Method and apparatus for realizing an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer
US6292298A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 11, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 18, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 11, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S359/90
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for realizing an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer having a continuous interferometer filter with a single .lambda./2 dielectric layer is presented. The continuous interferometer filter is attached to a transparent substrate. One face of the substrate is tilted relative to the opposite face by a small wedge angle ".delta..O slashed.'". As a result of the small wedge angle ".delta..O slashed.'" between the faces of the substrate, when a beam of light, composed of differing wavelengths, is introduced into the substrate at an incident angle ".theta.'" the beam zig-zags between the faces of the substrate at an increasing angle to the incident angle ".theta.'" proportional to the wedge angle "67 .O slashed.'". Accordingly, as the beam of light reaches the continuous interferometer filter at a different angle from the incident angle at each point, the filter passes through a wavelength corresponding to that new differing angle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.