Patent · US Expired

Wavelength selective optical add/drop multiplexer and method of manufacture

US6665476B2 · kind B2 · utility

42Cited by
19References
37Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 2, 2001
Grant dateDec 16, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 28, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/42
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention is an exemplary wavelength selective optical coupling device. This exemplary device includes two waveguides, a ring or disc resonator, and resonator coupling elements. The waveguides are disposed on top of a substrate, not in contact with each other. The waveguides may transmit multiple wavelengths of light. The ring or disc resonator includes a dielectric member which extends parallel to the top of the substrate and overlaps, without contacting, the waveguides. The resonator is sized to resonate at a subset of resonant wavelengths. The resonator coupling elements couple the resonator to the substrate. The resonator coupling elements may include a bridge coupled to the top surface of the substrate and electrically coupled to control circuitry within the substrate. A waveguide coupling signal from the control circuitry causes the bridge to deform, translating the resonator up and down, thereby intermittently coupling and decoupling the waveguides.

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