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:
Oct. 16, 2007
Filed:
Oct. 20, 2004
Wounjhang Park, Superior, CO (US);
Jeong-bong Lee, Plano, TX (US);
Mark T. Tinker, Plano, TX (US);
Ethan F. Schonbrun, Boulder, CO (US);
Wounjhang Park, Superior, CO (US);
Jeong-Bong Lee, Plano, TX (US);
Mark T. Tinker, Plano, TX (US);
Ethan F. Schonbrun, Boulder, CO (US);
The Regents of the University of Colorado, Denver, CO (US);
The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System, Richardson, TX (US);
Abstract
A device is described based on flexible photonic crystal, which is comprised of a periodic array of high index dielectric material embedded in a flexible polymer. Dynamic, real time tunability is achieved by the application of a variable force with a MEMS actuator or other means. The force induces changes in the crystal structure of the photonic crystal, and consequently modifies the photonic band structure. The concept was demonstrated by a theoretical investigation on the effect of mechanical stress on the anomalous refraction behavior of the flexible PC, and a very wide tunability in beam propagation direction was observed. Experimental studies on fabrication and characterizations of the flexible photonic crystal structures were also carried out. High quality flexible PC structures were fabricated by e-beam lithography and anisotropic etching processes.