Wavelength converter using Bragg-grating
AssigneeIntegrated Optics Communications Corp.
InventorsJianjun Zhang, Peiching Ling, Jinliang Chen, Ming Xu
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Abstract
A wavelength converter is disclosed. The converter comprises a broadband light source producing light having a plurality of wavelengths. Further, a semiconductor optical amplifier is provided that receives the light from the light source. The semiconductor optical amplifier amplifies the light under the control of a control signal related to an optical signal of a first wavelength. Next, a demultiplexer receives the output of the semiconductor optical amplifier and extracts from the amplified optical signal at least one of the plurality of wavelengths.
Claims25
A wavelength converter comprising:
- a broadband light source producing light having a plurality of wavelengths;
- a semiconductor optical amplifier that receives said light having a plurality of wavelengths, said semiconductor optical amplifier amplifying said light under the control of a control signal and producing an amplified optical signal;
- and
- a demultiplexer that receives the output of said semiconductor optical amplifier and extracts from said amplified optical signal at least one of said plurality of wavelengths as an output optical signal at a second wavelength,
- wherein said demultiplexer comprises:
- (1) an input waveguide for carrying the output of said semiconductor optical amplifier;
- (2) a plurality of intersecting waveguides intersecting with said input waveguide to form a plurality of intersections;
- and
- (3) a plurality of switches disposed on said plurality of intersections.
A method for converting a first optical signal having a first wavelength to a second optical signal having a second wavelength comprising:
- providing a broadband light source that outputs light having a plurality of wavelengths;
- amplifyng said light using an amplification means, said amplification means being controlled by a control signal related to said first optical signal and to produce an amplified optical signal;
- and
- demultiplexing said amplified optical signal to extract said second optical signal, wherein said demultiplexing is performed by a demultiplexer comprising:
- (1) an input waveguide for carrying the amplified output signal of said amplification means;
- (2) a plurality of intersecting waveguides intersecting with said input waveguide to form a plurality of intersections;
- and
- (3) a plurality of switches disposed on said plurality of intersections.
A wavelength converter comprising:
- a broadband light source producing light having a plurality of wavelengths;
- a semiconductor optical amplifier that receives said light having a plurality of wavelengths, said semiconductor optical amplifier amplifying said light under the control of a control signal related to a first optical signal at a first wavelength and producing an amplified optical signal;
- and
- a demultiplexer that receives the output of said semiconductor optical amplifier and extracts from said amplified optical signal at least one of said plurality of wavelengths as an output optical signal at a second wavelength, said demultiplexer comprising:
- (a) an input waveguide for carrying the output of said semiconductor optical amplifier;
- (b) a plurality of intersecting waveguides intersecting with said input waveguide to form a plurality of intersections;
- and
- (c) a plurality of switches disposed on said plurality of intersections for selectively switching one of said plurality of wavelengths into an associated intersecting waveguide and for selectively transmitting the remaining ones of said plurality of wavelengths.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.