Optical waveguides – Polarization without modulation
Reexamination Certificate
2005-09-06
2005-09-06
Font, Frank G. (Department: 2883)
Optical waveguides
Polarization without modulation
C385S014000, C385S022000, C385S027000, C385S039000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06941032
ABSTRACT:
In an interferometer configuration, a retarder in the form of a half-wave plate (125) and a phase shifter in the form of a glass plate (120) are arranged in one arm (114). The phase shifter provides an optical path difference between the interferometer arms which needs to be greater than the coherence length of the input light to be polarization stabilized. A polarizer in the form of a linear polarizer (118) aligned at 45° to the half-wave plate is arranged across both interferometer arms (114&116). Polarization stabilization action is achieved by the retarder in combination with the polarizer. More specifically, for at least one input polarization state, the polarization states in the two interferometer arms are rendered orthogonal by the retarder, the polarizer being aligned to allow only one of the two orthogonal states to be transmitted, the other being absorbed. The device is expected to find application for WDM networks based on broadband sources, such as superluminescent diodes. The device is also expected to be useful for providing a front-end polarization stabilization of the signal supplied to optical elements that are sensitive to the polarization state of their input. Examples of such elements are semiconductor optical amplifiers, integrated optical splitters and electro-optical switches.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 0 394 605 (1990-10-01), None
patent: 2 174 505 (1986-11-01), None
T. Shintaku et al., “Polarisation-Independent Optical Isolator Based on Anti-Symmetric Field Conversion”, Electronics Letters, vol. 33, No. 20, pp. 1723-1724, (1997).
I. Masaru et al., “Method for Compensating Polarization of Signal Light and Light Amplification Method”, Patent Abstracts of Japan of JP 08248358A, Sep. 27, 1996.
H.G. Jerrard, “Modern Description of Polarized Light: Matrix Methods”, Optics and Laser Technology, pp. 309-319, (1982).
Barberis Angelo
Martelli Paolo
Martinelli Mario
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Font Frank G.
Mooney Michael P.
Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi S.p.A.
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