Optical waveguides – Integrated optical circuit
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-24
2001-05-15
Bovernick, Rodney (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
Integrated optical circuit
C385S122000, C359S326000, C359S328000, C359S332000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233375
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an integrated optics component with polarization effect comprising a substrate, at least one light wave guiding waveguide formed at the level of the substrate and designed to transmit a light wave applied to an input of the light wave guiding waveguide, and, at the level of the substrate, at least one segmented plane waveguide arranged laterally with respect to the light wave guiding waveguide and formed by a plurality of lateral waveguides parallel to one another, separated from one another by a space and forming a right angle with a longitudinal axis of the light wave guiding waveguide.
In a large number of applications using optical sensors and high bit-rate optical transmission devices, it is essential to have a well-defined state of polarization of the light wave. Moreover, the polarization sensitivity of anisotropic integrated optical components designed for use in optical switches, commutators, filters and amplifiers is a serious problem which can be overcome by using devices enabling the polarization to be modified.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 4,778,234 describes an integrated optical polarizing device with spatial polarization separation. In this device, interaction regions are obtained by modifying the material of a substrate, itself highly anisotropic, in controlled manner by doping or ion substitution. Doping of the interaction regions is performed in such a way that these regions have an index respectively lower than and higher than those of a light wave guiding waveguide for first and second polarization directions. In this way, the component of a wave having the second polarization direction ceases to be guided.
In this type of device, the light corresponding to one of the polarizations is eliminated and can no longer be recovered. There is consequently a loss of energy and, in certain cases, a loss of information. This type of device only enables two polarizations to be separated, but does not in any case enable a rotation of polarization to be performed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to achieve an integrated optics component with polarization effect enabling the polarization state of the light to be adjusted in predetermined manner, i.e. either maintaining this polarization state or modifying it in predetermined manner. It must enable any type of polarizer to be achieved or a rotation of polarization to be performed.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by the fact that the light wave guiding and segmented plane waveguides are achieved simultaneously, the refractive indexes of the segmented plane waveguide being lower than or equal to the refractive indexes of the light wave guiding waveguide.
The lateral segmented plane waveguides act on the anisotropy of the light wave guiding waveguide by mechanical stresses and geometry effects, thus producing a waveguide with high birefringence.
According to a first development of the invention, the component comprises segmented plane waveguides arranged symmetrically on each side of the light wave guiding waveguide. The light wave guiding waveguide then presents polarization state preservation properties, while at the same time maximizing the birefringence of the light wave guiding waveguide.
According to a second development of the invention, the component comprises segmented plane waveguides arranged asymmetrically on each side of the light wave guiding waveguide. By this asymmetrical disturbance of the index profile, the principal axis or axes of the light wave guiding waveguide are tilted and this enables devices modifying the polarization state of the light to be achieved.
To reduce the losses between the light wave guiding waveguide and the segmented plane waveguide, it is possible to arrange the segmented plane waveguide at a preset distance, preferably less than a few tens of micrometers, from the light wave guiding waveguide.
To increase the stresses, the component can comprise at least one additional plane waveguide arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the light wave guiding waveguide, at the end of an associated segmented plane waveguide opposite to the light wave guiding waveguide.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5836073 (1998-11-01), Mizuuchi et al.
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Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 016, No. 182 (P-1346), Apr. 30, 1992 & JP 04 021828 A (Hikari Keisoku Gijutsu Kaihatsu KK), Jan. 24, 1992 *abstract*.
Benech Pierre
Lang Thiemo
Bovernick Rodney
Kim Ellen E.
Parkhurst & Wendel L.L.P.
Schneider Electric SA
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