Method and apparatus for an optical filter
US6694066B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 11, 2001 |
| Grant date | Feb 17, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 3, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B2006/12164
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides optical filters that can be used in a range of telecommunications applications including optical multiplexers/demultiplexers, optical routers, and optical gain scalers. The optical filter is modular, using two or more couplers with a pair of delay paths between each pair of couplers in a sequence to generate a range of optical filter functions. The desired filter profile/function is obtained by proper selection of the coupling ratio for each coupler and by the length of each pair of delay paths. The couplers may be implemented as polarization or intensity beam splitters positioned along the optical path. Each coupler couples in controllable amounts, one or two inputs with the corresponding pair of delay paths. Where a coupler is implemented as a polarization beam splitter, the coupling is accomplished by input to the coupler of polarized light and by the subsequent separation of orthogonal “P” and “S” components of that light onto corresponding ones of the pair of delay paths. Where coupling is implemented with an intensity beam splitter, the coupling is accomplished by input of light with the percentage of reflection and trans…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.