Acoustic modulation
First Claim
1. A modulator arrangement for acoustically modulating optical radiation, the modulator arrangement comprising:
- an optical waveguide formed from a flexible material;
a vibrator element for generating acoustic vibrations; and
a coupling arrangement for releasably coupling the vibrator element to a portion of the waveguide,the coupling arrangement including a first coupling member secured to the portion of the waveguide at an attachment point, and a second coupling member secured to the vibrator element,wherein the second coupling member is releasably retained in an acoustically coupled position with the first coupling member, andwherein the first coupling member has a substantially rigid portion for retaining the shape of the portion of the waveguide when the second coupling member is released from the first coupling member.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to the modulation of light traveling along a waveguide, in particular to the acoustic modulation of the light. There is provide a modulator arrangement for acoustically modulating optical radiation. The modulator arrangement has: a waveguide portion formed from a flexible material; a vibrator element for generating acoustic vibrations; and, a coupling arrangement for releasably coupling the vibrating element to the waveguide portion, the coupling arrangement including a first coupling member secured to the waveguide portion, and a second coupling member secured to the vibrator element. The second coupling member is removable from the first coupling member, and the first coupling member has a substantially rigid portion for retaining the shape of the waveguide when the second coupling member is removed from the first coupling member.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A modulator arrangement for acoustically modulating optical radiation, the modulator arrangement comprising:
-
an optical waveguide formed from a flexible material; a vibrator element for generating acoustic vibrations; and a coupling arrangement for releasably coupling the vibrator element to a portion of the waveguide, the coupling arrangement including a first coupling member secured to the portion of the waveguide at an attachment point, and a second coupling member secured to the vibrator element, wherein the second coupling member is releasably retained in an acoustically coupled position with the first coupling member, and wherein the first coupling member has a substantially rigid portion for retaining the shape of the portion of the waveguide when the second coupling member is released from the first coupling member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A communication system including:
- an optical waveguide;
a plurality of attachment points located at intervals along the optical waveguide;
a protective covering for protecting the waveguide between the attachment points, the protective covering having a coupling area associated therewith; and
, a removable acoustic modulator component for temporarily attaching to the waveguide at one of the attachment points, wherein at each attachment point there is provided a first coupling member permanently coupled to the waveguide, each first coupling member having a respective coupling area, the modulator component having a second coupling member for coupling to the coupling area of a first coupling member, the coupling area of each first coupling member being greater than the coupling area provided by the protective covering.
- an optical waveguide;
-
21. A modulator arrangement for acoustically modulating optical radiation, the modulator arrangement comprising:
-
a waveguide formed from a flexible material; a vibrator element for generating acoustic vibrations; and a coupling arrangement for releasably coupling the vibrating element to a portion of the waveguide, the coupling arrangement including a first coupling member secured to the portion of the waveguide at an attachment point, and a second coupling member secured to the vibrator element, wherein the second coupling member is releasably retained in an acoustically coupled position with the first coupling member, wherein the first coupling member has a substantially rigid portion for retaining the shape of the portion of the waveguide when the second coupling member is released from the first coupling member, and wherein a bore is provided in the first coupling member through which the portion of the optical waveguide extends, the bore being arranged such that the portion of the waveguide is retained in the bore when the second coupling member is removed from the first coupling member.
-
Specification