Amplitude and phase control in distributed optical structures

(54) AMPLITUDE AND PHASE CONTROL IN DISTRIBUTED OPTICAL STRUCTURES

(75) Inventors: Thomas W. Mossberg, Eugene, OR (US); Christoph M. Greiner, Eugene, OR (US)

(73) Assignee: LightSmyth Technologies, Inc.,

Eugene, OR (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ol this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

WO WO 02/075411 9/2002

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Mossberg, T.W.; "Planar Holographic Optical Processing Devices," 2001 Optical Society ol America; Optics Letters, vol. 26, No. 7; Apr. 1, 2001.

Lohmann et al., "Graphic Codes for Computer Holography," Applied Optics, vol. 34, No. 17; Jun. 10, 1995.

Hirayama et al., "Novel Surface Emitting Laser Diode Using Photonic Band-Gap Cavity," Appl. Phys. Lett. 69(6), Aug. 5, 1996.

(21) Appl. No.: 10/229,444

(22) Filed: Aug. 27, 2002

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2003/0039444 Al Feb. 27, 2003

Related U.S. Application Data

(60) Provisional application No. 60/315,302, filed on Aug. 27, 2001, and provisional application No. 60/370,182, filed on Apr. 4, 2002.

(51) Int. CI.7 G02F 1/295

(52) U.S. CI 385/10; 385/37; 385/3;

385/14; 359/565; 359/569

(58) Field of Search 385/37, 36, 14,

385/123, 8, 9, 10, 3, 1; 359/565, 569, 566,

570, 576

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,995,937 A 12/1976 Baues et al.

6,144,480 A 11/2000 Li et al 385/37 X

6,473,232 B2 * 10/2002 Ogawa 359/565

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

WO WO 99/56159 11/1999

* cited by examiner

Primary Examiner—Phan T. H. Palmer

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—David S. Alavi

(57) ABSTRACT

An optical element is provided with one or more sets of diffractive elements. Individual diffractive element transfer functions collectively yield corresponding overall transfer functions between corresponding entrance and exit ports. Diffractive elements are defined by contours that include diffracting region(s) altered to diffract, reflect, and/or scatter incident optical fields (altered index, surface, etc). Element transfer functions are determined by: fraction of contour filled by diffracting region(s) (partial-fill grayscale); and/or the spatial profile of the diffracting region(s) (profile-based grayscale). Optical elements may be configured: as planar or channel waveguides, with curvilinear diffracting segments; to support three-dimensional propagation with surface areal diffracting segments; as a diffraction grating, with grating groove segments. These devices may have one or more ports, and may provide one or more spatial/spectral transfer functions between the ports with spatially overlapping sets of diffractive elements.

93 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets