US4077699A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical devices
Assignee: Post Office
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Filing: 1975-09-18
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Granted: 1978-03-07
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Expires: 1995-09-18
Abstract
Abstract An opto-electronic element consists of a dielectric optical waveguide having a single crystal core of meta-nitroaniline. The element is made by feeding molten meta-nitroaniline into a hollow fibre along which a temperature gradient exists. Nucleation sets in at one end of the fibre and the temperature gradient is altered to promote crystal growth along the fibre. The element can be used as a polarizer, in isolators, harmonic generators or mixers. The action of the device depends on either the non-linear optical properties of the meta-nitroaniline or the optical anisotropy of the meta-nitroaniline. To make a polarizer the meta-nitroaniline core is surrounded by a cladding having a refractive index lying midway between two of the refractive indices of the meta-nitroaniline.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Burnaby Dyott
- 👤 John Leslie Stevenson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:36
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/105; C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/02; C03B37/022; C03B37/023; C03B37/075; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/09; G02F1/095; G02F1/35; G02F1/365
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A dielectric optical waveguide polariser comprising a length of dielectric optical waveguide having a single crystal cylindrical core of an optically anisotropic material having a first and a second refractive index surrounded by a cladding of optically isotropic material having a fourth refractive index greater than said first refractive index and less than said second refractive index, arranged so that light having a first plane of polarisation is guided by said length of dielectric optical waveguide, and light having a second plane of polarisation is radiated by said length of dielectric optical waveguide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
A dielectric optical waveguide polariser comprising a length of dielectric optical waveguide having a single crystal cylindrical core of an optically anisotropic material having a first and a second refractive index surrounded by a cladding of optically isotropic material having a fourth refractive index greater than said first refractive index and less than said second refractive index, arranged so that light having a first plane of polarisation is guided by said length of dielectric optical waveguide, and light having a second plane of polarisation is radiated by said length of dielectric optical waveguide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A dielectric optical waveguide polariser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said single crystal cylindrical core consists of a low melting organic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A dielectric optical waveguide polariser as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cladding has a cross-sectional thickness which varies circumferentially about said dielectric optical waveguide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A dielectric optical waveguide polariser as claimed in claim 3 wherein said single crystal cylindrical core comprises a bi-axial crystal, having in addition to said first and second refractive indices, a third refractive index.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
A dielectric optical waveguide polariser as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first refractive index is greater than said fourth refractive index and said second and third refractive indices are less than said fourth refractive index, said third refractive index associated with a direction along the axis of said length of dielectric optical waveguide, said first and second refractive indices associated with orthogonal directions in a plane perpendicular to said axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A dielectric optical waveguide polariser as claimed in claim 5 wherein said low melting organic material is meta-nitroaniline.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A dielectric optical waveguide isolator comprising a polariser as claimed in claim 1 optically connected to a length of dielectric optical waveguide having a cladding and a core comprising a Faraday magneto optic material arranged to rotate a plane of polarisation by (2n + 1) × 45°, where n is an integer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical mixer comprising a length of intrinsic dielectric optical waveguide having a single crystal cylindrical core of a material having a non-centro-symmetric crystal structure and a cladding, and optical input means for coupling two distinct optical signals into said length of dielectric optical waveguide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical mixer comprising a length of intrinsic dielectric optical waveguide having a single crystal cylindrical core of a material having a non-centro-symmetric crystal structure and a cladding, and optical input means for coupling two distinct optical signals into said length of dielectric optical waveguide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
An optical mixer as claimed in claim 8 wherein said material is meta-nitroaniline.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
Light detecting apparatus comprising a second harmonic generator consisting of a length of intrinsic dielectric optical waveguide having a single crystal cylindrical core of a material having a non-centro-symmetric crystal structure and a cladding, optically coupled at one end to a source of radiation of predetermined wavelength and optically coupled at the other end to a light sensitive element, sensitive to a second harmonic of said predetermined wavelength.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
Light detecting apparatus comprising a second harmonic generator consisting of a length of intrinsic dielectric optical waveguide having a single crystal cylindrical core of a material having a non-centro-symmetric crystal structure and a cladding, optically coupled at one end to a source of radiation of predetermined wavelength and optically coupled at the other end to a light sensitive element, sensitive to a second harmonic of said predetermined wavelength.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
Light detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said material is meta-nitroaniline.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1331228A
Cited
US3781081A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-03-06 | 1981-09-05 | 1982-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-06 | 1985-09-05 | 1986-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-06 | 1989-09-05 | 1990-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |