Solid-State optical wavelength switches
US6718082B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 18, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 6, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 22, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/093
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides an improved optical wavelength switch in which no mechanical movement is required to direct optical pathways between several fiber ports. The inventive three-fiber port device divides incoming optical signals into two subsets of spectra and selectively directs them into two output ports in response to an electrical control signal. In the inventive switch, an optical signal is spatially split into two polarized beams, by a birefringent element, which thereafter pass through a series polarization rotation elements and recombine into output fibers, achieving polarization independent operation. Advantageously, the inventive switch incorporates two-stage polarization rotations to improve isolation depth, as well as temperature and wavelength independence. The invention also incorporates light bending devices to allow two fibers to be coupled to the light beams via a single lens, thereby achieving small beam separation for compactness. Switches rely on electromagnetically or electro-optically switching the beam polarizations from one state to another to rapidly direct the light path.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.