Method and system for testing a tunable chromatic dispersion, dispersion slope, and polarization mode dispersion compensator utilizing a virtually imaged phased array
US6441959B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 11, 2000 |
| Grant date | Aug 27, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 18, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/29395
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides a dispersion compensator which utilizes a Virtually Imaged Phased Array (VIPA), gratings, and birefringent wedges to moderate chromatic dispersion, dispersion slope and polarization mode dispersion, and a method and system for testing such a dispersion compensator. The dispersion compensator in accordance with the present invention propagates the composite optical signal in a forward direction; separates the wavelengths in the band of wavelengths in each of the plurality of channels, where each of the wavelengths in the band is spatially distinguishable from the other wavelengths in the band; spatially separates each band of wavelengths in the plurality of channels; spatially separates each wavelength of each separated band of wavelengths into a plurality of polarized rays; and reflects the plurality of polarized rays toward a return direction, where dispersion is added to the reflected plurality of polarized rays such that the unwanted chromatic dispersion, dispersion slope, and PMD are compensated. The dispersion compensator provides simultaneous tunable compensation of these various dispersions utilizing a single apparatus. A system which utilizes …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.