Patents by Inventor Peter Brent Littlewood

Peter Brent Littlewood has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Acousto-optical device based on phonon-induced polaritonic band gaps
    Patent number: 7209603
    Abstract: The device comprises an optical waveguide and an acoustic wave generating device. The waveguide has an optical band gap and a sharp electronic transition (e.g. an excitonic transition) in the band gap, and the acoustic wave generating device generates acoustic waves within the waveguide. Light passing through the waveguide is of a frequency within the band gap of the waveguide and is nearly resonant with the sharp electronic transition. The wave generating device is arranged to generate acoustic waves so as to induce optical band gas in the polariton spectrum, thereby affecting the transmission of the light passing through the waveguide, the transmission of which is thereby affected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignees: University College Cardiff Consultants Limited, Cambridge University Technical Services Limited
    Inventors: Peter Brent Littlewood, Alexander L. Ivanov
  • Acousto-optical device based on phonon-induced polaritonic band gaps
    Publication number: 20040247224
    Abstract: The device comprises an optical waveguide and an acoustic wave generating device. The waveguide has an optical band gap and a sharp electronic transition (e.g. an excitonic transition) in the band gap, and the acoustic wave generating device generates acoustic waves within the waveguide. Light passing through the waveguide is of a frequency within the band gap of the waveguide and is nearly resonant with the sharp electronic transition. The wave generating device is arranged to generate acoustic waves so as to induce optical band gas in the polariton spectrum, thereby affecting the transmission of the light passing through the waveguide, the transmission of which is thereby affected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Peter Brent Littlewood, Alexei Ivanov