Wavelength division multiplexing optical communications systems
AssigneeAT&T Bell Laboratories
InventorGareth F. Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wavelength division multiplexing optical communications system and components thereof capable of using as many as 10.sup.4 channels are described. The system uses a waveguide resonator which is evanescently coupled to an optical fiber or waveguide. There is also an intracavity element optically coupled to the waveguide resonator and the control circuit element which is capable of tuning the frequency of either the intracavity element or the waveguide resonator, or both, to specific frequencies. There may be a plurality of devices optically coupled to each other through the system waveguide to form an optical communications system.
Claims92
A wavelength division multiplexing optical communications system comprising an optical waveguide and a device comprising a waveguide resonator;
- a photodetector;
- said resonator being optically evanescently coupled to said optical waveguide and optically coupled to said photodetector;
- an intracavity element optically coupled to said resonator;
- and a control circuit element to tune said resonator to a desired frequency.
A device comprising a waveguide resonator;
- a photodetector;
- said resonator adapted to be evanescently coupled to an optical waveguide and optically coupled to said photodetector;
- an intracavity element optically coupled to said resonator;
- and a control circuit element to tune said resonator to a desired frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.