Patent · US Active

Method and apparatus for demultiplexing optical signals in a passive optical network

US8023782B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
6References
25Claims
0Family size

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Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 13, 2009
Grant dateSep 20, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 13, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/2938
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Methods and structures are disclosed demultiplexing optical signals transmitted over an optical fiber into a silicon substrate and to multiple detectors. The silicon substrate has two spaced-apart surfaces and a diffractive element disposed adjacent to one of the surfaces. Each of the optical signals corresponds to one of multiple wavelengths. The optical signals are directed into the silicon substrate along a path through the first surface to be incident on the diffractive element. The path is oriented generally normal with the first surface and/or with the diffractive element, which angularly separates the optical signals such that each of the wavelengths traverses through the substrate in a wavelength dependent direction to the first surface. Each optical signal is steered from the first surface towards the second surface to be incident on different optical elements that direct them generally normal to the first surface to be incident on one of the detectors.

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