Super-s multiple-tapped optical delay line
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsJ. Scott Rodgers, Randall B. Olsen
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Abstract
A photonic processor having a high spectral resolution which separates an input optic signal into numerous channels and a method of constructing same are provided. The photonic processor includes an optical delay line spiral having dips to compensate for path length differences between the various paths such that each path is an integer multiple of a fixed path length. Straight segments are included in the spiral design to offset the dips in the spiral such that they do not overlap. A number of waveguide taps are included that may launch the channelized light signals into a photonic lens.
Claims20
An optical delay line, comprising:
- a spiral waveguide having a plurality of loops beginning with an input for receiving optical energy;
- a plurality of optical taps operatively coupled to the spiral waveguide for receiving optical energy therefrom;
- and
- wherein at least one of the loops of the spiral waveguide includes a dip configured to substantially equate the length of the dip-configured loop with the length of another loop in the spiral waveguide.
A high resolution photonic processor, comprising:
- a spiral waveguide having a plurality of loops beginning with an input for receiving optical energy;
- a plurality of optical taps operatively coupled to the spiral waveguide for receiving optical energy therefrom;
- a photonic lens operatively coupled to the plurality of optical taps;
- and
- a plurality of output optic waveguides operatively coupled to the photonic lens;
- and
- wherein at least one of the loops of the spiral waveguide includes a dip configured to substantially equate the length of the dip-configured loop with the length of another loop in the spiral waveguide.
A method of designing a photonic processor, comprising the steps of:
- designing an optical delay line having a waveguide spiral having a plurality of loops by specifying a waveguide width, a minimum spacing between loops, a number of loops for the spiral;
- calculating a path length difference for each of the loops of the spiral;
- compensating for the path length difference by adding one or more dips in the loops to ensure that the loops are essentially equal in length.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.