Polarization insensitive optical signal reception
US5031236A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 31, 1990 |
| Grant date | Jul 9, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 31, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S359/90
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention provides methods and devices for processing an optical signal. In one embodiment, an optical device (101) for scrambling an input optical signal comprises an optical switch (10) which switches the optical signal between two intermediate optical paths (13,14) under control of a scrambling signal from a control circuit (12). The polarization of the signal in one of the intermediate optical paths (13) is rotated by a TE-TM converter (15). The polarization of the two intermediate signals are thereby made mutually orthogonal. These mutually orthogonal signals are then recombined by a directional coupler (16) to provide a combined output optical signal with a scrambled polarization alternating between orthogonal states according to the frequency of the scrambling signal. The invention may be applied to improve signal reception, for example, in coherent optical transmission systems.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.