US 5,002,349 A · Integrated acousto-optic filters and switches

Abstract

An acousto-optica converter fabricated on x-cut (LiNbO.sub.3 and having an optical waveguide extending along the y-direction. An interdigital transducer is oriented at 5.degree. with respect to the y-direction in order to compensate for the acoustic walk-off on such an orientation. Such as integrated acousto-optical converter allows multiple stages of such converters so as to provide for (1) two-stage zero-frequency shifted converters and filters, (2) lasers using an acousto-optic filter as a tuning element, (3) polarization-independent converters in which the modes are divided, separately polarization converted, and recobined according to frequency, (4) and wavelength division multiplexing routing switches capable of simultaneously switching multiple channels.

Claims24

Dependent claims

An acousto-optic polarization converter, comprising:

a substrate comprising a birefringent, photo-elastic material having an upper surface along a first direction of which an optical wave rectilinearly propagates, a surface acoustic wave being launched in said first direction rectilinearly propagating in a direction offset from said first direction by a walk-off angle;
an optical waveguide formed in said upper surface and having an optical axis extending along said first direction;
and
transducer means including an interdigital transducer formed over said waveguide and aligned at a compensating angle with respect to said first direction opposite to said walk-off angle, said compensating angle having a value for compensating said walk-off angle such that a surface acoustic wave launched by said transducer means rectilinearly propagates along said first direction.

1 more element

An acousto-optic converter, comprising a substrate including a birefringent, photo-elastic material having an upper surface, a stage formed in said upper surface, and means for launching a surface acoustic wave along a first direction in an acousto-optic interaction region including a portion of said stage, said stage comprising:

a first optical waveguide, formed partially along said first direction in said acousto-optic interaction region;
a second optical waveguide, formed partially along said first direction in said acousto-optic interaction region;
and
first means and second means optically coupling said first and second optical waveguides at respective locations for transferring a first polarization of a radiation from either of said waveguides to the other of said waveguides and not transferring a second polarization of said radiation between said waveguides, said first and second means being separated on said upper surface by said acousto-optic interaction region.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Integrated acousto-optic filters and switches

Life of this patent

Integrated acousto-optic filters and switches

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24