Optical Waveguide
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
InventorsDerk J.W. Klunder, Bernardus H.W. Hendriks, Stein Kuiper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical waveguide comprises a body (13), the body including an entrance window (9) and an exit window (11) defining an optical path (13) through a cavity. The cavity contains a first fluid (A) and a second fluid (B), with an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid defined by a meniscus. The meniscus lies longitudinally along the optical path. Means for adjusting the meniscus are provided, for example a voltage source and at least two electrodes. Electrowetting can be used for influencing the fluids.
Claims19
An optical waveguide (1) comprising a body (3), the body (3) including an entrance window (9) and an exit window (11) defining an optical (13) path through a cavity (15), the cavity (15) containing a first fluid (A) and a second fluid (B), with an interface (14) between the first fluid (A) and the second fluid (B) defined by a meniscus (14), the meniscus (14) lying longitudinally along the optical path (13).
A method of guiding an optical signal comprising receiving an optical signal (100) at an entrance window (9) of a body (3) of a waveguide (1) and guiding the optical signal (100) along an optical path (13) through a cavity (15) of the body (3) and to an exit window (11) of the body (3), wherein the cavity (15) contains a first fluid (A) and a second fluid (B), with an interface (14) between the first fluid (A) and the second fluid (B) defined by a meniscus (14), the meniscus (14) lying longitudinally along the optical path (13).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.