Back to results
US 8,139,227 B2Granted
Method using asymmetric optical resonances
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsOnur Kilic, Michel J. F. Digonnet, Gordon S. Kino, Olav Solgaard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method utilizes an optical resonator that includes a reflective element and a spatial mode filter positioned relative to the reflective element such that light emitted from the spatial mode filter is reflected by the reflective element. The optical resonator has an optical resonance with a resonance lineshape that is asymmetric as a function of wavelength.
Claims20
A method of detecting acoustic waves, the method comprising:
- providing an acoustic sensor comprising:
- an optical resonator having an optical resonance with a resonance lineshape that is asymmetric as a function of wavelength, wherein the resonance lineshape has a minimum reflectivity at a resonance wavelength, a first side with wavelengths below the resonance wavelength, and a second side with wavelengths above the resonance wavelength, the second side less steep than the first side;
- and
- a housing substantially surrounding at least a portion of the optical resonator and mechanically coupled to the optical resonator, wherein the optical resonance is responsive to acoustic waves incident upon the housing;
- exposing the acoustic sensor to acoustic waves;
- and
- detecting a change of the optical resonance induced by the acoustic waves, wherein said detecting comprises irradiating the optical resonator with a first light signal having a first wavelength on the first side of the resonance lineshape and irradiating the optical resonator with a second light signal having a second wavelength on the second side of the resonance lineshape.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.