Apparatus and method for controlling polarization of an optical signal
US6940647B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 28, 2004 |
| Grant date | Sep 6, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 28, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S359/90
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In one aspect of the invention, a polarization controller includes a first polarization beam splitter operable to receive an input optical signal having an input state of polarization and to separate the signal into a first and a second principal mode of polarization. The polarization controller further includes at least three stages of phase shifters each operable to introduce a phase shift between the first and second principal modes, at least one phase shifter comprising a beam splitter that is shared with at least one other of the phase shifters. The at least three stages of phase shifters include a first stage coupled to the first polarization beam splitter and a last stage coupled to a second polarization beam splitter. The second polarization beam splitter is operable to receive phase shifted copies of the first and second principal modes, and to align the phase shifted copies of the principal modes to an output state of polarization.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.