High-isolation dense wavelength division multiplexer utilizing birefringent plates and a non-linear interferometer
US6307677A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 1, 2001 |
| Grant date | Oct 23, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 1, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04J14/022
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides a dense wavelength division multiplexer for separating an optical signal into optical channels. The dense wavelength division multiplexer includes at least one birefringent plate for separating one or more of the plurality of optical channels, where the separating mechanism is at least partially based on the polarity of the plurality of optical channels, and a nonlinear interferometer optically coupled to the at least one birefringent plate for introducing a phase difference between at least two of the plurality of optical channels. In a preferred embodiment, the mechanism of separating includes birefringent beam separation and recombination plates, optical rotation elements, a lens and a non-linear interferometer. The present invention provides an ease in alignment and a higher tolerance to drifts due to the increase in the widths of the pass bands and also provides an improved efficiency of separation of channels. It may also be easily modified to perform the add/drop function as it separates channels. The materials required to manufacture and implement the dense wavelength division multiplexer in accordance with the present invention are readily av…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.