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:
Dec. 23, 1997
Filed:
Feb. 21, 1996
Ascom Tech AG, Bern, CH;
Abstract
The reflection modulator (11), serving the purpose of modulating a light beam emerging from an optical fiber (42) and re-entering the same, is essentially based on a microstructural Fabry and Perot interferometer. The interferometer is formed by two parallel reflecting layers (18, 20) which are electrically conductive, electrically insulated from each other, and connected to electric terminals (28, 30), and an air gap (19) which is comprised between them. A mechanical excursion of one (20) of the two reflecting layers can thus be produced by an electric wanted signal (NS). The reflecting layers (18, 20) are disposed on a base block (14) of monocrystalline silicon having two parallel main surfaces (15, 16) each of which is covered by two passivating coatings (25, 35, 26, 36). The base block (14) is provided with a recess on one (16) of the main surfaces. An optical fiber (42) is fastened in said recess by means of an adhesive (44) in such a manner that the fiber end is completely enclosed by said adhesive. Thereby and by the structure of the associated coatings (26, 36), a minimal reflection is obtained. On the other main surface (15), the combination of the corresponding coatings (25, 35) and of the fixed reflecting layer (18) result in semipermeability to the light beam emerging from the optical fiber (42) and passing through the base block (14). After its modulation in the Fabry and Perot interferometer, the light beam returns to the optical fiber (42) in the reverse direction. (FIG. 1).