Tunable optical add/drop multiplexer
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsLouay Eldada, Robert A. Norwood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Optical signal devices, wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer optical devices, and methods of employing the same in which the core layer includes a grating and is comprised of a material whose refractive index is tuned so that the grating reflects a preselected wavelength of light. A single optical signal device can therefore be used to select a variety of wavelengths for segregation.
Claims35
An optical signal device for use with a multiple wavelength light signal, the optical device comprising:
- a) a substrate;
- b) a pair of first and second spaced apart cladding layers having at least similar refractive indices;
- c) a core layer including a waveguide or a pair of opposed waveguides positioned between the pair of cladding layers having a refractive index greater than the refractive indices of the first and second cladding layers such that the difference between the refractive indices of the core layer and the cladding layers enables the multiple wavelength light signal to pass through the device in a single mode;
- d) a grating region present in each of the cladding layers and the core layer, the grating forming a filter element, the filter element causing a single wavelength of light of the multiple wavelength light signal to be segregated therefrom;
- and
- e) a tuning apparatus for varying the refractive index of at least the core layer to thereby control the wavelength of the light which is to be segregated from the multiple wavelength light signal.
A wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer optical device for use with a multiple wavelength light signal, the wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer optical device comprising a plurality of optical signal devices, each of said optical signal devices comprising:
- a) a substrate;
- b) a pair of first and second spaced apart cladding layers having at least similar refractive indices;
- c) a core layer including a waveguide or a pair of opposed waveguides positioned between the pair of cladding layers having a refractive index greater than the refractive indices of the cladding layers such that the difference between the refractive indices of the core layer and cladding layers enables the multiple wavelength light signal to pass through the device in a single mode;
- d) a grating region present in each of the cladding layers and the core layer, the grating forming a filter element, the filter element causing a single wavelength of light of the multiple wavelength light signal to be segregated therefrom;
- and
- e) a tuning apparatus for varying the refractive index of at least the core layer to thereby control the wavelength of the light which is to be segregated from the multiple wavelength light signal.
A method of dropping/adding a preselected wavelength of light from/to an optical signal comprising passing said optical signal through an optical signal device comprising:
- a) a substrate,
- b) a pair of first and second spaced apart cladding layers having at least similar refractive indices,
- c) a core layer including a waveguide or a pair of opposed waveguides positioned between the pair of cladding layers having a refractive index greater than the refractive indices of the first and second cladding layers such that the difference between the refractive indices of the core layer and the cladding layers enables the multiple wavelength light signal to pass through the device in a single mode;
- d) a grating region present in each of the cladding layers and the core layer, the grating forming a filter element, the filter element causing a single wavelength of light of the multiple wavelength light signal to be segregated therefrom;
- and
- e) a tuning apparatus for varying the refractive index of at least the core layer to thereby control the wavelength of the light which is to be segregated from the multiple wavelength light signal.
An optical signal device for use with a multiple wavelength light signal, the optical device comprising:
- a) a pair of first and second spaced apart cladding layers having at least similar refractive indices;
- b) a core layer including a waveguide or a pair of opposed waveguides positioned between the pair of cladding layers having a refractive index greater than the refractive indices of the first and second cladding layers such that the difference between the refractive indices of the core layer and the cladding layers enables the multiple wavelength light signal to pass through the device in a single mode;
- c) a grating region present in each of the cladding layers and the core layer, the grating forming a filter element, the filter element causing a single wavelength of light of the multiple wavelength light signal to be segregated thereform;
- and
- a tuning apparatus for varying the refractive index of a least the core layer to thereby control the wavelength of the light which is to be segregated from the multiple wavelength light signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.