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US 6,473,541 B1Granted
Photon transistors
OwnerSeng-Tiong Hoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A light transfer device is provided that includes a first light pathway having a first input and a first output and a second light pathway having a second output. The second light pathway is coupled to the first light pathway, and light from the first input is transferable between the first and second light pathways. An active medium is positioned along one of the first and second light pathways, and the active medium is capable of receiving optical energy that modifies the active medium so that the active medium controls the transfer of light between the first and second pathways.
Claims67
A light transfer device comprising:
- a first light pathway having a first input and a first output;
- a second light pathway having a second output, said second light pathway coupled to said first light pathway, wherein light from said first input is transferable between said first and second light pathways;
- and
- an active medium positioned along at least one of said first and second light pathways, wherein said active medium is capable of receiving optical energy that modifies said active medium so that said active medium controls the transfer of light between said first and second light pathways.
1 more element
A light transfer device comprising:
- a first light pathway having a first input and a first output;
- a second light pathway having a second output, said second light pathway coupled to said first light pathway, wherein light from said first input is transferable between said first and second light pathways;
- a third light pathway interposed between said first and second light pathways, said third light pathway configured in a circuitous shape to function as an intensity-increasing resonator between said first and second light pathways;
- and
- an active medium positioned along at least one of said first, second, and third light pathways, wherein said active medium is capable of receiving light that modifies said active medium so that said active medium controls the transfer of light between said first, second and third pathways.
2 more elements
A logic device comprising:
- a plurality of directional couplers, said directional couplers each being capable of modifying the propagation direction of a photon beam through an active medium having light transfer control properties modifiable via optical energy, said directional couplers being linked by inputs and outputs capable of transmitting said photon beam through one or more switchable propagation paths.
A light transfer device comprising:
- a first light pathway having a first input and a first output;
- a second light pathway having a second output, said second light pathway coupled to said first light pathway, wherein light from said first input is transferable between said first and second light pathways;
- and
- an active medium positioned along at least one of said first and second light pathways, wherein said active medium is capable of receiving electrical energy that modifies said active medium so that said active medium controls the transfer of light between said first and second light pathways.
1 more element
A light transfer device comprising:
- a first light pathway having a first input and a first output;
- a second light pathway having a second output, said second light pathway coupled to said first light pathway, wherein light from said first input is transferable between said first and second light pathways;
- a third light pathway interposed between said first and second light pathways, said third light pathway configured in a circuitous shape to function as an intensity-increasing resonator between said first and second light pathways;
- and
- an active medium positioned along at least one of said first, second, and third light pathways, wherein said active medium is capable of receiving electrical energy that modifies said active medium so that said active medium controls the transfer of light between said first, second and third pathways.
2 more elements
A light transfer device comprising:
- a first light pathway having a first input and a first output;
- a second light pathway having a second output, said second light pathway spaced from said first light pathway;
- a third light pathway spaced from said first light pathway and said second light pathway, said third light pathway being movable between at least a first position relatively near both of said first and second light pathways and a second position relatively far from said first and second light pathways,
- wherein said first position allows said first light pathway to be optically coupled with said third light pathway, and simultaneously allows said third light pathway to be optically coupled with said second light pathway.
1 more element
A method of manufacturing a light transfer device, said method comprising the steps of:
- etching at least two waveguide structures onto a substrate material, said waveguides each including input and output ends, at least one of said waveguides defining a gap area between its input and output end;
- and
- integrating an active medium onto said substrate into said gap area using epitaxial layer forming techniques to define an active medium section of said one of said waveguides, said active medium section including a plurality of quantum wells.
A method of manufacturing a waveguide structure, said waveguide structure having at least two waveguides, comprising:
- providing a silicon dioxide substrate;
- bonding a layer of GaAs to the substrate;
- patterning a photoresist for the waveguide structure;
- etching the GaAs not covered by the photoresist;
- and
- etching the silicon dioxide structure so as to form an undercut.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.