Wavelength monitor for optical signals
US5850292A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 13, 1997 |
| Grant date | Dec 15, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 13, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J9/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A wavelength monitor detects wavelength drifts of component channel signals within multi-wavelength light signals. Multiwavelength light incident on the wavelength monitor is cascaded along a multipoint travel path. Within the travel path, the component channel signals are incident on a series of wavelength discriminators arranged on an optically transmissive member. Each wavelength discriminator is selectively transmissive to a predetermined one of the channel signals and is reflective to the remaining component channel signals of the multi-wavelength light signal. According to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the optical transmission through each wavelength discriminator varies monotonically according to variations in the wavelength of the predetermined channel signal. Each selectively transmitted channel signal is intercepted by a detector which produces an output current that is mapped to corresponding signal wavelengths. According to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wavelength discriminator includes a dispersive element that maps the applied channel signal to spatial locations dependent upon the signal wavelength. The dispersed …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.