Frequency-shifting micro-mechanical optical modulator
OwnerMeritt Reynoldsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for shifting the frequency of light comprises a modulator comprising one or more light-reflective elements. The elements are arranged in N groups that are interleaved along the surface of the modulator. The elements are deflected in time in a periodic sawtooth or sinusoidal N-phase manner. The frequency shift can be varied continuously and quickly. Such a modulator may be operated at zero frequency shift, to produce an optical phase shift.
Claims34
A modulator for modulating a frequency of an incident beam of light, the modulator comprising:
- an element having a light-reflective surface, the element movable to displace the surface in a first direction making an angle a with a direction of the incident beam of light wherein cos α>0;
- and,
- a driving system configured to oscillate the element in the first direction according to a sawtooth motion profile to produce an output beam of light having a shifted frequency.
A modulator for modulating an incident beam of light, the modulator comprising:
- a plurality of elements, each element having a light-reflective surface, wherein the elements are grouped into N>2 groups such that the elements of the N groups are interleaved;
- means for selectively deflecting the elements of each group such that the incident beam of light is diffracted;
- and
- means of varying the deflection of the elements in time in an N-phase fashion.
An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of elongated elements arranged parallel to one another in a one dimensional array, each element having a light-reflective surface which is moveable in a first direction;
- and,
- a driving system operatively coupled to the elements and configured to oscillate the elements in the first direction according to a periodic motion profile phase-shifted by an amount depending on a position of the element along the array such that the elements define traveling wave.
A method for shifting the frequency of light in a beam of light, the method comprising:
- directing the beam of light onto an array of movable elements that each have a light-reflective surface, the elements movable to displace the surface in a first direction making an angle α with a direction of the beam of light wherein cos α>0;
- and
- oscillating the elements according to a periodic motion profile having a sawtooth waveform.
A method for shifting the frequency of light in a beam of light, the method comprising:
- directing the beam of light onto elements of an array of movable elements that each have a light-reflective surface, the elements movable to displace the surface in a first direction that is not perpendicular to a direction of propagation of the light beam;
- and
- oscillating each of the elements according to a periodic motion profile phase-shifted by an amount depending on a position of the element along the array so that the elements define traveling wave.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.