PLZT).

15. The optical switch of claim 14 wherein, said lanthanum ranges from 8.5% to 9.0% in concentration.