Electro-optic reflective modulators
AssigneeOptodot Corporation
InventorsSteven Allen Carlson, Arthur Wagner Berger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided is an electro-optic reflective modulator comprising a reflective active material, preferably comprising a reflective organic free radical compound, that reflects a wavelength in a highly reflective state and is reversibly switched to a transparent and low reflectivity state at the wavelength by the application of an electric current. Preferably, the electro-reflective optical modulator is solid state with no moving parts such that the active material does not move when reversibly switched between the high and low reflective states. Also provided are methods of modulating an optical signal utilizing such electro-optic reflective modulators.
Claims49
An electro-optic modulator comprising an active material having a first state of transparency and of low reflectivity for one or more wavelengths and a second state of high reflectivity at said one or more wavelengths, wherein said active material reversibly switches between said first and second states.
An electro-optic modulator comprising an active material having a first state of transparency and of low reflectivity for one or more wavelengths and a second state of high reflectivity at said one or more wavelengths, wherein said active material reversibly switches between said first and second states, wherein said modulator is solid state and has no moving parts, and wherein said active material does not move when reversibly switched between said first and second states.
A method of modulating an optical signal at one or more wavelengths, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
- (a) providing an input optical path;
- (b) providing an output optical path;
- (c) interposing an electro-optic modulator between said input and output optical paths, wherein said modulator comprises an active material having a first state of transparency and of low reflectivity at said one or more wavelengths and a second state of high reflectivity at said one or more wavelengths, and wherein said active material reversibly switches between said first and second states;
- (d) providing an optical signal in said input optical path;
- and
- (e) reversibly switching said active material between said first and second states to modulate said optical signal in said output optical path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.