Optoelectronic device for coupling between an external optical wave and a local optical wave for optical modulators and detectors
OwnerThomas G. Browninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optoelectronic device for coupling between an external optical wave and a local optical wave. The local wave is supported by a multiplicity of electrodes and a structure associated with the electrodes. The electrodes are spaced in a substantially regular pattern and are adapted for two functions. First, the electrodes resonantly couple between the external wave and the local wave. Second, the electrodes allow a potential difference between adjacent electrodes.
Claims57
An optoelectronic device for coupling between an external optical wave and a local optical wave comprising:
- a multiplicity of electrodes spaced in a substantially regular pattern, the multiplicity of electrodes adapted to resonantly couple between the external wave and the local wave, the multiplicity of electrodes having a potential difference between adjacent electrodes;
- and
- a structure associated with the multiplicity of electrodes wherein the structure and the multiplicity of electrodes support the local wave.
An optical modulator for modulating an output optical wave resulting from an external optical wave comprising:
- a multiplicity of electrodes spaced in a substantially regular pattern, the multiplicity of electrodes adapted to
- a) resonantly couple between the external wave and a local optical wave,
- b) resonantly couple between the external wave and the output wave, and
- c) have a potential difference between adjacent electrodes;
- a structure associated with the multiplicity of electrodes, wherein the structure and the multiplicity of electrodes support the local wave and the structure has an alterable attribute;
- and
- a voltage source for impressing the potential difference between adjacent electrodes, whereby the alterable attribute is varied and the output wave is modulated.
An optical detector for sensing the strength of an external optical wave comprising:
- a multiplicity of electrodes spaced in a substantially regular pattern, the multiplicity of electrodes adapted to resonantly couple between the external wave and a local optical wave and to allow a potential difference between adjacent electrodes;
- a structure associated with the multiplicity of electrodes, wherein the structure and the multiplicity of electrodes support the local wave;
- and
- a sensor connected to the electrodes for sensing an electrical quantity.
Method for modulating an output optical wave resulting from an external optical wave comprising:
- providing a multiplicity of electrodes arranged in a substantially regular pattern for resonantly coupling between the external wave and a local optical wave and for resonantly coupling between the external wave and the output wave;
- positioning a structure associated with the electrodes such that the structure and the electrodes support the local wave, the structure having an alterable attribute;
- positioning the electrodes and the structure with respect to the external wave such that the external wave couples to the local wave;
- and
- impressing a potential difference between adjacent electrodes.
Method for sensing the strength of an external optical wave comprising:
- providing a multiplicity of electrodes arranged in a substantially regular pattern for resonantly coupling between the external wave and a local optical wave;
- positioning a structure associated with the electrodes such that the structure and the electrodes support the local wave;
- positioning the electrodes and the structure with respect to the external wave such that the external wave couples to the local wave;
- and
- using adjacent electrodes to sense an electrical quantity related to the strength of the external wave.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.