Optical information processor

Abstract

Abstract PURPOSE:To improve the recording density and the reliability of an optical information processor by having a dielectric substrate containing optical waveguides serving as the optical paths of the emitted light, branched light and the reflected light respectively and providing an electrode to the optical waveguide of the branched or reflected light to apply an electric field. CONSTITUTION:Optical paths are formed by the optical waveguides formed on a dielectric substrate 26 and based on the theory of a Michaelson interferometer which is free from the extension of diffraction and aging change variance and requires no control in an asembling process. When LiNbO3 is used as the material of the substrate 26, the extremely big electro-optical effect is obtained. Thus the refractive index of a wave director 23 set under an electrode 27 is varied if an electric field is applied to the 3rd optical waveguide 23 from the electrode 27. Then the optical path length of the light passing through the waveguide 23 is changed. Thus the optical path length of the waveguide 23 is changed electrically. Then a reproduction system can be actuated at an optimum working point.

Inventors

• 👤 Shinsuke Shikama
• 👤 信介 鹿間

Bibliographic Details