Patent · US Expired

Nonlinear interferometer for fiber optic dense wavelength division multiplexer utilizing a phase bias element to separate wavelengths in an optical signal

US6169604A · kind A · utility

52Cited by
9References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 10, 1999
Grant dateJan 2, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 10, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/2773
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A nonlinear interferometer wavelength separation mechanism for use in a dense wavelength division multiplexer is provided. The mechanism includes a first glass plate optically coupled to a second glass plate, forming a space therebetween; a mechanism for introducing a phase shift at least one channel of an optical signal; and a mechanism for broadening a pass band of the optical signal. The nonlinear interferometer of the present invention allows a dense wavelength division multiplexer to have an ease in alignment and a higher tolerance to drifts due to the increase in the width of the pass band. It also has the added ability of being passively stable to temperature.

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