The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 11, 1989
Filed:
Aug. 13, 1987
Suwat Thaniyavarn, Bellevue, WA (US);
TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Abstract
A directional coupler having two coupled waveguides that receive a single optical input through a Y-junction power splitter, and two outputs from the coupled waveguides. Electrodes positioned over the coupled waveguides apply opposite electric fields to the waveguides and, through the electrooptical effect, modulate the optical outputs. For a zero applied voltage and zero electric field, the outputs are both equal to approximately half of the maximum possible output intensity, and no bias voltage is needed for operation as a modulator. As the voltage is varied from zero, positively or negatively, the optical intensity from either of the outputs varies linearly over a useful range. Moreover, the voltage required to switch full power from one output to the other is less than that required for conventional electrooptical modulators or switches.