# US 11,906,754 B2 · Ultra-fast electrical switching using optical path length differences

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- Number: US 11,906,754 B2
- Document ID: US11906754B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/647,045
- Filed: 2022-01-05
- Published: 2022-08-25
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2021-02-22
- Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
- Applicants: Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
- Inventors: Joseph D. Teague
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906754B2

## CPC

- G02B 27/14: operating by reflection only
- H10F 30/00: Individual radiation-sensitive semiconductor devices in which radiation controls the flow of current through the devices, e.g. photodetectors
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION

## Abstract

A method for triggering switches in a defined order comprises providing two or more PCSS devices and a compatible optical trigger; projecting a beam from the optical trigger; splitting the optical beam into two or more paths toward the two or more PCSS devices, wherein each of the two or more paths has a different length such that each of the two or more PCSS devices are triggered with defined time differentials. Each of the defined path lengths may be determined with the speed of light from the optical trigger along the two or more paths in order to achieve the desired switch-timing differential. The optical path consists of at least one of an optical fiber, a mirror arrangement, and a lens arrangement. Path lengths may be controlled by different fiber lengths, and transmitting a beam through a solid having a higher index of refraction than other beam path(s).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for triggering switches in a defined order comprises:
providing two or more PCSS devices and an optical trigger compatible with the PCSS devices;
projecting a beam from the optical trigger;
splitting the optical beam into two or more paths toward the two or more PCSS devices, wherein each of the two or more paths has a different length such that each of the two or more PCSS devices are triggered with defined time differentials.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method for triggering switches in a defined order of claim 1, defining length of each of the two or more paths with the speed of light from the optical trigger along the two or more paths.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method for triggering switches in a defined order of claim 1, wherein the optical path consists of at least one of an optical fiber, a mirror arrangement, and a lens arrangement.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method for triggering switches in a defined order of claim 1, wherein splitting the optical beam consists of at least one of a partially-reflective mirror, reflection off a lens, fiber coupling to optical fibers, and a polarizing beam splitter.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method for triggering switches in a defined order of claim 1, wherein the path lengths are controlled and altered by one or more of employing different fiber lengths to each PCSS device, placing the PCSS on a translation stage, placing a reflective optic on a translation stage, and transmitting a beam through a solid having a higher index of refraction than other beam path(s).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method for triggering switches in a defined order of claim 1, wherein optical path length is controlled by one or more of manufacturing a device with defined path lengths, whether via hard mounted PCSS/optics, or fixed length fibers; computer controlled translational stages for optics or PCSS, and/or manually controlled translational stages for optics or PCSS.