Evanescent wave absorption based devices
First Claim
1. A device for actively or passively modulating incident radiation, comprising:
- at least one diffraction element configured for evanescent wave excitation upon irradiation with the incident radiation, andan absorption layer adjacent the at least one diffraction element so that the evanescent waves interact with the absorption layer, the absorption layer having alterable absorption properties so as to alter the absorption of the evanescent waves resulting in modulating of the incident radiation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device (100) is described for actively or passively modulating incident radiation, the device comprising at least one diffraction means (10) adapted for evanescent wave excitation upon irradiation with the incident radiation, and an absorption layer (40) adjacent the at least one diffraction means (10) so that the evanescent waves can interact with the absorption layer (40). The absorption layer (40) has alterable absorption properties so as to alter the absorption of the evanescent waves resulting in modulating of the incident radiation. The device (100) may be for actively modulating incident radiation thus being e.g. a modulator for laser radiation. Alternatively, the device may be for passively modulating incident radiation, thus acting as a sensing device for sensing environmental parameters.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for actively or passively modulating incident radiation, comprising:
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at least one diffraction element configured for evanescent wave excitation upon irradiation with the incident radiation, and an absorption layer adjacent the at least one diffraction element so that the evanescent waves interact with the absorption layer, the absorption layer having alterable absorption properties so as to alter the absorption of the evanescent waves resulting in modulating of the incident radiation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for actively or passively modulating incident radiation, the method comprising:
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exciting of evanescent waves by guiding incident radiation through an absorption layer on a diffraction element, absorbing a fraction of the evanescent field in the absorption layer in the vicinity of the diffraction element depending on the state of absorption of this absorption layer, and re-radiating a non-absorbed fraction of the evanescent field in the propagating diffraction modes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification