Back to results
US 6,169,604 AGranted
Nonlinear interferometer for fiber optic dense wavelength division multiplexer utilizing a phase bias element to separate wavelengths in an optical signal
AssigneeAvanex Corporation
InventorSimon X. F. Cao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A nonlinear interferometer wavelength separation mechanism for use in a dense wavelength division multiplexer is provided. The mechanism includes a first glass plate optically coupled to a second glass plate, forming a space therebetween; a mechanism for introducing a phase shift at least one channel of an optical signal; and a mechanism for broadening a pass band of the optical signal. The nonlinear interferometer of the present invention allows a dense wavelength division multiplexer to have an ease in alignment and a higher tolerance to drifts due to the increase in the width of the pass band. It also has the added ability of being passively stable to temperature.
Claims20
A nonlinear interferometer comprising:
- (a) a first glass plate optically coupled to a second glass plate, forming a space therebetween, wherein the first glass plate is wedge shaped;
- (b) a phase bias element residing inside the space wherein the phase bias element introduces a phase shift between a first wavelength in a first channel and a second wavelength in a second channel in an optical signal;
- (c) a first reflective coating residing inside the space and on the second glass plate;
- and
- (d) a second reflective coating residing inside the space and on the first glass plate, wherein the first and second reflective coatings broadens a pass band of the optical signal wherein the first reflective coating is maintained at a fixed distance from the second reflective coating.
2 more elements
A nonlinear interferometer comprising:
- (a) a first glass plate optically coupled to a second glass plate, forming a space therebetween, wherein the first glass plate is wedge shaped;
- (b) a waveplate residing inside the space, wherein the waveplate introduces a phase shift between a first wavelength of a first channel and a second wavelength of a second channel in an optical signal;
- (c) a first reflective coating residing inside the space and on the second glass plate;
- and
- (d) a second reflective coating residing inside the space and on the first glass plate,
- wherein the first and second reflective coatings broadens a pass band of the optical signal, wherein the first reflective coating is maintained at a fixed distance from the second reflective coating.
3 more elements
A nonlinear interferometer comprising:
- (a) a first glass plate optically coupled to a second glass plate, forming a space therebetween;
- (b) a first phase bias element residing inside the space wherein the first phase bias element introduces a phase shift between a first wavelength in a first channel and a second wavelength in a second channel in an optical signal;
- (c) a first reflective coating residing inside the space and on the second glass plate;
- (d) a second reflective coating residing inside the space and on the first glass plate, wherein the first and second reflective coatings broadens a pass band of the optical signal wherein the first reflective coating is maintained at a fixed distance from the second reflective coating;
- and
- (e) a second phase bias element residing outside the space and optically coupled to the first glass plate, wherein the second phase bias element tunes a shape and a position of the pass band and an isolation band of the optical signal.
3 more elements
A nonlinear interferometer comprising:
- (a) a first glass plate optically coupled to a second glass plate, forming a space therebetween;
- (b) a first waveplate residing inside the space, wherein the first waveplate introduces a phase shift between a first wavelength of a first channel and a second wavelength of a second channel in an optical signal;
- (c) a first reflective coating residing inside the space and on the second glass plate;
- (d) a second reflective coating residing inside the space and on the first glass plate, wherein the first and second reflective coatings broadens a pass band of the optical signal, wherein the first reflective coating is maintained at a fixed distance from the second reflective coating;
- and
- (e) a second waveplate residing outside the space and optically coupled to the first glass plate, wherein the second waveplate tunes a shape and a position of the pass band and an isolation band of the optical signal.
3 more elements
A nonlinear interferometer comprising:
- (a) a first glass plate optically coupled to a second glass plate, forming a space therebetween, wherein the first glass plate is wedge shaped;
- (b) a first phase bias element residing inside the space wherein the first phase bias element introduces a phase shift between a first wavelength in a first channel and a second wavelength in a second channel in an optical signal;
- (c) a first reflective coating residing inside the space and on the second glass plate;
- (d) a second reflective coating residing inside the space and on the first glass plate, wherein the first and second reflective coatings broadens a pass band of the optical signal wherein the first reflective coating is maintained at a fixed distance from the second reflective coating;
- and
- (e) a second phase bias element residing outside the space and optically coupled to the first glass plate, wherein the second phase bias element tunes a shape and a position of the pass band and an isolation band of the optical signal.
3 more elements
A nonlinear interferometer comprising:
- (a) a first glass plate optically coupled to a second glass plate, forming a space therebetween, wherein the first glass plate is wedge shaped;
- (b) a first waveplate residing inside the space, wherein the first waveplate introduces a phase shift between a first wavelength of a first channel and a second wavelength of a second channel in an optical signal;
- (c) a first reflective coating residing inside the space and on the second glass plate;
- (d) a second reflective coating residing inside the space and on the first glass plate, wherein the first and second reflective coatings broadens a pass band of the optical signal, wherein the first reflective coating is maintained at a fixed distance from the second reflective coating;
- and
- (e) a second waveplate residing outside the space and optically coupled to the first glass plate, wherein the second waveplate tunes a shape and a position of the pass band and an isolation band of the optical signal.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.