Photonic crystal apparatus and associated method

• US 8,537,456 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2009
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Wilkins, Donald F.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAHLE, MAHIDERE S
• Application Number:
  US12/542,192
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 385/129, 385/130, 257/97, 257/103, 359/245, 359/321, 359/298
• US Class Current: 359/298
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/29 for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/31 Digital deflection, i.e. optical switchingG02F1/33 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/311 Cascade arrangement of plural switches
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/32 Photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/34 Colour display without the use of colour mosaic filters

Abstract

A photonic crystal apparatus and method are provided. The photonic crystal apparatus includes an electromagnetic signal source configured to provide electromagnetic signals. The photonic crystal apparatus also includes a photonic crystal configured to receive the electromagnetic signals from the electromagnetic signal source and to direct the electromagnetic signals along a predefined path through the photonic crystal when the photonic crystal is undistorted. The photonic crystal apparatus may also include a driver configured to selectively cause a portion of the photonic crystal to alternate between a distorted state and an undistorted state. In instances in which the photonic crystal is in the distorted state, the photonic crystal is configured to redirect the electromagnetic signals in a different direction than the predefined path.

Claims

1. A photonic crystal apparatus comprising:

a electromagnetic signal source configured to provide electromagnetic signals;

a photonic crystal having a first surface and configured to receive the electromagnetic signals from the electromagnetic signal source, wherein the photonic crystal is configured to direct the electromagnetic signals along a predefined path that extends within a plane parallel to the first surface through the photonic crystal when the photonic crystal is undistorted; and

a driver configured to selectively cause a portion of the photonic crystal to alternate between a distorted state and an undistorted state,

wherein the photonic crystal in the distorted state is configured to redirect the electromagnetic signals in a different direction that is perpendicular to the plane through which the predefined path extends.

2. A photonic crystal apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the driver comprises a plurality of drivers configured to selectively cause different respective portions of the photonic crystal to alternate between the distorted state and the undistorted state.

3. A photonic crystal apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a controller configured to actuate respective drivers at different times, wherein a driver, upon actuation, is configured to cause the respective portion of the photonic crystal to have the distorted state such that the electromagnetic signals are redirected from different portions of the photonic crystal at the different times.

4. A photonic crystal apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of drivers are configured in a multi-dimensional arrangement relative to the photonic crystal.

5. A photonic crystal apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the photonic crystal in the distorted state is configured to redirect the electromagnetic signals outwardly from the first surface.

6. A photonic crystal apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the photonic crystal is configured to direct the electromagnetic signals along a serpentine path therethrough.

7. A photonic crystal apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the photonic crystal comprises at least one of a rod or a hole extending within the plane and defining the predefined path therethrough.

8. A photonic crystal apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic signal source comprises a light source configured to provide light signals and a modulator configured to alter a frequency of the light signals.

9. A photonic crystal apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic signal source comprises first and second light sources configured to provide first and second light signals, respectively, wherein the first and second light signals have different frequencies, wherein the photonic crystal comprises first and second photonic crystals positioned in an aligned relationship and configured to receive the first and second light signals, respectively, and, when undistorted, to direct the respective light signals therethrough along the predefined path, and wherein the predefined paths defined by the first and second photonic crystals are aligned.

10. A photonic crystal apparatus comprising:

a electromagnetic signal source configured to provide electromagnetic signals;

a photonic crystal having a first surface and configured to receive the electromagnetic signals from the electromagnetic signal source, wherein the photonic crystal is configured to direct the electromagnetic signals along a predefined path that extends within a plane parallel to the first surface through the photonic crystal when the photonic crystal is undistorted; and

a plurality of drivers configured to selectively cause different portions of the photonic crystal to alternate between a distorted state and an undistorted state,

wherein the photonic crystal in the distorted state is configured to redirect the electromagnetic signals in a different direction than the predefined path with the different direction extending outwardly from the first surface.

11. A photonic crystal apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a controller configured to actuate respective drivers at different times, wherein a driver, upon actuation, is configured to cause the respective portion of the photonic crystal to have the distorted state such that the electromagnetic signals are redirected from different portions of the photonic crystal at the different times.

12. A photonic crystal apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the electromagnetic signal source comprises a light source configured to provide light signals and a modulator configured to alter a frequency of the light signals.

13. A photonic crystal apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the electromagnetic signal source comprises first and second light sources configured to provide first and second light signals, respectively, wherein the first and second light signals have different frequencies, wherein the photonic crystal comprises first and second photonic crystals positioned in an aligned relationship and configured to receive the first and second light signals, respectively, and, when undistorted, to direct the respective light signals therethrough along the predefined path, and wherein the predefined paths defined by the first and second photonic crystals are aligned.

21. A photonic crystal apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the photonic crystal comprises at least one of a rod or a hole extending within the plane and defining the predefined path therethrough.

14. A method comprising:

receiving electromagnetic signals with a photonic crystal having a first surface;

directing the electromagnetic signals along a predefined path that extends within a plane parallel to the first surface through the photonic crystal when the photonic crystal is undistorted;

selectively causing a portion of the photonic crystal to alternate between a distorted state and an undistorted state; and

redirecting the electromagnetic signals in a different direction that is perpendicular to the plane through which the predefined path extends, in instances in which the photonic crystal is in the distorted state.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein selectively causing comprises selectively causing different respective portions of the photonic crystal to alternate between the distorted state and the undistorted state.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein selectively causing further comprises selectively causing the different respective portions of the photonic crystal to have the distorted state at different times such that the electromagnetic signals are redirected from the different portions of the photonic crystal at the different times.

17. A method according to claim 14 wherein the photonic crystal comprises a first surface, and wherein redirecting the electromagnetic signals comprises redirecting the electromagnetic signals outwardly from the first surface.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein directing the electromagnetic signals comprises directing the electromagnetic signals along a serpentine path through the photonic crystal.

19. A method according to claim 14 wherein receiving electromagnetic signals comprises receiving light signals, and wherein the method further comprises altering a frequency of the light signals prior to receipt by the photonic crystal.

20. A method according to claim 14 wherein receiving electromagnetic signals comprises receiving first and second light signals having different frequencies with first and second photonic crystals, respectively, that are positioned in an aligned relationship, and wherein directing the electromagnetic signals comprises directing the first and second light signals along respective predefined paths through the first and second photonic crystals, respectively, that are also aligned.

22. A method according to claim 14 wherein directing the electromagnetic signals along a predefined path through the photonic crystal when the photonic crystal is undistorted comprises directing the electromagnetic signals through at least one of a rod or a hole extending within the plane and defining the predefined path therethrough.