Acousto-optic filter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An acousto-optic apparatus, comprising:
- an optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, a core and a cladding in a surrounding relationship to the core, the optical fiber configured to propagate multiple modes;
an acoustic wave propagation member with a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being coupled to the optical fiber, the acoustic wave propagation member propagating an acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal end and launching an acoustic wave in the optical fiber; and
at least one acoustic wave generator coupled to the proximal end of the acoustic wave propagation member, wherein a wavelength coupled from one mode to another mode is changed by varying the frequency of a signal applied to the acoustic wave generator.
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Abstract
An acousto-optic filter has a non-birefringent single mode optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, a core and a cladding in a surrounding relationship to the core. The optical fiber has multiple cladding modes and a single core mode that is guided along the core. An acoustic wave propagation member has a proximal end and a distal end coupled to the optical fiber. The acoustic wave propagation member propagates an acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal end and launches a flexural wave in the optical fiber. At least one acoustic wave generator is coupled to the proximal end of the acoustic wave propagation member.
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Citations
125 Claims
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1. An acousto-optic apparatus, comprising:
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an optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, a core and a cladding in a surrounding relationship to the core, the optical fiber configured to propagate multiple modes;
an acoustic wave propagation member with a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being coupled to the optical fiber, the acoustic wave propagation member propagating an acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal end and launching an acoustic wave in the optical fiber; and
at least one acoustic wave generator coupled to the proximal end of the acoustic wave propagation member, wherein a wavelength coupled from one mode to another mode is changed by varying the frequency of a signal applied to the acoustic wave generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
a coupling member that couples the acoustic wave propagation member to the optical fiber.
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20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the coupling member includes a bonding material.
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21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an interface between the acoustic wave propagation member and the optical fiber is mechanically rigid.
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22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an exterior surface of the acoustic wave propagation member is polished.
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23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interface between the acoustic wave propagation member and the optical fiber is sufficiently mechanically rigid to minimize back reflections of the acoustic wave from the optical fiber to the acoustic wave propagation member.
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24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the acoustic wave generator includes a piezoelectric material.
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25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the acoustic wave generator is coupled to an RF signal generator.
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26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the acoustic wave generator has a mechanical resonance at a frequency in the range of 1-20 MHz.
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27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the acoustic wave creates a periodic microbend structure in the optical fiber.
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28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the periodic microbend structure couples light in the fiber from a core mode to a cladding mode.
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29. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
an acoustic damper coupled to the optical fiber.
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30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the acoustic damper includes a jacketing material positioned in a surrounding relationship to the optical fiber.
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31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein a proximal end of the acoustic damper is tapered.
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32. An acousto-optic apparatus, comprising:
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an optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, a core and a cladding in a surrounding relationship to the core, the optical fiber having multiple modes guided along the core;
an acoustic wave propagation member with a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being coupled to the optical fiber, the acoustic wave propagation member propagating an acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal end and launching an acoustic wave in the optical fiber;
at least one acoustic wave generator coupled to the proximal end of the acoustic wave propagation member, wherein a wavelength coupled from one mode to a different mode is changed by varying the frequency of a signal applied to the acoustic wave generator; and
a heatsink with a proximal face and a distal face that is coupled to the acoustic wave generator, wherein the acoustic wave generator is positioned between the acoustic wave propagation member and the heatsink. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
an acoustic wave reflective member positioned at the proximal face of the heatsink.
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44. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein a thickness of the heatsink is selected to provide a travel time of an acoustic wave in the heatsink from its distal face to its proximal face, and from its proximal face to its distal face, that substantially matches a travel time of the acoustic wave traveling through the acoustic wave propagation member from its proximal end to its distal end, and from its distal end to its proximal end.
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45. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising:
a coupling member positioned between the heatsink and the acoustic wave generator.
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46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the coupling member includes a bonding material.
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47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the bonding material is a thermally conductive material.
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48. An optical communication system, comprising:
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a transmitter;
an acoustic-optic apparatus coupled to the transmitter, the acoustic-optic apparatus including, an optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, a core and a cladding in a surrounding relationship to the core, the optical fiber having multiple modes guided along the core;
an acoustic wave propagation member with a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being coupled to the optical fiber, the acoustic wave propagation member propagating an acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal end and launching an acoustic wave in the optical fiber; and
at least one acoustic wave generator coupled to the proximal end of the acoustic wave propagation member, wherein a wavelength coupled from one mode to another mode is changed by varying the frequency of a signal applied to the acoustic wave generator; and
a receiver coupled to the acoustic-optic apparatus.
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49. An optical communication system, comprising:
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a transmitter including an acoustic-optic apparatus that has a single mode optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, a core and a cladding in a surrounding relationship to the core, the optical fiber having multiple modes guided along the core, an acoustic wave propagation member with a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being coupled to the optical fiber, the acoustic wave propagation member propagating an acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal end and launching an acoustic wave in the optical fiber, and at least one acoustic wave generator coupled to the proximal end of the acoustic wave propagation member, wherein a wavelength coupled from one mode to a different mode is changed by varying the frequency of a signal applied to the acoustic wave generator; and
a receiver coupled to the transmitter.
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50. An optical communication system, comprising:
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a transmitter; and
a receiver including an acoustic-optic apparatus that has a single mode optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, a core and a cladding in a surrounding relationship to the core, the optical fiber having multiple modes guided along the core, an acoustic wave propagation member with a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being coupled to the optical fiber, the acoustic wave propagation member propagating an acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal end and launching an acoustic wave in the optical fiber, and at least one acoustic wave generator coupled to the proximal end of the acoustic wave propagation member, wherein a wavelength coupled from one mode to a different mode is changed by varying the frequency of a signal applied to the acoustic wave generator.
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51. An optical communication device, comprising:
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a first acousto-optic apparatus including an optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, a core and a cladding in a surrounding relationship to the core, the optical fiber having multiple modes guided along the core, a first acoustic wave propagation member with a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being coupled to the optical fiber, the first acoustic wave propagation member propagating a first acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal end and launching a first acoustic wave in the optical fiber, the first acousto-optic apparatus including a first acoustic wave generator coupled to the proximal end of the first acoustic wave propagation member, wherein a wavelength coupled from one mode to a different mode is changed by varying the frequency of a signal applied to the first acoustic wave generator; and
a second acousto-optic apparatus coupled to the optical fiber, the second acousto-optic apparatus including a second acoustic wave propagation member with a proximal end and a distal end, the second acoustic wave propagation member propagating a second acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal end and launching a second acoustic wave in the optical fiber, the second acousto-optic apparatus including a second acoustic wave generator coupled to the proximal end of the second acoustic wave propagation member, wherein a wavelength coupled from one mode to a different mode is changed by varying the frequency of a signal applied to the second acoustic wave generator.
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52. An acousto-optic apparatus, comprising:
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an optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, a core and a cladding in a surrounding relationship to the core, the optical fiber having multiple modes guided along the core;
an acoustic wave propagation member, coupled to the optical fiber, the acoustic wave propagation launching an acoustic wave in the optical fiber; and
at least one acoustic wave generator coupled to the acoustic wave propagation member for causing the acoustic wave propagation member to launch in the optical fiber an acoustic wave at a selected acoustic frequency and a selected acoustic amplitude, wherein a selected wavelength and an amount of an optical signal coupled from one mode to a different mode is changed by varying the selected acoustic frequency and the selected acoustic amplitude, respectively, of the acoustic wave launched in the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
a coupling member that couples the acoustic wave propagation member to the optical fiber.
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71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the coupling member includes a bonding material.
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72. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein an interface between the acoustic wave propagation member and the optical fiber is mechanically rigid.
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73. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein at exterior surface of the acoustic wave propagation member is polished.
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74. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the interface between the acoustic wave propagation member and the optical fiber is sufficiently mechanically rigid to minimize back reflections of the acoustic wave from the optical fiber to the acoustic wave propagation member.
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75. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the acoustic wave generator includes a piezoelectric material.
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76. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the acoustic wave generator is coupled to an RF signal generator.
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77. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the acoustic wave generator has a mechanical resonance at a frequency in the range of 1-20 MHz.
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78. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the acoustic wave creates a periodic microbend structure in the optical fiber.
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79. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the periodic microbend structure couples light in the fiber from one mode to a different mode.
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80. The apparatus of claim 52, further comprising:
an acoustic damper coupled to the optical fiber.
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81. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the acoustic damper includes a jacketing material positioned in a surrounding relationship to the optical fiber.
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82. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein a proximal end of the acoustic damper is tapered.
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83. An acousto-optic apparatus, comprising:
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an optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, a core and a cladding in a surrounding relationship to the core, the optical fiber having multiple modes guided along the core;
an acoustic wave propagation member with a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being coupled to the optical fiber, the acoustic wave propagation member propagating an acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal end and launching an acoustic wave in the optical fiber;
at least one acoustic wave generator coupled to the proximal end of the acoustic wave propagation member, wherein an amount of an optical signal coupled from one mode to a different mode is changed by varying an amplitude of a signal applied to the acoustic wave generator; and
a heatsink with a proximal face and a distal face that is coupled to the acoustic wave generator, wherein the acoustic wave generator is positioned between the acoustic wave propagation member and the heatsink.
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84. An optical communication system, comprising:
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a transmitter;
an acoustic-optic apparatus coupled to the transmitter, the acoustic-optic apparatus including, an optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, a core and a cladding in a surrounding relationship to the core, the optical fiber having multiple modes guided along the core;
an acoustic wave propagation member with a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being coupled to the optical fiber, the acoustic wave propagation member propagating an acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal end and launching an acoustic wave in the optical fiber; and
at least one acoustic wave generator coupled to the proximal end of the acoustic wave propagation member, wherein an amount of an optical signal coupled from one mode to a different mode is changed by varying an amplitude of a signal applied to the acoustic wave generator; and
a receiver coupled to the acoustic-optic apparatus.
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85. An optical communication system, comprising:
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transmitter including an acoustic-optic apparatus that has an optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, a core and a cladding in a surrounding relationship to the core, the optical fiber having multiple modes guided along the core, an acoustic wave propagation member with a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being coupled to the optical fiber, the acoustic wave propagation member propagating an acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal end and launching an acoustic wave in the optical fiber, and at least one acoustic wave generator coupled to the proximal end of the acoustic wave propagation member, wherein an amount of an optical signal coupled from one mode to a different mode is changed by varying an amplitude of a signal applied to the acoustic wave generator; and
a receiver coupled to the transmitter.
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86. An optical communication system, comprising:
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transmitter; and
a receiver including an acoustic-optic apparatus that has an optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, a core and a cladding in a surrounding relationship to the core, the optical fiber having multiple modes guided along the core, an acoustic wave propagation member with a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being coupled to the optical fiber, the acoustic wave propagation member propagating an acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal end and launching an acoustic wave in the optical fiber, and at least one acoustic wave generator coupled to the proximal end of the acoustic wave propagation member, wherein an amount of an optical signal coupled from one mode to a different mode is changed by varying an amplitude of a signal applied to the acoustic wave generator.
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87. An optical communication device, comprising:
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a first acousto-optic apparatus including an optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, a core and a cladding in a surrounding relationship to the core, the optical fiber having multiple modes guided along the core, a first acoustic wave propagation member with a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being coupled to the optical fiber, the first acoustic wave propagation member propagating a first acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal end and launching a first acoustic wave in the optical fiber, the first acousto-optic apparatus including a first acoustic wave generator coupled to the proximal end of the first acoustic wave propagation member, wherein a wavelength coupled from one mode to a different mode is changed by varying the frequency of a signal applied to the first acoustic wave generator; and
a second acousto-optic apparatus coupled to the first acousto-optic apparatus, the second acousto-optic apparatus including a second acoustic wave propagation member with a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being coupled to the optical fiber, the second acoustic wave propagation member propagating a second acoustic wave from the proximal to the distal end and launching a second acoustic wave in the optical fiber, the second acousto-optic apparatus including a second acoustic wave generator coupled to the proximal end of the second acoustic wave propagation member, wherein a wavelength coupled from one mode to a different mode is changed by varying the frequency of a signal applied to the second acoustic wave generator.
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88. An acousto-optic apparatus, comprising:
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an optical fiber with a longitudinal axis, a core and a cladding in a surrounding relationship to the core, the optical fiber configured to propagate multiple modes; and
an acoustic wave generator for inducing in the optical fiber an acoustic wave at a selected acoustic frequency, wherein a selected light wavelength is tunably coupled from a first mode to a second mode as a function of the selected acoustic frequency. - View Dependent Claims (89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106)
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107. A method for coupling light between optical modes comprising:
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transmitting light in an optical fiber; and
launching in the optical fiber an acoustic wave at a selected acoustic frequency, wherein a selected light wavelength is tunably coupled from a first mode to a second mode as a function of the selected acoustic frequency. - View Dependent Claims (108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125)
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Specification