All optical modulation and switching with patterned optically absorbing polymers
First Claim
1. Optical logic, the optical logic comprising:
- an optical input configured to accept an optical signal as input;
an optical output configured to provide a modulated optical signal as output; and
a plurality of optical gates between the optical input and the optical output, the plurality of optical gates comprising;
a first optical gate including a first waveguide adjacent an insulting surface of a substrate and a first absorptive polymer material, wherein the first absorptive polymer material is configured to shift an index of refraction of at least a portion of the first waveguide responsive to a first gate signal; and
a second optical gate coupled to the first optical gate, wherein the second optical gate includes a second waveguide adjacent the insulating surface of the substrate and a second absorptive polymer material, wherein the second absorptive polymer material is configured to shift an index of refraction of at least a portion of the second waveguide responsive to a second gate signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
All-optical processing devices that include patterned optically active polymers. The devices that are constructed according to principles of the invention include at least one optical input port and at least one optical output port, respectively configured to accept optical input signals and provide optical output signals. The devices include optically active material such as organic polymers that interact with illumination at a first wavelength to change at least one optical property in a non-linear manner. The optically active polymer can be placed adjacent one or more waveguides that allow the input illumination to propagate. As the optical property of the optically active material is changed by the incident illumination, the propagating illumination undergoes a modulation or change in phase, thereby providing an optical output signal having a desired relation to the optical input signal, such as the result of a logical or a computational operation.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. Optical logic, the optical logic comprising:
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an optical input configured to accept an optical signal as input; an optical output configured to provide a modulated optical signal as output; and a plurality of optical gates between the optical input and the optical output, the plurality of optical gates comprising; a first optical gate including a first waveguide adjacent an insulting surface of a substrate and a first absorptive polymer material, wherein the first absorptive polymer material is configured to shift an index of refraction of at least a portion of the first waveguide responsive to a first gate signal; and a second optical gate coupled to the first optical gate, wherein the second optical gate includes a second waveguide adjacent the insulating surface of the substrate and a second absorptive polymer material, wherein the second absorptive polymer material is configured to shift an index of refraction of at least a portion of the second waveguide responsive to a second gate signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification