Multiplex communications – Wide area network – Packet switching
Patent
1979-08-30
1981-06-23
Levy, Stewart J.
Multiplex communications
Wide area network
Packet switching
350 9616, 370 1, G02B 514
Patent
active
042747066
ABSTRACT:
A coupler for wavelength multiplexing or demultiplexing of multimode optical signals in optical circuits. Light introduced through an input/output surface at one end of a planar optical waveguide formed within a glass substrate propagates to a convexly curved second end of the waveguide on which is contiguously mounted a flexible, reflective diffraction grating. The light is diffracted by the diffraction grating and focussed by the curved end back onto the first end of the waveguide.
In a multiplexer (beam combiner) embodiment, a plurality of optical signal sources, each having a different wavelength component, is aligned along the first end of the waveguide so that light propagating from each of the sources travels through the waveguide to the reflective diffraction grating, is diffracted by the grating and then brought to a common focus at the first end. An optical fiber abutting the first end is positioned at the common focus to receive the combined beams.
Operating in a reverse mode, a demultiplexer (beam splitter) embodiment has an optical fiber abutting the first end surface which transmits a beam having a plurality of wavelength components through the waveguide to the reflective diffraction grating where each wavelength component in the beam is diffracted by the grating into angularly separated beams which are then brought to a focus in the plane of the first end so that each wavelength component forms a spatially separated image. A plurality of detectors or optical fibers abutting the first end surface is positioned to receive a different one of the images.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4111524 (1978-09-01), Tomlinson
patent: 4143941 (1979-03-01), Soref
patent: 4153330 (1979-05-01), Tomlinson
patent: 4182544 (1980-01-01), McMahon
Cline Gerald L.
Dicke, Jr. Allen A.
Hughes Aircraft Company
Levy Stewart J.
MacAllister W. H.
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