Plasmon multiplexing

• US 20080019635A1
• Filed: 05/17/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Science Fund, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward, Pendry, John, Hyde, Roderick, Tegreene, Clarence, Myhrvold, Nathan, Wood, Lowell
• Granted Patent: US 7,447,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/16
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12007 forming wavelength selective elements, e.g. multiplexer, demultiplexer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1226 involving surface plasmon interaction
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0126 Opto-optical modulation, i.e. control of one light beam by another light beam, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/3515 All-optical modulation, gating, switching, e.g. control of a light beam by another light beam G02F1/353, G02F1/37, G02F1/39 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/3517 using an interferometer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/3523 Non-linear absorption changing by light, e.g. bleaching
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/36 Micro- or nanomaterials
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/10 plasmon
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 3/00 Optical logic elements; Optical bistable devices

Abstract

A variety of structures, methods, systems, and configurations can support plasmons for multiplexing.

Claims

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54. A plasmon multiplexer, comprising:

a first plasmon guide extending from a first input location to a first output location and receptive to energy from a first plasmon source;

a first plasmon switch interposed at a first central location intermediate the first input location and first output location and responsive to a first signal;

a second plasmon guide extending from a second input location to a second output location and receptive to energy from a second plasmon source different from the first plasmon source; and

a transmission guide positioned to receive energy from the first plasmon guide and the second plasmon guide.

55. The plasmon multiplexer of claim 54 further comprising a second plasmon switch interposed at a second central location intermediate the second input location and the second output location and responsive to a second signal.

56. The plasmon multiplexer of claim 54 further comprising a third plasmon guide extending from a third input location to a third output location.

57. The plasmon multiplexer of claim 56 further comprising a third plasmon switch interposed at a third central location intermediate the third input location and the third output location and responsive to a third signal.

58. The plasmon multiplexer of claim 54 wherein the first output location corresponds substantially to the second output location.

59. The plasmon multiplexer of claim 54 wherein the transmission guide is supportive of a plasmon.

60. The plasmon multiplexer of claim 54 wherein the transmission guide includes a converter arranged to convert a plasmon to electromagnetic energy.

61. The plasmon multiplexer of claim 60 wherein the transmission guide includes an optical fiber.

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64. A plasmon multiplexer, comprising:

a first plasmon guide extending from a first input location to a first output location and transmissive of plasmon energy to a first receiver;

a first plasmon switch interposed at a first central location intermediate the first input location and first output location and responsive to a first signal;

a second plasmon guide extending from a second input location to a second output location and transmissive of plasmon energy to a second receiver different from the first receiver; and

a transmission guide positioned to transmit energy to the first plasmon guide and the second plasmon guide.

65. The plasmon multiplexer of claim 64 further comprising a second plasmon switch interposed at a second central location intermediate the second input location and the second output location and responsive to a second signal.

66. The plasmon multiplexer of claim 64 further comprising a third plasmon guide extending from a third input location to a third output location.

67. The plasmon multiplexer of claim 66 further comprising a third plasmon switch interposed at a third central location intermediate the third input location and the third output location and responsive to a third signal.

68. The plasmon multiplexer of claim 64 wherein the first input location corresponds substantially to the second input location.

70. The plasmon multiplexer of claim 64 wherein the transmission guide includes a converter arranged to convert electromagnetic energy to a plasmon.

71. The plasmon multiplexer of claim 64 wherein the transmission guide includes an optical fiber.

73. The plasmon multiplexer of claim 64 wherein the second input location includes a converter arranged to convert electromagnetic energy to a plasmon.

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74. A system, comprising:

a first plasmon switch receptive to a first control signal and configured to output a first switched plasmon signal;

a second plasmon switch receptive to a second control signal and configured to output a second switched plasmon signal; and

signal mixing circuitry responsive to the first switched plasmon signal and the second switched plasmon signal to produce a multiplexed signal.

75. The system of claim 74 wherein the first plasmon switch is receptive to a first plasmon signal.

76. The system of claim 75 further comprising a first energy generator arranged to produce the first control signal.

77. The system of claim 76 wherein the first energy generator includes an electromagnetic energy generator.

78. The system of claim 76 wherein the first energy generator includes a plasmon energy generator.

79. The system of claim 76 wherein the first energy generator includes a square wave generator.

80. The system of claim 74 wherein the second plasmon switch is receptive to a second plasmon signal.

81. The system of claim 80 further comprising a second energy generator arranged to produce the second control signal.

83. The system of claim 81 wherein the second energy generator includes a plasmon energy generator.

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