Light modulation system including a superconductive plate assembly for use in a data transmission scheme and method

• Main Author: PUZEY; KENNETH A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 16.06.1998
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CABLES; CONDUCTORS; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH ISMODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THEDEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY,COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g.SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; FREQUENCY-CHANGING; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; INSULATORS; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS; OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICS; PHYSICS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING ORDIELECTRIC PROPERTIES; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ARTCOLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNIQUES OR PROCEDURES FOR THE OPERATION THEREOF; TRANSMISSION

A method and apparatus for modulating light, wherein a light source provides light of a certain wavelength to be modulated by a layer of superconducting material which forms part of a specifically configured plate assembly. The superconducting layer is placed in the optical path of the light source. Further the superconducting layer is switched between a partially transparent non-superconducting state and a substantially non-transparent superconducting state by a modulation circuit. The resulting optical pulses transmitted through the superconducting layer are converted from the original wavelength to a lower wavelength by a frequency converting device.