Optical switching using spatially distributed phase shifters
US11422431B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 11, 2020 |
| Grant date | Aug 23, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 17, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2203/50
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical switching apparatus comprises: input ports receiving respective input optical waves, each coupled to a respective beam-forming structure comprising: an input optical waveguide, an optical power distributor to distribute optical power from a mode of the optical waveguide over the respective spatial region, and a spatially distributed phase shifter to apply different transmission optical phase shifts over different portions of the respective spatial region, where the transmission optical phase shifts determine the selected transmission angle; and output ports providing respective output optical waves, each coupled to a respective beam-receiving structure comprising: a spatially distributed phase shifter to apply different reception optical phase shifts over different portions of the respective spatial region, where the reception optical phase shifts determine the selected reception angle, an optical power combiner to combine optical power from different portions of the respective spatial region into a collected a mode, and an output optical waveguide.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.