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. 08, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 30, 1999
Nile F. Hartman, Duluth, GA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An interferometer for detecting a property of an environment includes a source of a beam of light and a first planar waveguide. The first planar waveguide has a first end, an opposite second end and a first interior surface. A first coupler is disposed adjacent the first end so as to be capable of coupling a first portion of the beam into the first planar waveguide. A second coupler is disposed adjacent the second end so as to be capable of de-coupling a second portion of the beam from the first portion of the beam and onto a first predetermined exit path. A first region is disposed along the first interior surface between the first coupler and the second coupler. The first region allows light to propagate therethrough as a first function of exposure to the environment disposed adjacent thereto. The interferometer also includes a second planar waveguide having a third end, an opposite fourth end and a second interior surface. The second planar waveguide is disposed substantially parallel to the first planar waveguide so that a first portion of the first interior surface and a second portion of the second interior surface define a cavity therebetween. A second region is disposed along the second interior surface, between a third coupler and a fourth coupler, that allows light to propagate therethrough as a second function, different from the first function. The third coupler is disposed adjacent the third end so as to be capable of coupling a third portion of the beam into the second planar waveguide. The fourth coupler is disposed adjacent the fourth end so as to be capable of de-coupling a fourth portion of the beam from the third portion of the beam and onto a second predetermined exit path. At least a portion of the second predetermined path is co-incident with at least a portion of the first predetermined path so as to form a combined beam. A phase difference detector that is responsive to the combined beam indicates a phase difference between the second portion of the beam and the fourth portion of the beam, so as to indicate the property of the environment.