Patent · US Expired

Dense wavelength division multiplexer and demultiplexer devices

US5748350A · kind A · utility

110Cited by
4References
32Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 19, 1996
Grant dateMay 5, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 19, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04J14/0224
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Multiplexer and demultiplexer devices for Dense WDM networks are described. The devices use an optical circulator, a plurality of bandpass wavelength division units and fiber Bragg gratings arranged in the optical fibers interconnecting the optical circulator and the bandpass wavelength division units. The optical circulator is connected to a network optical fiber and the bandpass wavelength division units are connected to a plurality of input/output optical fibers. Each fiber Bragg grating has a narrow wavelength reflection band about a predetermined wavelength and is arranged so that optical signals at wavelengths differing from predetermined wavelengths of the first optical fibers connected to a bandpass wavelength division unit are blocked and reflected. Depending upon the direction of the optical circulator, the device may be a multiplexer or a demultiplexer. Alternatively, a 3dB optical coupler may be used in place of the optical circulator with a corresponding rearrangement of the fiber Bragg gratings.

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