Wavelength-selective switch for space-division multiplexed systems
AssigneeAlcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
InventorsNicolas K. Fontaine, David Neilson, Roland Ryf
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical apparatus includes a front optics section and a spectrometer section. The front optics section includes a spot de-multiplexer configured to receive a plurality of multi-mode optical signals each having a plurality of modal components, and to output in a linear array of a corresponding plurality of optical beams for each multimode optical signal. The spectrometer section includes a wavelength steering element configured to separate each of the optical beams into a plurality of wavelength channels. A fiber steering element is configured to steer the wavelength channels between the optical beams.
Claims20
An optical apparatus, comprising:
- a front optics section including a spot de-multiplexer configured to receive a plurality of multi-mode optical signals each having M modal components, and to output in a linear array M optical beams for each multimode optical signal;
- a spectrometer section including:
- a wavelength steering element configured to separate each of said optical beams into a plurality of wavelength channels;
- and
- a fiber steering element configured to steer said wavelength channels between said optical beams.
A method of forming an optical apparatus, comprising:
- configuring a spot de-multiplexer to receive a plurality of multi-mode optical signals each having M modal components, and to output in a linear array of M optical beams for each multimode optical signal;
- locating in a path of said optical beams a wavelength steering element configured to separate each of said optical beams into a plurality of wavelength channels;
- and
- configuring a fiber steering element to steer said wavelength channels between said optical beams.
A wavelength-selective switch (WSS), comprising:
- a spot demultiplexer configured to receive from a plurality of optical fibers M multi-mode optical signals and form therefrom M*N optical beams, where N>1;
- a diffraction element configured to separate said optical beams into wavelength-resolved optical beams;
- and
- a steering element configured to direct a selected one of said wavelength-resolved optical beams from a first one of said optical fibers to a second one of said optical fibers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.