Wavelength selective optical routers
US6201909A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 15, 1998 |
| Grant date | Mar 13, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 15, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04J14/0209
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Using the wavelength selectivity and low loss characteristics of optical couplers, in which index of refraction gratings in a non-evanescent waveguide merged region reflect only a selected wavelength band, signal switching and control systems of novel characteristics are provided for multi-wavelength optical communication systems. In a router, for example, selected wavelengths or wavelength bands on an add/drop line can be added to or dropped from a main fiber, by cross switching between wavelength selective loops disposed sequentially in the lines. In a collector box, as another example, selected wavelength bundles can be routed from one fiber onto multiple fibers. In a bandpass filter a selected wavelength band is transmitted with low loss while those wavelengths outside the selected wavelength band are rejected with very high loss.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.