Multi-channel optical filter and multiplexer formed from...

Optical communications – Multiplex – Wavelength division or frequency division

Reexamination Certificate

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

C398S084000, C398S087000, C359S634000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06819871

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention is directed generally to novel systems and methods for performing sputter deposition, and to optical devices manufactured using such systems and methods.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Existing optical filtering systems use a collection of thin film filters to demultiplex multiple optical channels on a single fiber. In such devices, a plurality of filters are separately manufactured and then later arranged on a single substrate, or they are deposited individually on a single substrate with a sequence of masking and deposition operations to create each filter. Each filter is designed to pass a single wavelength channel. Those channels that are not passed through the first filter are reflected toward the next filter which is designed to pass a single channel which is different from the single channel that passes through the first filter. Those channels that are not passed through the second filter are reflected in a similar manner and either pass through or are reflected by each subsequent filter. Existing optical multiplexers work similarly, but the optical signals flow in an opposite direction. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the execution of this process for making such devices is complicated by the fact that each filter is manufactured separately, thereby requiring precise alignment of each separate filter on the substrate during deposition or at a later stage in packaging, in order to ensure proper operation of the device. The present invention discloses novel optical filters and multiplexers, and methods for performing optical filtering and optical multiplexing that represent simplified and more reliably, processes when compared to existing systems and methods.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an optical demultiplexer and a method for separating an input optical signal into a plurality of channels by wavelength. A first plurality of optical structures are formed simultaneously using vapor deposition on different regions of a first common substrate. Each optical structure in the first plurality is comprised of a plurality of thin-film layers. The thickness of each layer in a given optical structure in the first plurality is associated with one of the channels. A reflector has a surface parallel to a surface of the first common substrate, and a transport region is disposed between the first plurality of optical structures and the reflector. At least one aperture is disposed at one end of the transport region, and the first plurality of optical structures are disposed along a length of the transport region. Output optical signals associated with different ones of the channels are generated at separate positions along the length of the transport region when the input optical signal is provided to the at least one aperture.
The present invention is further directed to an optical multiplexer that combines a plurality of input optical signals differing in wavelength to form a combined signal at an output aperture. The optical multiplexer comprises a first plurality of optical structures formed simultaneously on different regions of a first common substrate using vapor deposition, each optical structure in the first plurality is composed of a plurality of thin-film layers. The thickness of each layer in a given optical structure in the first plurality is associated with one of a plurality of different optical channels. A reflector has a surface parallel to a surface of the first common substrate, and a transport region is positioned between the first plurality of optical structures and the reflector. At least one output aperture is disposed at one end of the transport region, and the first plurality of optical structures are disposed along a length of the transport region. When the input optical signals are respectively provided to the plurality of optical structures at the separate positions, a plurality of filtered signals each one of which corresponds to one of the different optical channels are merged in the transport region to form the combined signal which is outputted from the multiplexer through the at least one output aperture.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4541159 (1985-09-01), Michel et al.
patent: 4589724 (1986-05-01), Winzer
patent: 4693544 (1987-09-01), Yamasaki et al.
patent: 4701012 (1987-10-01), Kaiser
patent: 4824200 (1989-04-01), Isono et al.
patent: 5119454 (1992-06-01), McMahon
patent: 5583683 (1996-12-01), Scobey
patent: 5799118 (1998-08-01), Ogusu et al.
patent: 5841919 (1998-11-01), Akiba et al.
patent: 5894535 (1999-04-01), Lemoff et al.
patent: 5920411 (1999-07-01), Duck et al.
patent: 6005718 (1999-12-01), Park et al.
patent: 6008920 (1999-12-01), Hendrix
patent: 6101037 (2000-08-01), Park et al.
patent: 6122417 (2000-09-01), Jayaraman et al.
patent: 6147806 (2000-11-01), Park et al.
patent: 6404947 (2002-06-01), Matsuda
patent: 6553162 (2003-04-01), Okayama
patent: 61285412 (1986-12-01), None

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

Multi-channel optical filter and multiplexer formed from... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Multi-channel optical filter and multiplexer formed from..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multi-channel optical filter and multiplexer formed from... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3274815

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