US4327962A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser/amplifier/detector diode
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1980-02-13
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Granted: 1982-05-04
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Expires: 2000-02-13
Abstract
Abstract A double-heterojunction diode fabricated on a single crystal fiber which is voltage and acoustically controlled so as to alternately be caused to be a laser, an optical amplifier, or a detector of optical signals. A preferred embodiment utilizes gallium arsenide (GaAs) and gallium aluminum arsenide (GaAlAs). The double-heterojunction diode when electronically powered with the right polarity becomes an injection amplifier, with the addition of an acousto-optic grating of suitable period for feedback becomes a laser, and with a suitably reversed potential and different acoustic period becomes a heterodyne detector. In a preferred embodiment, the device is utilized to insert frequency controlled coherent optical or infrared signals in both directions in a fiber waveguide, amplify those signals, and detect the heterodyne difference frequency.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles M. Redman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:04
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/40; H04B10/43; G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/58; G01C19/64; G01C19/66; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/105; H01S3/1055; H01S5/00; H01S5/06; H01S5/0607; H04B10/29; H04B10/291; H04B10/2912; H04B10/2914; H10; H10F; H10F55/00; H10F55/18; H01S3/106; H01S3/1068; H01S5/0014; H01S5/0028; H01S5/02; H01S5/026; H01S5/10; H01S5/12; H01S5/1228; H01S5/1234; H01S5/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
An apparatus, comprising: a single crystal optical fiber waveguide; a double heterojunction diode having an active P-N region fabricated on said waveguide; first means for causing said diode to function as a source of laser radiation and for causing said laser radiation to be coupled into said waveguide in opposite directions having a different frequency in each direction; second means for causing said diode to function as an amplifier of said radiation in said waveguide; third means for causing said diode to deflect said radiation out of said waveguide and for detecting the heterodyne difference frequency of said deflected radiation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
An apparatus, comprising: a single crystal optical fiber waveguide; a double heterojunction diode having an active P-N region fabricated on said waveguide; first means for causing said diode to function as a source of laser radiation and for causing said laser radiation to be coupled into said waveguide in opposite directions having a different frequency in each direction; second means for causing said diode to function as an amplifier of said radiation in said waveguide; third means for causing said diode to deflect said radiation out of said waveguide and for detecting the heterodyne difference frequency of said deflected radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said first means for causing said diode to function as a source of laser radiation comprises means for injecting an acoustic surface wave across said active region of said diode at a first wavelength.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein said third means for causing said diode to deflect said radiation out of said waveguide and for detecting the heterodyne difference frequency of said deflected radiation comprises means for causing said means for injecting an acoustic surface wave across said active region to inject an acoustic surface wave across said active region at a second wavelength.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said diode is positioned transversely to the direction of propagation of said radiation through said waveguide, and includes electrode means for applying a D.C. potential across said active region of said diode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said D.C. potential applied to said electrode means is of one polarity when said diode acts as said first means and is of the opposite polarity when said diode acts as said third means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said means for injecting an acoustic surface wave is inactive when said diode acts as said second means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said means for injecting an acoustic surface wave comprises an acousto-optic transducer coupled to one of the P-N layers which comprise the active region of said diode.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-05-03 | 1985-11-02 | 1986-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-05-03 | 1989-11-02 | 1990-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-05-03 | 1993-11-02 | 1994-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |