Wavelength-slicing architecture for wavelength demultiplexing using micro-ring resonators
AssigneeLNL Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMee Koy Chin, Jose L. Jimenez
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Abstract
A device is provided for demultiplexing a DWDM composite light signal into distinct signal channels or frequencies. The device includes a plurality of resonators, which each acts to slice an incoming signal into two equal parts. The free spectral range characteristics (FSR) of the resonators are successively increased by an even multiple to achieve the slicing effect. As a result, the resonators of the subject invention can be formed with relatively low finesse values because of the slicing effect.
Claims15
A demultiplexing device for selectively demultiplexing a multi-channel light signal having a channel spacing characteristic, said device comprising:
- a first waveguide;
- a second waveguide;
- a first resonator disposed between said first waveguide and said second waveguide, said first resonator defining a first free spectral range;
- a third waveguide;
- and,
- a second resonator disposed between said second waveguide and said third waveguide, said second resonator defining a second free spectral range, said second free spectral range being an even multiple of said first free spectral range to divide said multi-channel light signal into a second signal and a third signal, said second signal and said third signal having a channel spacing, said channel spacing of said second signal being the same as the channel spacing of said third signal.
A demultiplexing device for selectively demultiplexing a multi-channel light signal, said device comprising:
- a first waveguide;
- a second waveguide;
- a first resonator disposed between said first waveguide and said second waveguide, said first resonator being formed with a radius;
- a third waveguide;
- and,
- a second resonator disposed between said second waveguide and said third waveguide, said second resonator being formed with a second radius, said first radius being an even multiple of said second radius to divide said multi-channel light signal, into a second signal and a third signal, said second signal and third signal having a channel spacing, said channel spacing of said second signal being the same as the channel spacing of said third signal.
An optical demultiplexer for demultiplexing a multi-channel light signal, said demultiplexer comprising:
- a first demultiplexing stage comprising:
- a first stage input waveguide;
- a first stage output waveguide;
- and
- a first stage resonator having a first radius defining a first free spectral range and being optically coupled to said first stage input waveguide and said first stage output waveguide, said first stage having a first finesse value;
- and
- a second demultiplexing stage comprising:
- a quantity of second stage resonators equal to an even integer multiple of the number of resonators in said first stage, each of said second stage resonators having a second radius such that each of said second stage resonators defining a second free spectral range that is an even integer multiple of said first free spectral range, said second stage having a second finesse value approximately equal to said first finesse value;
- and
- a second stage output waveguide optically coupled to each of said second stage resonators;
- said first stage input waveguide providing an input to a first resonator of said second stage, and said first stage output waveguide providing an input to a second resonator of said second stage;
- each resonator in said first and said second stages coupling one-half the number of channels in the multi-channel light signal from its respective input waveguide and to its respective output waveguide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.