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:
Jul. 16, 1991
Filed:
Nov. 16, 1989
Rahul Asthana, Wilmington, CA (US);
Robert D Miller, San Jose, CA (US);
Franklin M Schellenberg, Cupertino, CA (US);
Glenn T Sincerbox, San Jose, CA (US);
James M Zavislan, San Jose, CA (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
An improved apparatus and method for detecting the polarization state of an optical wavefront is disclosed, which is especially suitable for use in an integrated magneto-optic recording head. An optically transparent waveguide structure transmits TE and TM modes of the wavefront propagated as a beam coupled into the waveguide by a TE/TM grating coupler. In the waveguide structure is a periodic structure comprising a birefringent mode separator that splits the propagating beam into TE and TM modes. The mode separator comprises an array of uniformly spaced volumes of identical configuration. Photosensitive devices detect the intensity of the light contained within each of the separated beams. The signals from these photosensitive devices are used to determine the state of polarization of the optical wavefront. The periodic structure may, if desired, comprise regions of alternating birefringence, such as a Bragg grating, either in a waveguide layer or a cladding layer. Focal power is introduced (1) by providing focal power in the input grating coupler to the waveguide with a curved grating structure, (2) by varying the pitch of the birefringent mode separator extending in a direction transverse to the optical axis of the propagating beam, or (3) by introducing a surface grating with a varying pitch in a direction transverse of the optical axis.