Variable-attenuation tunable optical router
US5706375A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 10, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jan 6, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 10, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04J14/0205
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A device for distributing an optical signal has an optical waveguide with a plurality of gratings disposed in series therein, the gratings having a predetermined reflectivity response within a specific wavelength range; an optical circulator having at least three ports, one of the ports serving as an input port for receiving the optical signal, and another port for removing at least a part of the optical signal reflected from one of the gratings; and control means for individually controlling at least some of the gratings to effect a change of the wavelength range of the reflectivity response of the gratings. The change may be a shift, an expansion or a compression of the range. The device can function as a signal distributor (router), an equalizer or a demultiplexer. The reflectivity response is preferably a sloped response.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.