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:
Jan. 19, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 28, 1997
Thomas William Karras, Berwyn, PA (US);
Lockheed Martin Corp., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
A microphotonic circuit includes one or more light control elements such as modulators or switches coupled in polymer waveguides, and controlled by electrical bias fields produced by voltage or light sources. Each modulator or switch includes at least one polymer waveguide having a high-.eta. core and surrounding low-.eta. cladding, to constrain the light. An electrooptic control element is evanescently coupled to the core of the first waveguide by spacing from the core. The coupling between the core and the control element depends upon the relative .eta.s of the core, cladding and electrooptic element. Bias is applied to maintain the electrooptic element in one of at least two possible states, one of which prevents coupling between the electrooptic element and the core, and the other of which permits such coupling. The bias may be applied in the form of electrical voltage or light. In some embodiments of the invention, a second optical waveguide is coupled to the electrooptic element. The coupling of the second waveguide may be evanescent or direct.