# US 5,708,736 A · Optical waveguide mode coupling using mechanical wave interference

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- Number: US 5,708,736 A
- Document ID: US5708736A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/367,916
- Filed: 1995-01-03
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1993-06-30
- Assignees: Scitex Corporation Ltd.
- Inventors: Serge Steinblatt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5708736A

## CPC

- G02F 1/0134: {in optical waveguides}
- G02B 6/14: Mode converters
- G02B 6/2852: {using tapping light guides arranged sidewardly, e.g. in a non-parallel relationship with respect to the bus light guides (light extraction or launching through cladding, with or without surface discontinuities, bent structures)}
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

Apparatus for mode coupling in a waveguide that includes an engagement substrate arranged for intimate contact with a waveguide, and at least two actuators coupled to the engagement substrate and operative to create an interference pattern in the engagement substrate for producing a periodic deformation of the waveguide.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus for mode coupling in a waveguide comprising:
an engagement substrate arranged for intimate contact with at least one waveguide; and
at least two actuators coupled to the engagement substrate and operative to generate acoustic waves propagating across said at least one waveguide, thereby to create an interference producing a spatially transverse periodic deformation in said at least one waveguide, said periodic deformation providing said mode coupling,
wherein said at least two actuators and said at least one waveguide are generally aligned in the same plane.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1 and also comprising at least one waveguide.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

Apparatus according to claim 2 and wherein at least one waveguide comprises a plurality of waveguides and the apparatus is operative to couple energy from at least one of said plurality of waveguides to at least another of said plurality of waveguides.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one waveguide comprises at least one optical fiber.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said apparatus for mode coupling is operative to couple energy to the radiation mode of the waveguide, thereby providing intensity modulation of radiation passing therealong.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said engagement substrate defines a generally straight engagement surface for engagement with said waveguide.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said engagement substrate defines a generally curved engagement surface for engagement with said waveguide.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said interference pattern is a mechanical wave interference pattern.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said interference pattern is an acoustic wave interference pattern.

### Claim 10

A method for mode coupling in a waveguide including the steps of:
arranging an engagement substrate in intimate contact with at least one waveguide; and
generating acoustic waves propagating across said at least one waveguide, thereby creating an interference producing a spatially transverse periodic deformation in said at least one waveguide, said periodic deformation providing said mode coupling.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A method according to claim 10 and wherein at least one said waveguide comprises a plurality of waveguides and said creating step is operative to couple energy from at least one of said plurality of waveguides to at least another of said plurality of waveguides.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

A method according to claim 10 and wherein at least one said waveguide is an optical fiber and said arranging step is operative to engage intimately said optical fiber along a generally straight path.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

A method according to claim 10 and wherein at least one said waveguide is an optical fiber and said arranging step is operative to engage intimately said optical fiber along a generally curved path.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

A method according to claim 10 and wherein said creating step is operative to couple energy to the radiation mode of the waveguide, thereby providing intensity modulation of radiation passing therealong.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

A method according to claim 10 and wherein said interference pattern is a mechanical wave interference pattern.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

A method according to claim 10 and wherein said interference pattern is an acoustic wave interference pattern.