Compact multi-port optical signal processor

US8340484B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System · US

Inventors

• Michael Vasilyev · Plano, US
• Nikolai M. Stelmakh · Lubbock, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 5, 2010
• Grant date: Dec 25, 2012
• Expiry date: Oct 6, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/12021
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In a method and system to fabricate a compact optical device, a periodic group-delay device (PGDD) includes N optical input ports, N being a positive integer number, each port being configured to include one or more wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) channels; N corresponding optical output ports, each port being configured to include one or more WDM channels. The PGDD also includes a first slab waveguide region (FSWR) coupled to the N optical input ports, a second slab waveguide region (SSWR) coupled to the said N optical output ports, a first optical grating coupled to the FSWR, a second optical grating coupled to the SSWR, and; a third slab waveguide region (TSWR) coupled to at least one of the first and second optical gratings. The TSWR is configured to provide a configurable amount of dispersion to the N optical output ports. Optical signals carried by each WDM channel are processed concurrently and independently.