Patent · US Expired

Optical device for use as a multiplexer or demultiplexer in accordance with the diffraction grating principle

US4744618A · kind A · utility

78Cited by
12References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 1, 1983
Grant dateMay 17, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 1, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/2938
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical device for use either as a waveguide demultiplexer or a waveguide multiplexer characterized by a compact transparent member having a surface forming optical means such as an imaging mirror, an opposite surface portion having a diffraction grating formed thereon and first and second coupling surfaces so that light can be coupled into the member reflected by the mirror and the diffraction grating and then coupled out of the member. The device has various embodiments with different structures for the optical mirror and the transparent member, with the structure of the coupling surfaces being flat or curved, and with either flat or curved additional mirrors for reflecting the incoming and outgoing light adjacent to the coupling surfaces.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.