Patent · US Expired

Optical multiplexing and demultiplexing

US6366378B1 · kind B1 · utility

101Cited by
11References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 13, 1999
Grant dateApr 2, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 13, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04Q2011/0049
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to the implementation of multiplexing and demultiplexing of optical signals. The multiplexing and demultiplexing are carried out by using the same waveguide phased array component (WGA). On the first side, the component comprises at least an input port and an output port (IG, OG), and on its second side a first group of ports that constitute the demultiplexer function output ports, and a second group of ports that constitute the multiplexer function input ports. An optical input signal is applied to the input port, such an input signal comprising a number of signals each at its own wavelength, the input signal is demultiplexed in the component and the demultiplexed signals are coupled to ports of the first group. The signals to be multiplexed are applied to ports of the second group and the multiplexed signal is coupled to the output port (OG). To reduce crosstalk, the signals at different wavelengths and the signals to be multiplexed are demultiplexed and applied, respectively, to alternate second side (B) ports so that the second side ports alternately have a port belonging to the first group and a port belonging to the second group.

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