Patent · US Expired

Temperature compensated optical multiplexer

US7280722B2 · kind B2 · utility

19Cited by
2References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 25, 2005
Grant dateOct 9, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 12, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/1203
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical multiplexer that adjusts the wavelength response and compensates for temperature effects by using rotatable mirror. The wavelength response of the device is adjusted by aligning the mirror at a correct angle with respect to the surface terminating the optical waveguide grating. The temperature dependence of the index of refraction of the material comprising the waveguides is compensated for by rotating a reflecting surface of the mirror, the rotation based on differential thermal expansion. Some exemplary embodiments may comprise a slab waveguide on a substrate (the slab waveguide having a first and second arcuate end surfaces) attached to a submount, a mirror assembly rigidly attached to the submount (the mirror assembly comprising a first and second materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion), and an optical waveguide grating (upon the substrate attached to the submount) optically coupled between the second arcuate surface and the mirror assembly. A portion of the mirror assembly between the reflector surface and where the mirror assembly is rigidly attached to the submount deforms as a function of temperature to change an angle between the optical wa…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.