Patent · US Expired

Wavelength selective switching element

US6292599A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
3References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 24, 1999
Grant dateSep 18, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 24, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04Q2011/0022
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for switching optical wavelength channels. Said optical wavelength channels are introduced into at least one access waveguide provided on a first side of a first multi-mode waveguide (10). Subsequently, the wavelength channels are transmitted through said multi-mode waveguide (10) and projected on at least two connection waveguides provided on the opposite side. Subsequently, the optical wavelength channels are transmitted through the connection waveguides. For each wavelength selective cross-connection structure (2, 4, 6, 8) the phase is changed for a reflecting wavelength of two phase control elements (C1, C2, D1, D2, E1, E2, F1, F2) arranged in a first and a second connection waveguide on a first side of said wavelength selective cross-connection structure (2, 4, 6, 8), simultaneously as at a second side of said wavelength selective cross-connection structure (2, 4, 6, 8) said reflecting wavelength phase remains relatively unchanged. For each wavelength selective cross-connection structure (2, 4, 6, 8) the phase is changed for transmitting wavelengths once in a first and a second direction per wavelength selective cross-connection s…

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