Wavelength-conserving grating router for intermediate wavelength density

US7194161B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Robert J. Deri · Pleasanton, US
• Rajesh R. Patel · Pleasanton, US
• Steven W. Bond · Livermore, US
• Cory V. Bennett · Livermore, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 30, 2000
• Grant date: Mar 20, 2007
• Expiry date: May 6, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/29383
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A wavelength router to be used for fiber optical networking router is based on a diffraction grating which utilizes only N wavelengths to interconnect N inputs to N outputs. The basic approach is to augment the grating with additional couplers or wavelength selective elements so than N−1 of the 2N−1 outputs are combined with other N outputs (leaving only N outputs). One embodiment uses directional couplers as combiners. Another embodiment uses wavelength-selective couplers. Another embodiment uses a pair of diffraction gratings to maintain parallel propagation of all optical beams. Also, beam combining can be implemented either by using retroflection back through the grating pair or by using couplers.