Method and apparatus for free-space optical switching
US7333688B2 · kind B2 · utility
2Cited by
2References
17Claims
0Family size
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Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 31, 2004 |
| Grant date | Feb 19, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 31, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3594
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for manipulating light beams propagated through PLCs in free space. Light beams propagated in through an input/output waveguide of a PLC are propagated through a waveguide array to generate a phased array output at an edge facet of the PLC. The phased array output at the edge facet is spatially Fourier transformed by a lens in free space, generating a spectrally resolved image at the back focal plane of the lens. The spectrally resolved image is reflected, at least in part, by a reflector device and coupled into a desired waveguide array of a PLC to produce a desired output.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.