Patent · US Expired

Devices and methods for optical communication systems

US6415074B1 · kind B1 · utility

7Cited by
1References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 28, 2000
Grant dateJul 2, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 6, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04Q2011/0086
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An optical assembly having a light circulating device is used for routing light and may be used with a receiver. The assembly includes a tunable filter for receiving light traveling from the light circulating device and for selecting which wavelengths of light that reach the receiver. A wavelength routing mechanism optically coupled to the tunable filter and located downstream from the circulator is used to prevent undesired dropping of signal wavelengths. The mechanism has a first operational mode preventing light from reaching the receiver and a second operational mode allowing light to reach the receiver. When the filter is tuning, the mechanism is preferably in the first operational mode. Preferably, the assembly has an arrangement of mirror reflections on the first path and the second path so that an even number of mirror reflection are experienced on one path and an odd number on the other path as light is recombined.

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