Interleaver using spatial birefringent elements

Abstract

An interleaver has an input polarization beam displacer, a birefringent filter assembly in optical communication with the input polarization beam displacer, a first output polarization beam displacer in optical communication with the birefringent filter assembly and a second output polarization beam displacer optical communication with the first output polarization beam displacer. The birefringent filter assembly preferably comprises at least one birefringent filter stage, wherein each birefringent filter stage comprises a first filter polarization beam displacer, a second filter polarization beam displacer and at least one reflector configured so as to direct light from first filter polarization beam displacer to the second filter of polarization beam displacer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.