Granted Patent B2

US 6,894,273 · App. 10/103,925 · Granted May 17, 2005

Abstract

Claims (50)

1. An optical system comprising:

an integrated package including an optical source and an electro-optic modulator, said optical source being operative to produce light, said electro-optic modulator being operative to receive the light and externally modulate the light such that a modulated light beam is emitted from said integrated package.

2. The optical system of claim 1 , wherein said integrated package includes a substrate; and

wherein said optical source is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser supported by said substrate.

3. The optical system of claim 1 , wherein said optical source comprises an electron emitter and an electrical-to-optical converter, the electron emitter being operative to emit a beam of electrons, the electrical-to-optical converter being operative to receive the beam of electrons and convert the electrons into light.

4. The optical system of claim 3 , wherein the electrical-to-optical converter comprises phosphorescent material.

5. The optical system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a focusing element optically communicating with said electro-optic modulator, said focusing element being operative to receive a modulated light beam from said electro-optic modulator and spatially modify the modulated light beam.

6. The optical system of claim 1 , wherein said integrated package includes a first substrate supporting said optical source and a second substrate supporting said electro-optic modulator.

7. The optical system of claim 6 , wherein the electro-optic modulator includes an electro-optic element and driving circuitry, and said driving circuitry is formed in said second substrate.

8. The optical system of claim 1 , wherein said electro-optic modulator includes an electro-optic element and driving circuitry, and said electro-optic element is a thin film electro-optic element.

9. The optical system of claim 1 , wherein said electro-optic modulator amplitude modulates the light.

10. The optical system of claim 1 , wherein said electro-optic modulator frequency modulates the light.

11. The optical system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an optical transmission medium optically communicating with said integrated package.

12. The optical system of claim 1 , wherein said optical source is a first optical source and said electro-optic modulator is a first electro-optic modulator; and

wherein said integrated package further includes a second optical source and a second electro-optic modulator, said second optical source being operative to produce light, said second electro-optic modulator being operative to receive the light from said second optical source and externally modulate the light such that a second modulated light beam is emitted from said integrated package.

13. The optical system of claim 12 , wherein said integrated package includes a substrate; and

wherein said first optical source and said second optical source are supported by said substrate.

14. The optical system of claim 12 , wherein said integrated package includes a first substrate and a second substrate, said first substrate and said second substrate engaging each other to form a first cavity therebetween, said first optical source being arranged in said first cavity.

15. The optical system of claim 14 , wherein said first substrate and said second substrate form a second cavity, said second optical source being arranged in said second cavity.

16. The optical system of claim 14 , wherein said integrated package includes a third substrate, said first substrate and said third substrate engaging each other to form a second cavity, said second optical source being arranged in said second cavity.

17. The optical system of claim 14 , wherein said first cavity is hermetically sealed.

18. The optical system of claim 14 , wherein said first cavity is maintained under vacuum pressure.

19. The optical system of claim 1 , wherein said integrated package includes a first substrate and a second substrate, said optical source being supported by said first substrate, said electro-optic modulator being supported by said second substrate.

20. The optical system of claim 19 , wherein said first substrate and said second substrate are attached directly to each other.

21. A method for producing a modulated light beam comprising:

providing an integrated package;

producing light within the integrated package; and

externally modulating the light such that a modulated light beam is emitted from the integrated package.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the integrated package includes a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser; and

wherein producing light comprises:

producing light with the vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein producing light comprises:

producing a beam of electrons; and

converting the beam of electrons into light.

24. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

providing an electro-optic modulator; and

wherein externally modulating the light comprises:

altering a characteristic of the electro-optic modulator.

25. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

focusing the light beam.

26. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

providing an optical transmission medium; and

propagating the modulated light beam to the optical transmission medium.

27. The method of claim 21 , wherein the modulated light beam is a first modulated light beam; and

further comprising:

producing second light within the integrated package; and

externally modulating the second light such that a second modulated light beam is emitted from the integrated package.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the first modulated light beam exhibits a different frequency than the second modulated light beam.

Assignments (12)