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:
Feb. 11, 2003
Filed:
Jan. 10, 2000
Keith Wayne Goossen, Aberseen, NJ (US);
Other;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for modulating an optical signal using a micromechanical modulator are disclosed. The modulator comprises a membrane, which includes a first and a second layer, a substrate layer, and a substrate, spaced from the membrane to form an air gap. The layers of the membrane are characterized in that there is a relationship between the refractive indices of the layers and the refractive index of the substrate. The membrane is suspended in a first position over the substrate by a flexible support arrangement. Bias is applied to the membrane and the substrate to create an electrostatic force to move the membrane towards the substrate to a second position. The reflectivity of the device to an optical signal changes as the membrane moves from the first position to the second position, thereby modulating the signal. In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the first and second layers of the membrane are approximately equal to one-third and one-tenth, respectively, of a wavelength of the optical signal, as measured within the first and second layers, respectively. The thickness of the substrate layer is approximately equal to one-seventh of the wavelength of the optical signal, as measured within the substrate layer.