Diffraction-compensated integrated WDM
AssigneeJDS Uniphase Corporation
InventorsTokuyuki Honda, Robert R. McLeod
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A diffraction-compensated WDM (wavelength division multiplexer) uses TTFs (thin film filters) as concave mirrors. The WDM has a plurality of filter elements for guiding the optical signal along a predetermined optical path, each filter element being transparent to a predetermined wavelength range and including compensating means for at least partially compensating for diffraction of the optical signal. Each filter element has a thin film coated on a substrate, and the compensating means is a curved surface of each thin film. The WDM is more robust than prior art WDM devices using flat TTFs.
Claims10
A wavelength division multiplexing device comprising:
- an input port for launching an optical signal;
- a plurality of filter elements for guiding the optical signal along a predetermined optical path, each filter element being transparent to a predetermined wavelength range and including compensating means for at least partially compensating for diffraction of the optical signal as it is guided along the predetermined optical path;
- an add/drop port optically coupled to each filter element for transmitting light within the predetermined wavelength range to or from the filter element to which it is optically coupled;
- and an output port for outputting the optical signal having been guided along the predetermined optical path, wherein each filter element comprises a thin film coated on a substrate, and wherein the compensating means comprises a curved surface of each thin film.
A wavelength division multiplexing device according to claim. 4, wherein each collimator comprises a GRIN lens having an optical axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.