Tunable dispersion compensator
US6961492B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 20, 2004 |
| Grant date | Nov 1, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 12, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2201/16
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for implementing a colorless polarization independent Mach-Zehnder-interferometer (MZI)-based tunable dispersion compensator (TDC) that has only three MZI stages (two in a reflective MZI-TDC) and two adjustable couplers which are responsive to one control voltage, making it compact, low power, and simple to fabricate, test, and operate. Polarization independence is obtained by using a half-wave plate positioned across the midpoints of the two path lengths of middle stage MZI of the three stage MZI-TDC and by using a quarter-wave plate in front of a reflective facet of the reflective MZI-TDC. A cascaded MZI-TDC arrangement with also only a single control is formed by cascading two MZI-TDC arrangements and driving all adjustable couplers with the same control signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.