US Patent 7587107 - Plasmon logic

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7587107.html

Surface plasmons are electron vibrations formed at the interface of a thin film metal and dielectric. This patent from Intellectual Ventures proposes forming guided structures for plasmons as a new basis for an optical switching logic. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of controlling energy propagation, comprising:

guiding energy at a first plasmon frequency along a first path with a guiding structure;

blocking the guided energy carried by the guiding structure at the first plasmon frequency from propagating along the first path by electromagnetically saturating a first portion of the guiding structure along the first path with a first control signal having a first control signal frequency, wherein the first control signal includes electromagnetic radiation; and

blocking the guided energy carried by the guiding structure at the first plasmon frequency from propagating along the first path by saturating a second portion of the guiding structure along the first path with electromagnetic radiation.