Methods and system for wavelength tunable optical components and sub-systems
US10466421B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 9, 2015 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 9, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/02325
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) has enabled telecommunication service providers to provide multiple independent multi-gigabit channels on one optical fiber. To meet demands for improved performance, increased integration, reduced footprint, reduced power consumption, increased flexibility, re-configurability, and lower cost monolithic optical circuit technologies and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) have become increasingly important. However, further integration via microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS) of monolithically integrated optical waveguides upon a MEMS provide further integration opportunities and functionality options. Such MOEMS may include MOEMS mirrors and optical waveguides capable of deflection under electronic control. In contrast to MEMS devices where the MEMS is simply used to switch between two positions the state of MOEMS becomes important in all transition positions. Improvements to the design and implementation of such MOEMS mirrors, deformable MOEMS waveguides, and optical waveguide technologies supporting MOEMS devices are presented where monolithically integrated optical waveguides are directly supported, moved and/or deformed by a MEMS.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.