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:
Sep. 23, 2008
Filed:
Jan. 17, 2003
Dennis W. Prather, Landenberg, PA (US);
Ahmed Sharkawy, Newark, DE (US);
Shouyun Shi, Newark, DE (US);
Richard A. Soref, Newton Centre, MA (US);
Dennis W. Prather, Landenberg, PA (US);
Ahmed Sharkawy, Newark, DE (US);
Shouyun Shi, Newark, DE (US);
Richard A. Soref, Newton Centre, MA (US);
University of Delaware, Newark, DE (US);
Abstract
An electro-optical switch implemented in coupled photonic crystal waveguides is disclosed. The switch is proposed and analyzed using both a finite-difference time-domain ('FDTD') method and a plane wave expansion ('PWM) method. The switch may be implemented in a square lattice of silicon posts in air, as well as in a hexagonal lattice of air holes in a silicon slab. Switching occurs due to a change in the conductance in the coupling region between the photonic crystal waveguides, which modulates the coupling coefficient and eventually causes switching. Conductance may be induced electrically by carrier injection or optically by electron-hole pair generation. The electro-optical switch has low insertion loss and optical crosstalk in both the cross and bar switching states.