Complementary optical phase shifting arrangement
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsSean P. Anderson, Vipulkumar Patel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical phase shifting arrangement and associated optical switching device and method are disclosed. The optical phase shifting arrangement comprises a first optical phase shifter configured to provide a first phase shift to an optical signal, and a second optical phase shifter configured to provide a second phase shift to the optical signal in addition to the first phase shift. During a predefined period, the first optical phase shifter and the second optical phase shifter are driven such that the second phase shift is substantially complementary to the first phase shift.
Claims20
An optical phase shifting arrangement comprising:
- a first optical phase shifter configured to provide a first phase shift to an optical signal;
- a second optical phase shifter configured to provide a second phase shift to the optical signal in addition to the first phase shift;
- and
- a phase controller configured to, during a predefined period:
- determine a phase shift value for a total phase shift to be provided to the optical signal, wherein the total phase shift is a sum of the first phase shift and the second phase shift;
- drive the first optical phase shifter with a first signal to cause the first optical phase shifter to provide the phase shift value upon elapse of a rise time of the first optical phase shifter;
- and
- drive the second optical phase shifter with a second signal to cause the total phase shift to reach the phase shift value before the elapse of the rise time.
An optical switching device comprising:
- a first arm configured to propagate a first optical signal;
- a first optical phase shifter arranged proximate to the first arm, the first optical phase shifter configured to provide a first phase shift to the first optical signal;
- a second optical phase shifter arranged proximate to the first arm, the second optical phase shifter configured to provide a second phase shift to the first optical signal in addition to the first phase shift;
- and
- a phase controller configured to, during a switching period:
- determine a phase shift value for a total phase shift to be provided to the first optical signal, wherein the total phase shift is a sum of the first phase shift and the second phase shift;
- drive the first optical phase shifter with a first signal to cause the first optical phase shifter to provide the phase shift value upon elapse of a rise time of the first optical phase shifter;
- and
- drive the second optical phase shifter with a second signal to cause the total phase shift to reach the phase shift value before the elapse of the rise time.
A method comprising:
- determining a phase shift value for a total phase shift to be provided to a first optical signal propagating along a first arm, wherein the total phase shift is a sum of a first phase shift provided by a first optical phase shifter and a second phase shift provided by a second optical phase shifter;
- driving, during a predefined period, the first optical phase shifter with a first signal to cause the first optical phase shifter to provide the phase shift value upon elapse of a rise time of the first optical phase shifter;
- and
- driving, during the predefined period, the second optical phase shifter with a second signal to cause the total phase shift to reach the phase shift value before the elapse of the rise time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.