Dispersion-compensated optical wavelength router

Optical waveguides – With optical coupler – Plural

Reexamination Certificate

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

C385S015000, C385S031000, C385S039000, C398S048000, C398S065000, C398S079000, C398S081000, C398S085000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06810171

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of optical communications systems. More specifically, the present invention discloses a dispersion compensated optical wavelength router.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wavelength division multiplexing is a commonly used technique that allows the transport of multiple optical signals, each at a slightly different wavelength, over an optical fiber. The ability to carry multiple signals on a single fiber allows that fiber to carry a tremendous amount of traffic, including data, voice, and digital video signals. For example, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Draft Recommendation G.mcs proposes a frequency grid which specifies various channel spacings including 100 GHz and 200 GHz. It would be advantageous to obtain smaller channel spacings. As transmission systems evolve to longer distances, smaller channel spacings, and higher bit rates, however, the phenomenon of dispersion becomes a limiting factor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the present invention is an optical wavelength router that includes a beamsplitter, a first resonator, and a second resonator. The beamnsplitter separate an input signal into a first beam and a second beam. The first resonator has a first center wavelength and reflects the first beam. The second resonator has a second center wavelength and reflects the second beam. The second center wavelength is offset relative to the first center wavelength by approximately one half of the free spectral range of the first resonator such that the resonance frequencies of the second resonator are matched to the anti-resonance frequencies of the first resonator.
The following technical advantages may be achieved by some, none, or all of the embodiments of the present invention. The optical wavelength router performs a multiplexing and/or a demultiplexing function to generate output waveforms that have a flat-top passband, good isolation, and very low chromatic dispersion.
These and other advantages, features, and objects of the present invention will be more readily understood in view of the following detailed description and the drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5023947 (1991-06-01), Cimini, Jr. et al.
patent: 5173908 (1992-12-01), Negus et al.
patent: 5185827 (1993-02-01), Poole
patent: 5261016 (1993-11-01), Poole
patent: 5291332 (1994-03-01), Siebert
patent: 5557468 (1996-09-01), Ip
patent: 6130971 (2000-10-01), Cao
patent: 6141130 (2000-10-01), Ip
patent: 6144494 (2000-11-01), Shirasaki et al.
patent: 6147788 (2000-11-01), Mamyshev et al.
patent: 6163393 (2000-12-01), Wu et al.
patent: 6169604 (2001-01-01), Cao
patent: 6169626 (2001-01-01), Chen et al.
patent: 6252716 (2001-06-01), Paiam
patent: 6259847 (2001-07-01), Lenz et al.
patent: 6289151 (2001-09-01), Kazarinov et al.
patent: 6498680 (2002-12-01), Zhou et al.
patent: 6559992 (2003-05-01), Zhou et al.
patent: 6560015 (2003-05-01), Cao
patent: 6574049 (2003-06-01), Qian et al.
patent: 6614573 (2003-09-01), Cao
patent: 6621632 (2003-09-01), Zhou
patent: 6683721 (2004-01-01), Copner et al.
patent: 6721078 (2004-04-01), Cao
Madsen, et al., “Optical All-Pass Filters for Phase Response Design with Applications for Dispersion Compensation,” IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 10, No. 7, pp. 994-996, Jul. 1998.
Cimini et al., “Optical Equalization for High-Bit-Rate Fiber-Optic Communications,” IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 200-202, Mar. 1990.
Cimini et al., “Optical Equalization to Combat the Effects of Laser Chirp and Fiber Dispersion,” Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 8, No. 5, pp. 649-659, May 1990.
Gnauck et al., “Optical Equalization of Fiber Chromatic Dispersion in a 5-Gb/s Transmission System,” IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 2, No. 8, pp. 585-587, Aug. 1990.
Lenz et al., “General Optical All-Pass Filter Structures for Dispersion Control in WDM Systems,” Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 17, No. 7, pp. 1248-1254, Jul. 1999.
Madsen, et al., “Integrated Optical Allpass Filters for Dispersion Compensation,” OSA TOPS, vol. 29 WDM Components, pp. 142-149, 1999.
Madsen, et al., “A Tunable Dispersion Compensating MEMS All-Pass Filter,” IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 12, No. 6, pp. 651-653, Jun. 2000.
Horst, et al., “Tunable Ring Resonator Dispersion Compensators Realized in High-Refractive-Index Contrast SiON Technology,” IBM Research, Zurich Research Laboratory.
Madsen, et al., “A Multi-channel Dispersion Slope Compensating Optical Allpass Filter,” Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies.

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Dispersion-compensated optical wavelength router does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Dispersion-compensated optical wavelength router, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Dispersion-compensated optical wavelength router will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3300855

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.