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:
May. 17, 2005
Filed:
Feb. 28, 2001
Albert Herble, Coton, GB;
Jeremy Allam, Guildford, GB;
Albert Herble, Coton, GB;
Jeremy Allam, Guildford, GB;
Hitachi Europe, Ltd., Maidenhead, GB;
Abstract
An optical switching apparatus comprises an optically resonant system () and a pulse source configuration () to direct first and second pulses (P, P) of optical radiation into the resonant system, the first pulse (P) being configured to produce a coherent excitation of the resonant optical system so as to change its optical characteristics and the second pulse (P) being of a phase to thereafter de-excite the coherent excitation produced by the first pulse. According to the invention, a device () driveable externally of the resonant system such as an optical amplifier or a laser, maintains the coherence of the excitation produced by the first pulse until de-excited by the second pulse. The optically resonant system may comprise an optically responsive medium () which is capable of being switched into a state of coherent resonance or a resonant cavity.