Integrated optical time delay unit
US5852687A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 9, 1997 |
| Grant date | Dec 22, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 9, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B2006/12159
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A True Time Delay system for creating variable time delays of an optical signal suitable for use with a phased array antenna system in order to avoid beam-squint in broadband applications. The TTD is adapted to be integrated on a planar silica waveguide in order to substantially reduce the package size of the device. In one embodiment of the invention, the TTD is formed from a polarization beam splitter, a polarization rotator and a spiral waveguide. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the TTD includes a polarization sensitive Mach Zehnder interferometer, a quarter wave polarization rotator and a spiral waveguide. In both embodiments of the invention Bragg reflective gratings are written into the spiral waveguide at different spacings to reflect optical signals of different wavelengths to create various time delays.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.