Optical communications systems
First Claim
1. A mode coupler for transferring energy between different modes of propagation in a dielectric optical waveguide having a core of homogeneous phase and a cladding comprising:
- a section of dielectric optical waveguide of substantially circular cross-section having a core, said core being of a type whose refractive index varies in response to the presence of an electric field; and
electrodes disposed on an external surface of the said cladding for applying an electric field to said core, said field being characterized by undulatory variations spaced along a direction of propagation in said wave guide to produce undulatory variations in the refractive index of said core correspondingly spaced along said core in said direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Energy propagating in a dielectric optical waveguide may be transferred from one mode of propagation to another by inducing a spatially undulatory variation in refractive index in the core of the dielectric optical waveguide. Such a variation may be induced by an electro-static field. The electro-static field may be directed either longitudinally of, or transversely of the dielectric optical waveguide. A suitably periodic electro-static field may be generated by positioning a suitable electrode structure about the dielectric optical waveguide. For certain applications it may be desirable to arrange for the spatial period of the electro-static field to vary in a random manner. By arranging for propagating modes to couple to non-propagating modes an optical modulator may be produced.
8 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A mode coupler for transferring energy between different modes of propagation in a dielectric optical waveguide having a core of homogeneous phase and a cladding comprising:
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a section of dielectric optical waveguide of substantially circular cross-section having a core, said core being of a type whose refractive index varies in response to the presence of an electric field; and electrodes disposed on an external surface of the said cladding for applying an electric field to said core, said field being characterized by undulatory variations spaced along a direction of propagation in said wave guide to produce undulatory variations in the refractive index of said core correspondingly spaced along said core in said direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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- 20. A mode coupler for transferring energy between different modes of propagation in a dielectric optical waveguide, comprising a section of dielectric optical waveguide having a core of homogeneous phase and a cladding having a plate electrode disposed tangentially adjacent a surface of said section of dielectric optical waveguide and externally of said cladding, a plurality of strip electrodes disposed tangentially adjacent said surface of said section of dielectric optical waveguide and externally of said cladding in a serial array along said section of dielectric optical waveguide, each of said strip electrodes disposed axially transverse of said section of dielectric optical waveguide and diametrically opposite said plate electrode, said plurality of strip electrodes electrically isolated from said plate electrode.
- 23. A mode coupler for transferring energy between different modes of propagation in a dielectric optical waveguide comprising a section of dielectric optical waveguide having a core of homogeneous phase and a cladding a first group and a second group of strip electrodes disposed tangentially adjacent said surface of said section of dielectric optical waveguide and externally of said cladding in serial arrays along said section of dielectric optical waveguide, each of said strip electrodes disposed axially transverse of said section of dielectric optical waveguide, each strip electrode of said first group disposed diametrically opposite with respect to said dielectric optical waveguide, a strip electrode of said second group, and said first group of strip electrodes electrically isolated from said second group of strip electrodes.
- 26. A mode coupler for transferring energy between different modes of propagation in a dielectric optical waveguide comprising a section of dielectric optical waveguide having a core of homogeneous phase, a plurality of ring electrodes arranged in a serial array axially of said section of dielectric optical waveguide, each ring electrode disposed circumjacent a surface of said section of dielectric optical waveguide and externally of said cladding.
Specification