Optical demultiplexer architecture
US6400861B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 27, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jun 4, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 27, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04J14/0307
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Wave division multiplexers and demultiplexers utilizing fused fiber couplers and similar devices are expensive to implement. This is a barrier to deployment of optical networks particularly in the metro and access areas. The invention provides a cheaper design scheme to help overcome this problem. The invention provides an apparatus arranged to demultiplex a predetermined range and number of wavelengths comprising a plurality of devices each having at least one input port and two output ports, the output ports of each device having a periodic and complimentary series of minimum attenuation wavelength peaks, wherein the devices are arranged such that each demultiplexes a unique series of wavelengths, and wherein the apparatus comprises at least one device having a series of minimum attenuation wavelength peaks which do not correspond to the unique series of wavelengths the device is arranged to demultiplex.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.