# US 10,484,094 B2 · Optical signal transmission system, a method for transmitting a plurality of optical signals, and a method for making a photonic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,484,094 B2 - Document ID: US10484094B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/328,702 - Filed: 2017-08-30 - Published: 2019-06-27 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-30 - Assignees: Macquarie University - Applicants: Macquarie University - Inventors: Simon Gross; Michael Withford; Nicolas Riesen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10484094B2 ## CPC - H04B 10/2581: Multimode transmission - H04J 14/0202: {Arrangements therefor} - H04J 14/04: Mode multiplex systems - H04B 10/2589: {Bidirectional transmission} - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04J: MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION (transmission in general H04B; peculiar to transmission of digital information H04L5/00; systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal H04N7/08; in exchanges H04Q11/00; stereophonic systems H04S) ## Abstract An optical signal transmission system comprising a multimode optical fiber link. The multimode optical fiber link is for transmission of a plurality of optical signals in a plurality of spatial modes supported by the multimode optical fiber link. The optical signal transmission system comprises a photonic device in the form of a spatial mode add drop multiplexer coupled to the multimode optical fiber link and configured for at least one of coupling into the multimode optical fiber link an optical signal of the plurality of optical signals into a spatial mode of the plurality of spatial modes and coupling out of the multimode optical fiber link and into an optical fiber the optical signal of the spatial mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical signal transmission system comprising: a multimode optical fiber link for transmission of a plurality of optical signals in a plurality of spatial modes supported by the multimode optical fiber link; and a spatial mode add drop multiplexer comprising a multimode optical fiber input optically coupled to the multimode optical fiber link, a multimode optical fiber output optically coupled to the multimode optical fiber link, and a glass photonic chip comprising a waveguide network comprising a multimode waveguide input at which the multimode optical fiber input in optically coupled and a multimode waveguide output at which the multimode fiber output is optically coupled, wherein the spatial mode add drop multiplexer is configured for at least one of coupling into the multimode optical fiber link an optical signal of the plurality of optical signals into a spatial mode of the plurality of spatial modes and selectively coupling out of the multimode optical fiber link the optical signal of the spatial mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A system defined by claim 1 wherein the spatial mode add drop multiplexer is configured for selectively coupling out of the multimode optical fiber link and into an optical fiber the optical signal of the spatial mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A system defined by claim 1 wherein the multimode optical fiber input comprises a few mode input optical fiber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A system defined by claim 1 wherein the multimode optical fiber output comprises a few mode output optical fiber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A system defined by claim 1 wherein the waveguide network comprises at least one of a mode selective tapered coupler, a mode selective photonic lantern, and an asymmetric directional coupler. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A system defined by claim 1 wherein the waveguide network is a laser written waveguide network. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A system defined by claim 1 comprising a plurality of spatial mode add drop multiplexers optically coupled to the multimode optical fiber link, wherein the spatial mode add drop multiplexer is one of the plurality of spatial mode add drop multiplexers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A system defined by claim 1 comprising a spatial mode multiplexer optically coupled to the multimode optical fiber link and configured for coupling into the multimode optical fiber link at least some of the plurality of optical signals into at least some of the plurality of spatial modes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A system defined by claim 8 wherein the spatial mode multiplexer is optically coupled to a plurality of optical transmitters. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A system defined by claim 1 comprising a spatial mode de-multiplexer coupled to the multimode optical fiber link and configured for selectively coupling out of the multimode optical fiber link at least some of the plurality of optical signals in at least some of the plurality of spatial modes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A system defined by claim 10 wherein the spatial mode de-multiplexer is optically coupled to a plurality of optical receivers. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A system defined by claim 1 wherein the spatial mode add drop multiplexer is for at least one of coupling into the multimode fiber link the optical signal of the plurality of optical signals into a spatial mode group of a plurality of spatial mode groups supported by the multimode optical fiber link and selectively coupling out of the multimode optical fiber link the optical signal of the spatial mode group. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A system defined by claim 12 comprising a spatial mode add drop de-multiplexer configured for selectively coupling out of the multimode optical fiber link the optical signal of the spatial mode group. ### Claim 14 A method for transmitting a plurality of optical signals, the method comprising: using a spatial mode add drop multiplexer coupled to a multimode optical fiber link that supports a plurality of spatial modes to either couple into the multimode optical fiber link an optical signal of the plurality of optical signals into a spatial mode of the plurality of spatial mode groups or coupling out of the multimode optical fiber link the optical signal of the spatial mode, wherein the spatial mode add drop multiplexer comprises a multimode optical fiber input optically coupled to the multimode optical fiber link, a multimode optical fiber output optically coupled to the multimode optical fiber link, and a glass photonic chip comprising a waveguide network comprising a multimode waveguide input at which the multimode optical fiber input in optically coupled and a multimode waveguide output at which the multimode fiber output is optically coupled, wherein the spatial mode add drop multiplexer is configured for at least one of coupling into the multimode optical fiber link an optical signal of the plurality of optical signals into a spatial mode of the plurality of spatial modes and selectively coupling out of the multimode optical fiber link the optical signal of the spatial mode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method defined by claim 14 wherein the spatial mode add drop multiplexer can be used to couple out of the multimode optical fiber link and into an optical fiber the optical signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A method defined by claim 14 wherein the waveguide network comprises at least one of a mode selective tapered coupler, a mode selective photonic lantern, and an asymmetric directional coupler. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A method defined by claim 14 wherein the waveguide network is a laser written waveguide network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A method defined by claim 14 comprising a plurality of spatial mode add drop multiplexers coupled to the multimode optical fiber link wherein the spatial mode add drop multiplexer in one of a plurality of spatial mode add drop multiplexers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) A method defined by claim 14 comprising using a spatial mode multiplexer coupled to the multimode optical fiber link to couple into the multimode optical fiber at least some of the plurality of optical signals into at least some of the plurality of spatial modes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) A method defined by claim 14 comprising using a spatial mode de-multiplexer coupled to the multimode optical fiber link to selectively couple out of the multimode optical fiber link at least some of the plurality of optical signals in at least some of the plurality of spatial modes into a plurality of respective optical fibers.