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:
Dec. 16, 2008
Filed:
Apr. 14, 2006
Kenneth Bradley, Hinsdale, IL (US);
Ward Lopes, Chicago, IL (US);
Kenneth Bradley, Hinsdale, IL (US);
Ward Lopes, Chicago, IL (US);
Arryx, Inc., Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
Our invention relates generally to an optical switch () and an optical router () to rapidly route signals from particular channels () within an optical band by using optical switches () which utilize a controlled whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonance of dielectric microspheres (S, S, S) to optically switch signals. Another invention relates to optical filters which use a WGM resonate structure () to isolate and switch specific optical signals between waveguides (F, F). In other inventions, the filter () is switched 'on/off' by signal loss within a WGM resonate structure () which disrupts the WGM resonance; the filter () isolates and switches a specific wavelength signal from among a group of signals of different wavelengths; and is switched 'off' by adjusting the index of refraction of the resonate structure to become substantially similar to the index of refraction of the surrounding medium.