Light modulation system including a superconductive plate assembly for use in a data transmission scheme and method

A data transmission system, comprising:

• (a) a light modulating device having an output and providing at its output a train of light pulses containing data, each pulse of which has a wavelength of at least about 2 microns, said light modulating device including
• (i) a source of light having said wavelength of at least about 2 microns,
• (ii) a layer of superconductive material through which light from said source must pass before it can reach the device's output, said superconductive material being switchable between a superconducting state in which said light can not pass and a non-superconducting state in which said light can pass, and
• (iii) an arrangement for switching said superconducting material between its superconducting and non-superconducting states in a way which provides said data containing light pulses at the output of the device;
• (b) a wavelength changing device optically coupled to the output of said light modulating device for reducing the wavelength of said pulses to a wavelength between approximately 0.5 and 2 microns;
• and
• (c) a fiber optic link optically coupled to said wavelength changing device for receiving said wavelength changed light pulses and directing them away from the wavelength changing device for further transmission, said optical link being constructed of a material which efficiently directs light therethrough when the light has a wavelength between about 0.5 and 2 microns.

A superconductive plate assembly for use in a light modulation system which includes a light modulating device having an output and providing at its output a train of light pulses, each of which has a certain wavelength, said light modulating device including (i) a source of light having said certain wavelength, (ii) a layer of superconductive material through which light from said source must pass before it can reach the device's output, said superconductive material being switchable between a superconducting state in which said light can not pass and a non-superconducting state in which said light can pass, and (iii) an arrangement for switching said superconducting material between its superconducting and non-superconducting states in a way which provides said light pulses at the output of the device, said plate assembly comprising:

• (a) a support member including at least one section thereof through which said light pulses can pass;
• (b) said layer of superconductive material, the latter being supported by said support member, said superconductive material including first and second contact segments for receiving electrical contacts and a third light impinging segment, all of which are electrically connected together;
• and
• (c) means for preventing light from said source from reaching the output of said light modulating device by passing through said contact segments of said superconductive material irrespective of its superconducting or non-superconducting states while allowing said material to pass light through its light impinging segment and said one section of said support member and reach said output when the material is in its non-superconducting state.

A method of transmitting data comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a light modulating device having an output and generating at its output a train of light pulses which is of a given wavelength and which contain data;
• (b) changing the wavelength of said train of light pulses;
• and
• (c) directing said wavelengh changed pulses into a fiber optic link for transmission away from said light modulating device.

A superconductive plate assembly especially suitable for use in a light modulation system which includes a light modulating device having an output and providing at its output a train of light pulses, each of which has a certain wavelength, said light modulating device including (i) a source of light having said certain wavelength, (ii) a layer of superconductive material through which light from said source must pass before it can reach the device's output, said superconductive material being switchable between a superconducting state in which said light can not pass and a non-superconducting state in which said light can pass, and (iii) an arrangement for switching said superconducting material between its superconducting and non-superconducting states in a way which provides said light pulses at the output of the device, said switching means including means for directing an electrical current through said superconducting material in a predetermined way so as to switch at least a portion of said material between said states to provide said light pulses, said plate assembly comprising:

• (a) a support member including at least one section thereof through which said light pulses can pass;
• and
• (b) said layer of superconductive material, the latter being supported by said support member, said superconductive material being configured such that when a current of a predetermined magnitude passes through it in said predetermined way when the latter is in its superconducting state, only a predetermined portion thereof switches to its non-superconducting state in response thereto, said predetermined portion being in optical alignment with said one section of said support member, whereby light from said source is able to reach the output of said light modulating device though said portion and one section only.

A superconductive plate assembly especially suitable for use in a light modulation system which includes a light modulating device having an output and providing at its output a train of light pulses, each of which has a certain wavelength, said light modulating device including (i) a source of light having said certain wavelength, (ii) a layer of superconductive material through which light from said source must pass before it can reach the device's output, said superconductive material being switchable between a superconducting state in which said light can not pass and a non-superconducting state in which said light can pass, and (iii) an arrangement for switching said superconducting material between its superconducting and non-superconducting states in a way which provides said light pulses at the output of the device, said switching means including means for directing an electrical current of different first and second magnitudes through said superconducting material in a predetermined way so as to switch at least different portions of said material between said states to provide said light pulses, said plate assembly comprising:

• (a) a support member including at least one section thereof through which said light pulses can pass;
• and
• (b) said layer of superconductive material, the latter being supported by said support member, said superconductive material being configured such that when a current of said different magnitudes pass through it in said predetermined way when the latter is in its superconducting state, first and second portions thereof respectively switch to its non-superconducting state in response to said different current magnitudes, said first and second portions being in optical alignment with said one section of said support member, whereby light from said source is able to reach the output of said light modulating device though either of said portions and one section only.