US 2006/0139735 A1 · MULTI-CHANNEL DPSK RECEIVER

Abstract

An optical, multi-channel, Differential Phase Shift Keying (DPSK) receiver demodulates multiple Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) channels using a single interferometer. This distributes expense of the interferometer over all channels of an optical signal, allowing for deployment of cost-effective, scalable, wideband, WDM DPSK systems. For example, for an 80 channel WDM link, the receiver uses a single interferometer instead of eighty interferometers and associated stabilization hardware, dramatically reducing size, weight, power, and cost. The receiver is architecturally compatible with existing interferometer technologies so previous development and qualification efforts can be leveraged. This allows for expedited technology insertion into existing optical communications networks, including terrestrial and space-based optical networks.

Claims49

Dependent claims

An apparatus for demodulating an optical signal having Differential Phase Shift Keying (DPSK) channels, the apparatus comprising:

a delay line interferometer (i) demodulating an optical signal from having DPSK channels to an optical signal having channels modulated in intensity and (ii) outputting the demodulated optical signal onto at least one main output optical path;
and
channel selectors in the at least one main output optical path directing channels onto tributary optical paths.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-channel dpsk receiver

Life of this patent

Multi-channel dpsk receiver

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims49