Apparatus for wavelength demultiplexing using a multi-cavity etalon
AssigneeChorum Technologies LP
InventorsSeng-Ieong Wong, Jian-Yu Liu, Kuang-Yi Wu
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Abstract
A wavelength division demultiplexing device is presented utilizing a polarization-based filter or a multi-cavity etalon (e.g., a multi-cavity Fabry-Perot etalon) to obtain a flat-top filter response which can be utilized to create a flat-top slicer which separates out odd and even wavelengths, or upper and lower channels of an input WDM signal. The flat-top slicer can be used as the first stage of a cascaded network of wavelength demultiplexers in which following stages can be based on polarization-based filters, multi-cavity etalons, or other interferometric WDM devices, which are adequate due to the increased channel spacing obtained in the first stage of the network.
Claims21
An apparatus for demultiplexing an input wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal having a plurality of channels, said apparatus comprising:
- a multi-cavity etalon receiving an input WDM signal and outputting a transmitted spectra and a reflected spectra having a plurality of substantially flat peaks with a first width, wherein said peaks of said transmitted spectra are in alternating relationship with said peaks of said reflected spectra;
- and
- a wavelength demultiplexer receiving at least a portion of said output spectra from said etalon and outputting a plurality of spectral subsets having a plurality of substantially flat peaks with a second width greater than said first width.
An apparatus for demultiplexing an input wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal having a plurality of channels, said apparatus comprising:
- a first multi-cavity etalon receiving an input WDM signal and producing a first transmitted spectra and a first reflected spectra having a plurality of substantially flat peaks with a first width, wherein said peaks of said first transmitted spectra are in alternating relationship with said peaks of said first reflected spectra;
- and
- a second multi-cavity etalon receiving at least a portion of said first transmitted spectra and said first reflected spectra and producing a second transmitted spectra and a second reflected spectra having a plurality of substantially flat peaks with a second width greater than said first width, wherein said peaks of said second transmitted spectra are in alternating relationship with said peaks of said second reflected spectra.
An apparatus for demultiplexing an input wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal having a plurality of channels, said apparatus comprising a network of wavelength demultiplexers including:
- a first wavelength demultiplexer separating an input WDM signal into a plurality of spectral subsets having a plurality of substantially flat peaks with a first width;
- and
- a plurality of subsequent wavelength demultiplexers separating said spectral subsets from said first wavelength demultiplexer into further spectral subsets having a plurality of substantially flat peaks with widths greater than said first width;
- wherein at least one of said wavelength demultiplexers comprises a multi-cavity etalon outputting a transmitted spectra and a reflected spectra having a plurality of substantially flat peaks, wherein said peaks of said transmitted spectra are in alternating relationship with said peaks of said reflected spectra.
An apparatus for demultiplexing an input wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal having a plurality of channels, said apparatus comprising:
- a polarization rotator selectively rotating the polarization of an input WDM signal into either of two orthogonal polarizations in accordance with a specified control state;
- a multi-cavity etalon with at least one cavity having an intermediate layer of a birefringent material, said etalon receiving the polarized input signal and outputting a first transmitted spectra and a first reflected spectra in the first control state, and a second transmitted spectra and a second reflected spectra in the second control state, said transmitted and reflected spectra having a plurality of substantially flat peaks with a first width in an alternating relationship;
- and
- a wavelength demultiplexer receiving at least a portion of said output spectra from said etalon and outputting a plurality of spectral subsets having a plurality of substantially flat peaks with a second width greater than said first width.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.