US4861130A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical modulating device utilizing polariton substance
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1987-10-26
•
Granted: 1989-08-29
•
Expires: 2007-10-26
Abstract
Abstract An optical device utilizes a polariton substance and utilizes the absorption wavelength band of excitonic polaritons. Further, an external stimulus such as electric field, magnetic field, stress, current or electromagnetic wave (light) is continuously or intermittently given to the polariton substance, thereby to modulate light which enters the optical device. Thus, a modulating operation of ultra-high speed is possible.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshio Katsuyama
- 👤 Hiroyoshi Matsumura
- 👤 Hiroaki Inoue
- 👤 Tadashi Fukuzawa
- 👤 Naoki Chinone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:20
CPC Classifications
B; B82; B82Y; B82Y20/00; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/015; G02F1/025; G02F1/017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
In an optical device wherein a modulating part receives incident light to emit modulated light; an optical device characterized in that the modulating part is made of a polariton substance, to which a stimulus is externally given, thereby to modulate the incident light, the polariton substance absorbing the incident light so as to generate polaritons.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
55 words
In an optical device wherein a modulating part receives incident light to emit modulated light; an optical device characterized in that the modulating part is made of a polariton substance, to which a stimulus is externally given, thereby to modulate the incident light, the polariton substance absorbing the incident light so as to generate polaritons.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical device according to claim 1, wherein said polariton substance is an ionic semiconductor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An optical device according to claim 1, wherein the external stimulus is a perturbation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
An optical device according to claim 3, wherein said perturbation is a dynamical perturbation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
An optical device according to claim 3, wherein said perturbation is an electrical perturbation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical device according to claim 1, wherein the external stimulus is an electromagnetic wave.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical device according to claim 6, wherein said electromagnetic wave has light energy which is greater than a lowest energy of an upper branch polariton state of said polariton substance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical device according to claim 7, wherein said electromagnetic wave has energy which is not higher than 100 meV.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical device according to claim 1, wherein said incident light has a wavelength within an induced absorption band of said polariton substance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical device according to claim 1, wherein the modulated light is light which has been transmitted through said polariton substance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical device according to claim 1, wherein the modulated light is light which has been reflected from said polariton substance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
An optical device according to claim 1, wherein said polariton substance is CuCl.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical device according to claim 1, wherein said polariton substance has a superlattice structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical device according to claim 13, wherein said polariton substance is made of a group-III-V compound.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical device according to claim 13, wherein said incident light propagates in a direction parallel to the direction of said super-lattice structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
An optical device comprising: A semiconductor which exhibits induced absorption of polaritons by incident light; and means to modulate the incident light entering the semiconductor, by the use of modulation control light having energy that is greater than a lowest energy of an upper branch polariton state of the polaritons and that is not higher than 100 meV.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
An optical device comprising: A semiconductor which exhibits induced absorption of polaritons by incident light; and means to modulate the incident light entering the semiconductor, by the use of modulation control light having energy that is greater than a lowest energy of an upper branch polariton state of the polaritons and that is not higher than 100 meV.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical device according to claim 16, wherein the entering light has a wavelength within a wavelength band of the induced absorption of said polaritons.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
An optical device comprising: a polariton substance; and a pair of electrodes which are formed so as to hold the polariton substance therebetween; said polariton substance receiving incident light and absorbing the incident light so as to generate polaritons therein for emitting modulated light.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
An optical device comprising: a polariton substance; and a pair of electrodes which are formed so as to hold the polariton substance therebetween; said polariton substance receiving incident light and absorbing the incident light so as to generate polaritons therein for emitting modulated light.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical device comprising: a polariton substance having a super-lattice structure of GaAs/AlGaAs; and a pair of electrodes, at least one of which transmits light; said polariton substance receiving incident light and absorbing the incident light so as to generate polaritons therein for emitting modulated light.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical device comprising: a polariton substance having a super-lattice structure of GaAs/AlGaAs; and a pair of electrodes, at least one of which transmits light; said polariton substance receiving incident light and absorbing the incident light so as to generate polaritons therein for emitting modulated light.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
69 words
An optical device comprising: ridges which guide light; a modulating part which is provided in, at least, a part of the ridges and which is made of a polariton substance; and at least one pair of electrodes through which an electric field is applied to the modulating part; said polariton substance receiving incident light and absorbing the incident light so as to generate polaritons therein for emitting modulated light.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
69 words
An optical device comprising: ridges which guide light; a modulating part which is provided in, at least, a part of the ridges and which is made of a polariton substance; and at least one pair of electrodes through which an electric field is applied to the modulating part; said polariton substance receiving incident light and absorbing the incident light so as to generate polaritons therein for emitting modulated light.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
An optical device according to claim 20, wherein said ridges construct a directional coupler.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical device according to claim 20, wherein said ridges construct a total reflection type optical switch, and said modulating part is provided in an intersection part of said ridges.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4099854A
Cited
US4093344A
Cited
US4626075A
Cited
US4525687A
Cited
US4685763A
Cited
US4639075A
Cited
US4716449A
Cited
US4700353A
Cited
US4705361A
Cited
US4693547A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-28 | 1993-02-27 | 1993-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-28 | 1997-02-27 | 1997-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-28 | 2001-02-27 | 2001-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |