Apparatus with a series of resonator structures situated near an optical waveguide for manipulating optical pulses

• US 7,245,801 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Rochester
• Original Assignee: University of Rochester
• Inventors: Boyd, Robert W., Heebner, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pak; Sung
• Assistant Examiner(s): Petkovsek; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/394,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20030231826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 385/15, 385/27, 385/30, 372/92, 372/97
• US Class Current: 385/27
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12147 Coupler
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12004 Combinations of two or more optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12007 forming wavelength selective elements, e.g. multiplexer, demultiplexer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/122 Basic optical elements, e.g. light-guiding paths
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1221 made from organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/125 Bends, branchings or intersections
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/136 by etching

Abstract

Systems and method for manipulating optical pulses to implement an optical switch and for pulse shaping (e.g., pulse compression and/or compression) are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises an optical switch apparatus that includes a plurality of resonators optically coupled to a waveguide, two output waveguides, an input light source, a control light source. The system selects some of the input signals emitted from the input light course using control signals emitted from the control light source to route to one of the output waveguides. In another embodiment, the system includes a waveguide optically coupled to a plurality of resonators, input light source, optional resonator modules that can change the refractive index of the resonators, and an optional amplifier. This system can change the shape of the pulses by changing a number of parameters, such as the incoming pulse amplitude and/or the refractive index of the resonators.

Claims

1. An apparatus for manipulating optical pulses, the apparatus comprising:

a first optical waveguide with a first input for receiving one or more optical pulses;

a plurality of resonator structures, each of the resonator structures optically coupled to, but spaced from the first optical waveguide;

a pulse shaping system comprising a refractive index adjustment system that changes a refraction index of one or more of the resonator structure and a finesse value adjustment system that changes a finesse value of one or more of the resonator structures by adjusting a position of at least one of the resonator structures with respect to the first optical waveguide; and

a control system that controls the refractive index adjustment system and the finesse value adjustment system to control a manipulation of one or more optical pulses on the first optical waveguide.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the refractive index adjustment system further comprises at least one heat generating source positioned adjacent at least one of the resonator structures.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the at least one heat generating source comprises at least one temperature resistive heater.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the refractive index adjustment system further comprises an electric-optical system coupled to at least one of the resonator structures.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the finesse value adjustment system further comprises a micro-electro-mechanical system.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of the resonator structures comprises at least one of a ring shaped waveguide and a disk shaped waveguide.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the resonator structures has a radius ranging from about 2 μ

m to about 50 μ

m.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the resonator structures are spaced apart at a second distance from each other to avoid optically coupling with each other.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein the second distance ranges from about 10 μ

m to about 20 μ

m, the second distance being measured from a first center portion of one of the resonator structures to a second center portion of an adjacent one of the resonator structure.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the resonator structures are formed of a glass, polymer or crystalline semiconductor material.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an input signal adjustment system that adjusts an amplitude of the one or more optical pulses based on the manipulation.

12. A method of for manipulating optical pulses, the method comprising:

propagating an input pulse signal along first optical waveguide;

adjusting a refraction index of one or more of a plurality of resonator structures optically coupled to, but spaced at least a first distance away from a portion of the first optical waveguide;

adjusting a finesse value of one or more of the resonator structures by adjusting a position of at least one of the resonator structures with respect to the first optical waveguide; and

controlling the adjusting the refraction index of the one or more resonator structures and the adjusting the finesse value of the one or more resonator structures to control an alteration of at least one property of the input signal pulse.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the adjusting the refraction index further comprises generating heat near at least one of the resonator structures.

14. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the adjusting the refraction index further comprises applying a voltage across at least one of the resonator structures.

15. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the adjusting the finesse value of one or more of the resonator structures is adjusted with a micro-electro-mechanical system.

16. The method as set forth in claim 12 further comprising adjusting an amplitude of the input pulse signal based on the alteration.

17. A system for manipulating optical pulses to compress or stretch the optical pulses, the system comprising:

a first optical waveguide with a first input for receiving one or more optical pulses;

a plurality of resonator structures optically coupled to, but spaced from the first optical waveguide;

a pulse shaping system comprising a refractive index adjustment system that changes a refraction index of one or more of the resonator structures and a finesse value adjustment system that changes a finesse value of one or more of the resonator structures by adjusting a position of at least one of the resonator structures with respect to the first optical waveguide; and

a controller that controls the refractive index adjustment system and the finesse adjustment system to at least one of shape, stretch, and compress the one or more optical pulses on the first optical waveguide.

18. The system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the refractive index adjustment system further comprises at least one heat generating source positioned near at least one of the resonator structures.

19. The system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the at least one heat generating source comprises at least one temperature resistive heater.

20. The system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the refractive index adjustment system furhter comprises an electro-optical system coupled to at least one of the resonator structures.

21. The system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the finesse value adjustment system further comprises a micro-electro-mechanical system.

22. The system as set for in claim 17 further comprising an input signal adjustment system that adjusts an amplitude of the one or more optical pulses based on the at least one of shape, stretch, and compress of the one or more optical pulses.

23. A method for manipulating optical pulses to compress or stretch the optical pulses, the method comprising:

propagating an input pulse signal along a first optical waveguide;

adjusting a refraction index of one or more of a plurality of resonator structures optically coupled to, but spaced at least a first distance away from a portion of the first optical waveguide;

adjusting a finesse value of one or more of the resonator structures by adjusting a position of at least one of the resonator structures with respect ot the first optical waveguide; and

controlling the adjusting of the refraction index and the adjusting of the finesse value for one or more of the resonator structures to control how the at least one property of the input signal is altered.

24. The method as set forth in claim 23 wherein the adjusting of the refraction index further comprises generating heat near at least one of the resonator structures.

25. The method as set forth in claim 23 wherein the adjusting of the refraction index further comprising applying a voltage across at least one of the resonator structures.

26. The method as set forth in claim 23 wherein the adjusting the finesse value is adjusted with a micro-electro-mechanical system.

27. The method as set forth in claim 23 further comprising adjusting an amplitude of the input pulse signal based on the alteration of the at least one property of the input signal.