Patent · US Expired

Wavelength selective optical couplers

US6289699A · kind A · utility

46Cited by
40References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 6, 1998
Grant dateSep 18, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 6, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04J14/0219
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A wavelength selective optical fiber coupler having various applications in the field of optical communications is disclosed. The coupler is composed of dissimilar waveguides in close proximity. A light induced, permanent index of refraction grating is recorded in the coupler waist The grating filters and transfers energy within a particular range of wavelengths from a first waveguide to a second waveguide. Transversely asymmetric gratings provide an efficient means of energy transfer. The coupler can be used to combine or multiplex a plurality of lasers operating at slightly different wavelengths into a single fiber. Other embodiments such as a dispersion compensator and gain flattening filter are disclosed.

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