Claims
- 1. A waveguide device comprising an optical waveguide core and a cladding optically coupled to said optical waveguide core, wherein:
said cladding comprises an optically functional region defining a refractive index that is configured to vary in response to a control signal applied to said optically functional region; said refractive index of said optically functional region is lower than a refractive index of said optical waveguide core at an operational wavelength and temperature of operation of said device; and said optically functional region of said cladding comprises a Kerr Effect medium.
- 2. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control signal is characterized by a control signal magnitude and said Kerr Effect medium defines a refractive index approximating a function that varies with a square of said control signal magnitude.
- 3. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
said optically functional region of said cladding comprises a cladding medium configured to induce a phase shift Δφ in an optical signal propagating through said optically functional region in response to a control voltage V applied to said optically functional region; and said cladding medium is configured such that successive phase shifts Δφ of 180° are induced in said optical signal as a magnitude of said control voltage is increased in successive increments Vπ and such that said successive increments Vπ decrease in magnitude as said magnitude of said control voltage is increased.
- 4. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cladding comprises an optically functional region defined by an un-poled, substantially isotropic, polymeric cladding medium.
- 5. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cladding medium comprises a polymer/chromophore blend characterized by a degree of chromophore mobility sufficient to enable said optically functional region to transition passively from a substantially oriented state to a substantially isotropic state in less than about one second.
- 6. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
said waveguide device further comprises a controller configured to control an operating temperature of said waveguide device; said polymeric cladding medium is characterized by an effective glass transition temperature that is less than said operating temperature of said device.
- 7. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said waveguide device further comprises a controller configured to provide said control signal.
- 8. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said control signal comprises a bias component and a drive component.
- 9. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said bias component is substantially constant relative to said drive component and said drive component is substantially variable relative to said bias component.
- 10. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said bias component defines a magnitude sufficient to enable substantial control of said refractive index of said optically functional region through variation of said drive component.
- 11. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said bias component is at least an order of magnitude larger than said drive component.
- 12. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said bias component comprises a DC voltage and said drive component comprises an AC drive signal.
- 13. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said Kerr Effect medium comprises a polymer/chromophore blend.
- 14. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said polymer/chromophore blend comprises between about 5% and about 20% chromophore, by weight.
- 15. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said polymer comprises a fluoropolymer.
- 16. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said Kerr Effect medium comprises a polymer selected from polycarbonate, terpolymer, PMMA, and polycyclohexane.
- 17. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said polymer/chromophore blend is plasticized.
- 18. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said chromophore comprises a donor component, a bridge component comprising a conjugated and/or aromatic component, and an acceptor component.
- 19. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said donor component comprises a relatively strong electron donating group.
- 20. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said acceptor component comprises a relatively strong electron accepting group.
- 21. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said chromophore is characterized by the following molecular structure:
- 22. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said chromophore is characterized by the following molecular structure:
- 23. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said chromophore is characterized by the following molecular structure:
- 24. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said chromophore is characterized by the following molecular structure:
- 25. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said chromophore is characterized by the following molecular structure:
- 26. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said chromophore is characterized by the following molecular structure:
- 27. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said chromophore is characterized by the following molecular structure:
- 28. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said chromophore is characterized by the following molecular structure:
- 29. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said chromophore is characterized by the following molecular structure:
- 30. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said chromophore is characterized by the following molecular structure:
- 31. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said chromophore is characterized by the following molecular structure:
- 32. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said chromophore is characterized by the following molecular structure:
- 33. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said polymer/chromophore blend comprises a solvent configured to enhance a mobility of a chromophore component within said polymer/chromophore blend.
- 34. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
said waveguide device further comprises a temperature controller configured to maintain said device at a predetermined operating temperature; and said Kerr Effect medium is characterized by an effective glass transition temperature below said predetermined operating temperature.
- 35. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said Kerr Effect medium is characterized by an effective glass transition temperature below about 120° C.
- 36. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said Kerr Effect medium is characterized by an effective glass transition temperature below about 20° C.
- 37. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said refractive index of said optically functional region of said cladding is lower than said refractive index of said optical waveguide core at a temperature above an effective glass transition temperature of said Kerr Effect medium.
- 38. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said refractive index of said optically functional region of said cladding is lower than said refractive index of said optical waveguide core at wavelengths between about 1200 nm and about 1650 nm.
- 39. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said refractive index of said optically functional region of said cladding is lower than said refractive index of said optical waveguide core at a wavelength of about 1300 nm or about 1550 nm.
- 40. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said respective refractive indices of said optically functional region of said cladding and said optical waveguide core are such that a substantial portion of light introduced into said waveguide core along an optical axis of said device is confined within said waveguide core while a substantial portion of said light introduced into said waveguide core is allowed to propagate in said optically functional region of said cladding.
- 41. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 40 wherein at least about 10% of said light introduced into said waveguide core is confined within said waveguide core.
- 42. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 40 wherein at least about 10% of said light introduced into said waveguide core is allowed to propagate in said optically functional region of said cladding.
- 43. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 40 wherein between about 30% and about 90% of said light introduced into said waveguide core is confined within said waveguide core.
- 44. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 40 wherein between about 40% and about 60% of said light introduced into said waveguide core is confined within said waveguide core.
- 45. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said refractive index of said optically functional region is between about 0.3% and about 1% lower than said refractive index of said optical waveguide core.
- 46. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said refractive index of said optical waveguide core is between about 1.45 and about 1.46.
- 47. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 46 wherein said refractive index of said optically functional region of said cladding is between about 1.44 and about 1.45.
- 48. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said refractive index of said optical waveguide core is about 1.45.
- 49. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 48 wherein said refractive index of said optically functional region of said cladding is between about 0.3% and about 1% lower than said refractive index of said optical waveguide core.
- 50. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 48 wherein said refractive index of said optically functional region of said cladding is about 1.44.
- 51. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said refractive index of said optical waveguide core is about 1.454.
- 52. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 51 wherein said refractive index of said optically functional region of said cladding is about 1.444.
- 53. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said optical waveguide core defines a cross sectional width of between about 3 μm and about 10 μm.
- 54. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said optical waveguide core defines a cross sectional height of between about 5 μm and about 7 μm.
- 55. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said optical waveguide core comprises an optically passive material.
- 56. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 55 wherein said optically passive portion of said optical waveguide core and said optically functional region of said cladding lie along a common portion of an optical axis of said waveguide device.
- 57. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said optical waveguide core comprises an optically functional portion.
- 58. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 57 wherein said optically functional portion of said optical waveguide core and said optically functional region of said cladding lie along a common portion of an optical axis of said waveguide device.
- 59. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control signal comprises an optical signal and wherein said optically functional region of said cladding is responsive to an intensity of said optical signal.
- 60. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control signal comprises an electrical signal and wherein said optically functional region of said cladding is responsive to an magnitude of said electrical signal.
- 61. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control signal comprises a thermal signal and wherein said optically functional region of said cladding is responsive to an magnitude of said thermal signal.
- 62. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said waveguide device further comprises a set of control electrodes positioned to generate an electric field in said optically functional region, and wherein said control signal comprises said electric field.
- 63. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 62 wherein said Kerr Effect medium is characterized by a Kerr constant of at least about 3×10−14 m/V2.
- 64. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 62 wherein said Kerr Effect medium is characterized by a Kerr constant of about 3×10−12 m/V2.
- 65. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
said waveguide device comprises first and second optical waveguide arms arranged to define an optical signal splitting region near an input side of said waveguide device and an optical signal combining region near an output side of said waveguide device; said optically functional region is disposed between said optical signal splitting and combining regions; and said optically functional region comprises a first optically functional portion associated with said first optical waveguide arm and a second optically functional portion associated with said second optical waveguide arm.
- 66. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 66 wherein said waveguide device further comprises a controller configured to alter optical properties of said first and second optically functional portions independently from each other.
- 67. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 66 wherein:
absent application of a control signal from said controller to said first and second optically functional portions, said first and second optically functional portions define a π/2 phase difference between respective optical signals in said first and second optical waveguide arms at said optical signal combining region; and said controller is configured to generate an additional π/2 phase shift in either of said first and second optically functional portions of first and second optical waveguide arms.
- 68. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 65 wherein said optical signal splitting region and said optical signal combining regions comprise optical structure selected from 2×2 or 1×2 directional coupling regions, 1×2 Y signal splitters/combiners, 1×2 multimode interference element splitters/combiners, and 2×2 multimode interference element splitters/combiners.
- 69. A waveguide device comprising an optical waveguide core and a cladding optically coupled to said optical waveguide core, wherein:
said cladding comprises an optically functional region defining a refractive index that is configured to vary in response to a control signal applied to said optically functional region and characterized by a control signal magnitude; said refractive index of said optically functional region is lower than a refractive index of said optical waveguide core at an operational wavelength and temperature of operation of said device; and said optically functional region of said cladding comprises a cladding medium defining a refractive index approximating a function that varies with a square of said control signal magnitude.
- 70. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 69 wherein said function approximated by said refractive index of said cladding medium comprises:
- 71. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 70 wherein said cladding medium comprises a Kerr Effect medium and K represents the Kerr constant of said Kerr Effect medium.
- 72. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 70 wherein said control signal comprises an electric field and M represents an intensity E of said electric field.
- 73. A waveguide device comprising an optical waveguide core and a cladding optically coupled to said optical waveguide core, wherein:
said cladding comprises an optically functional region defining a refractive index that is configured to vary in response to a control signal applied to said optically functional region and characterized by a control signal magnitude; said refractive index of said optically functional region is lower than a refractive index of said optical waveguide core at an operational wavelength and temperature of operation of said device; said optically functional region of said cladding comprises a cladding medium configured to induce a phase shift Δφ in an optical signal propagating through said optically functional region in response to a control voltage V applied to said optically functional region; said cladding medium is configured such that successive phase shifts Δφ of 180° are induced in said optical signal as a magnitude of said control voltage is increased in successive increments Vπ and such that said successive increments Vπ decrease in magnitude as said magnitude of said control voltage is increased.
- 74. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 73 wherein said successive increments Vπ decrease according to a quadratic relationship with said control voltage.
- 75. A waveguide device comprising an optical waveguide core and a cladding optically coupled to said optical waveguide core, wherein:
said cladding comprises an optically functional region defined by an un-poled, substantially isotropic, polymeric cladding medium; said un-poled, substantially isotropic, polymeric cladding medium of said optically functional region defines a refractive index that is configured to vary in response to a control signal applied to said optically functional region; said refractive index of said un-poled, substantially isotropic, polymeric cladding medium of said optically functional region is lower than a refractive index of said optical waveguide core at an operational wavelength and temperature of operation of said device.
- 76. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 75 wherein said un-poled, substantially isotropic, polymeric cladding medium is characterized by a predetermined degree of chromophore mobility such that, under application of a suitable control signal, said polymeric cladding medium transitions from a substantially isotropic state to a substantially oriented state.
- 77. A waveguide device comprising an optical waveguide core and a cladding optically coupled to said optical waveguide core, wherein:
said cladding comprises an optically functional region defined by a polymeric cladding medium comprising a polymer/chromophore blend; said polymeric cladding medium of said optically functional region defines a refractive index that is configured to vary in response to a control signal applied to said optically functional region; said refractive index of said polymeric cladding medium of said optically functional region is lower than a refractive index of said optical waveguide core at an operational wavelength and temperature of operation of said device; said polymeric cladding medium is characterized by a predetermined degree of chromophore mobility; said predetermined degree of chromophore mobility is sufficient to enable said optically functional region to transition passively from a substantially oriented state to a substantially isotropic state in less than about one second.
- 78. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 77 wherein said predetermined degree of chromophore mobility is sufficient to enable said optically functional region to transition passively from said substantially oriented state to said substantially isotropic state in less than about 1 ms.
- 79. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 77 wherein said optically functional region is operative over a predetermined temperature range and wherein said predetermined degree of chromophore mobility is sufficient to enable said passive transition within said temperature range.
- 80. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 77 wherein said temperature range extends from about 0° C. to about 100° C.
- 81. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 77 wherein said temperature range is less than about 100° C.
- 82. A waveguide device comprising an optical waveguide core and a cladding optically coupled to said optical waveguide core, wherein:
said cladding comprises an optically functional region defined by a polymeric cladding medium comprising a polymer/chromophore blend; said polymeric cladding medium of said optically functional region defines a refractive index that is configured to vary in response to a control signal applied to said optically functional region; said refractive index of said polymeric cladding medium of said optically functional region is lower than a refractive index of said optical waveguide core at an operational wavelength and temperature of operation of said device; said waveguide device further comprises a controller configured to control an operating temperature of said waveguide device; said polymeric cladding medium is characterized by an effective glass transition temperature that is less than said operating temperature of said device.
- 83. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 82 wherein said operating temperature of said device is less than about 100° C.
- 84. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 82 wherein said operating temperature of said device is about 25° C.
- 85. An optical network comprising at least one transmitter, at least one receiver, a network of transmission lines interconnecting said transmitter and said receiver, and at least one waveguide device, said waveguide device comprising an optical waveguide core and a cladding optically coupled to said optical waveguide core, wherein:
said cladding comprises an optically functional region defining a refractive index that is configured to vary in response to a control signal applied to said optically functional region; said refractive index of said optically functional region is lower than a refractive index of said optical waveguide core at an operational wavelength and temperature of operation of said device; and said optically functional region of said cladding comprises a Kerr Effect medium.
- 86. A waveguide device comprising an optical waveguide core, a cladding optically coupled to said optical waveguide core, and an RF modulation controller configured to provide an RF modulating control signal to an optically functional region of said cladding, wherein:
said optically functional region is defined by a polymeric cladding medium comprising a polymer/chromophore blend; said polymeric cladding medium of said optically functional region defines a refractive index that is configured to vary in response to said RF modulating control signal applied to said optically functional region; said refractive index of said polymeric cladding medium of said optically functional region is lower than a refractive index of said optical waveguide core at an operational wavelength and temperature of operation of said device; said polymeric cladding medium is characterized by a predetermined degree of chromophore mobility; said predetermined degree of chromophore mobility is sufficient to enable transition of said optically functional region between a substantially oriented state and a substantially isotropic state at a frequency of said RF control signal.
- 87. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said waveguide device further comprises a modulation controller configured to provide a modulating control signal.
- 88. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 87 wherein said modulating control signal comprises an RF control signal.
- 89. A waveguide device as claimed in claim 88 wherein said optically functional region of said cladding is characterized by an orientational mobility sufficient to enable transition of said optically functional region between a substantially oriented state and a substantially isotropic state at a frequency of said RF control signal.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/427,725, filed Nov. 20, 2002 (OPI 0005 MA) and 60/439,253, filed Jan. 10, 2003 (OPI 0005 M2). The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/916,238, filed Jul. 26, 2001 (BAT 0036 PA), Ser. Nos. 10/098,730 and 10/098,731, filed Mar. 15, 2002 (BAT 0036 IA and OPI 0001 PA), Ser. No. 09/777,439, filed Feb. 6, 2001 (12665), and Ser. No. ______, filed (OPI20013PC).
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60427725 |
Nov 2002 |
US |
|
60439253 |
Jan 2003 |
US |