Optical waveguides – With optical coupler – Plural
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-17
2001-04-03
Ullah, Akm E. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With optical coupler
Plural
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212312
ABSTRACT:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a solid state filter assembly incorporating a plurality of resonant grating filters for demultiplexing or multiplexing optical signals to process a plurality of discrete wavelengths.
The invention in incorporated in an optical signal multiplexer/demultiplexer that comprises a plurality of resonant grating filters. This allows all wavelength (frequency) channels to be separated or combined in a single device. The device is distinguishable from other technologies in its use of resonant grating filters for selecting the desired wavelength. Advantageous features include manufacturing ease, potential for extremely high throughput and performance, and ability to be integrated into an array or stack containing a large number of filters for selecting specific wavelengths.
The invention is more particularly exemplified in an optical device for operation as either a multiplexer or demultiplexer. The device comprises a plurality of resonant grating filters arranged along a propagation axis which extends to a multiplexed optical channel for a plurality of optical signal frequencies. The filters reflect optical signals at respective resonant frequencies, and the filters transmit optical signals at frequencies other than their respective resonant frequencies along the propagation axis. The filters are each arranged at a non-perpendicular angle to the propagation axis to reflect the reflection signal between the propagation axis and a respective one of a plurality of discrete frequency channels provided for carrying optical signals having a plurality of respective discrete frequencies.
The filters of the present invention are preferably zeroth order diffraction grating filters. Such filters are further preferably narrow-band (potentially 1-2 Angstroms bandwidth) with extremely high throughput. The filters can be replicated from a single master, are relatively inexpensive to mass produce, and can be integrated into high density arrays from discrete wavelength discrimination. The center wavelength of the narrow-band filter can also be tuned over a small range by altering one of the grating parameters (angle of incidence, index of refraction, grating period, etc.).
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following specification and from the drawings which are incorporated herein and which describe and illustrate several preferred embodiments of the invention. Such embodiments are not, however, exhaustive of all possible embodiments, and therefore reference should be made to the claims which follow the description for the legal scope of the invention.
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Grann Eric B.
Maxey L. Curtis
Akerman Senterfitt & Eidson, P.A.
U.T. Battelle LLC
Ullah Akm E.
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