Photonic systems and methods for encoding data in carrier electromagnetic waves

• US 8,009,941 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2009
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Sigalas, Mihail, Wang, Shih-Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): PENG, CHARLIE YU
• Application Number:
  US12/479,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20090269005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 385/30, 385/132, 385/8, 385/14
• US Class Current: 385/14
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12145 Switch
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/1215 Splitter
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12007 forming wavelength selective elements, e.g. multiplexer, demultiplexer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1225 comprising photonic band-gap structures or photonic lattices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/13 Integrated optical circuits characterised by the manufacturing method
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/035 in an optical waveguide structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/32 Photonic crystals

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are related to photonic systems and methods that can be used to encode data in carrier electromagnetic waves. In one embodiment of the present invention, a photonic switch comprises: a waveguide configured to guide electromagnetic waves; a number of holes in the waveguide that prevent propagation of the electromagnetic waves beyond the holes; a reservoir located beneath the holes and filled with a liquid having the same refractive index as the photonic crystal; and a device for forcing the liquid into the holes so that the refractive index of the holes matches approximately the refractive index of the waveguide and the electromagnetic waves can propagate within the waveguide beyond the holes.

Claims

1. A photonic switch comprising:

a waveguide to guide electromagnetic waves;

a number of holes in the waveguide to prevent propagation of the electromagnetic waves beyond the holes;

a reservoir located beneath the holes and filled with a liquid having approximately the same refractive index as the waveguide; and

a heating element located within the reservoir and in contact with the liquid, wherein when the temperature of the heating element is increased the liquid expands into the holes to enable the electromagnetic waves to propagate within the waveguide beyond the holes.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the waveguide further comprise one of:

a ridge waveguide; and

a photonic crystal waveguide.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the waveguide further comprises one of:

Si;

a III-V semiconductor; and

a II-VI semiconductor.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the number of holes further comprises three or more.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the photonic crystal-based switch further comprises a SiO₂ substrate.