Patent · US Expired

Flexible optical multiplexer

US6226425A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
113References
53Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 4, 1999
Grant dateMay 1, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 4, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04J14/0307
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A multiplexer has an optical circulator including at least first, second and third circulator ports. An optical fiber with a first optical transmission path is coupled to the first circulator port of the optical circulator. The optical fiber carries a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal, including signals .lambda..sub.1 -.lambda..sub.n, and at least one signal .lambda..sub.1 to be dropped by the multiplexer. A second optical transmission path is in optical communication with the second circulator port. A first filter is coupled to the second optical transmission path. The first filter passes a portion of the .lambda..sub.1 signal, and reflects a first residual .lambda..sub.1 signal and signals .lambda..sub.2 -.lambda..sub.n to the optical circulator. A third optical transmission path is in optical communication with the third circulator port and transmits the signals .lambda..sub.2 -.lambda..sub.n received from the optical circulator.

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