US4923271A — Optical multiplexer/demultiplexer using focusing …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 164 words

An optical device comprising a first optical waveguide, including entrance and exit ports, capable of supporting a signal at a first optical wavelength λ O ; at least one focusing Bragg reflector comprising a plurality of confocal essentially elliptical grating lines for reflecting optical signals within a bandwidth Δλ around a first Bragg wavelength λ BO , λ O being within the bandwidth Δλ around λ BO , and transmitting all other optical signals therethrough, said focusing Bragg reflector being disposed in relation to said first optical waveguide such that a port of said first waveguide is located at a first focal point of said plurality of confocal essentially elliptical grating lines; and a second optical waveguide, including entrance and exit ports, capable of supporting an optical signal at said first wavelength λ O , one port of said second optical waveguide being located at a second, remaining focal point of said plurality of confocal essentially elliptical grating lines forming said focusing Bragg reflector.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 164 words

An optical device comprising a first optical waveguide, including entrance and exit ports, capable of supporting a signal at a first optical wavelength λ O ; at least one focusing Bragg reflector comprising a plurality of confocal essentially elliptical grating lines for reflecting optical signals within a bandwidth Δλ around a first Bragg wavelength λ BO , λ O being within the bandwidth Δλ around λ BO , and transmitting all other optical signals therethrough, said focusing Bragg reflector being disposed in relation to said first optical waveguide such that a port of said first waveguide is located at a first focal point of said plurality of confocal essentially elliptical grating lines; and a second optical waveguide, including entrance and exit ports, capable of supporting an optical signal at said first wavelength λ O , one port of said second optical waveguide being located at a second, remaining focal point of said plurality of confocal essentially elliptical grating lines forming said focusing Bragg reflector.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 39 words

An optical device as defined in claim 1 further comprising an optical guiding medium disposed between the at least one focusing Bragg reflector and said first and second optical waveguides so as to provide transmission of optical signals therebetween.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 191 words

An optical device as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein the first optical waveguide is further capable of supporting a plurality of N signals at different wavelengths (λ 1 , λ 2 , . . . , λ N ), said optical device further comprising a plurality of N optical waveguides, each including entrance and exit ports and capable of supporting a separate one of said plurality of N optical signals; the at least one focusing Bragg reflector comprising a plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors, each including a plurality of confocal essentially elliptical grating lines, each reflector having a different Bragg wavelength for reflecting a separate one of said plurality of N optical signals into an associated optical waveguide, said plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors disposed in a serial arrangement such that each share one common focal point, the port of said first optical waveguide being located at said common focal point, and a port of each optical waveguide of said plurality of N optical waveguides being located at a second, remaining focal point of an associated focusing Bragg reflector of said plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 42 words

An optical device as defined in claim 3 wherein the plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors are arranged in sequence from the shortest Bragg wavelength to the longest Bragg wavelength, with the shortest wavelength Bragg reflector being positioned nearest the optical waveguides.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 10 words

An optical device as defined in claim 3 wherein 1≦N≦4.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 215 words

An optical demultiplexer including an input optical waveguide, including entrance and exit ports, capable of supporting a plurality of N optical input signals, each signal associated with a different wavelength (λ 1 , λ 2 , . . . λ N ); a first plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors disposed in a serial arrangement, each associated with a different one of said plurality of N input signals, wherein each focusing Bragg reflector comprises a plurality of confocal essentially elliptical grating lines and exhibits a different Bragg wavelength for reflecting its associated optical input signal, and each focusing Bragg reflector exhibits a different ellipticity and includes a different pair of foci, said plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors being disposed in relation to said input optical waveguide such that the exit port of said input optical waveguide is located at one focal point common to each Bragg reflector of said plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors; and a first plurality of N output optical waveguides, including entrance and exit ports, associated in a one-to-one relationship with said plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors for receiving a separate one of the N reflected signals, the entrance port of each output optical waveguide being located at the second, remaining focal point of its associated focusing Bragg reflector.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 215 words

An optical demultiplexer including an input optical waveguide, including entrance and exit ports, capable of supporting a plurality of N optical input signals, each signal associated with a different wavelength (λ 1 , λ 2 , . . . λ N ); a first plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors disposed in a serial arrangement, each associated with a different one of said plurality of N input signals, wherein each focusing Bragg reflector comprises a plurality of confocal essentially elliptical grating lines and exhibits a different Bragg wavelength for reflecting its associated optical input signal, and each focusing Bragg reflector exhibits a different ellipticity and includes a different pair of foci, said plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors being disposed in relation to said input optical waveguide such that the exit port of said input optical waveguide is located at one focal point common to each Bragg reflector of said plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors; and a first plurality of N output optical waveguides, including entrance and exit ports, associated in a one-to-one relationship with said plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors for receiving a separate one of the N reflected signals, the entrance port of each output optical waveguide being located at the second, remaining focal point of its associated focusing Bragg reflector.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 53 words

An optical demultiplexer as defined in claim 6 wherein the demultiplexer further comprises an optical guiding medium disposed between the exit port of the input optical waveguide, the plurality of N entrance ports of the output optical waveguides, and the plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors to provide transmission of optical signals therebetween.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 44 words

An optical demultiplexer as defined in claims 6 or 7 wherein the plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors are arranged in sequence from shortest Bragg wavelength to longest Bragg wavelength, the reflector with the shortest Bragg wavelength being positioned closest to the optical waveguides.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 12 words

An optical demultiplexer as defined in claim 6 or 7 wherein 1≦N≦4.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 196 words

An optical demultiplexer as defined in claim 6 for providing improved isolation between adjacent optical signals of the plurality of N optical input signals, said demultiplexer further comprising a second plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors, each comprising a plurality of confocal essentially elliptical grating lines, for reflecting a separate one of the plurality of N optical signals reflected from the first plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors, wherein each focusing Bragg reflector of said second plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors exhibits a different ellipticity and includes a different pair of foci, one focal point of each focusing Bragg reflector of said second plurality being located at the exit port of its associated output optical waveguide from the first plurality of N output optical waveguides; and a second plurality of N output optical waveguides, including entrance and exit ports, associated in a one-to-one relationship with said second plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors for receiving a separate one of the twice-reflected N optical signals, the entrance port of each output optical waveguide being located at the second, remaining focal point of its associated focusing Bragg reflector of said second plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 10 words

An optical demultiplexer as defined in claim 10 wherein 1≦N≦4.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 79 words

An optical demultiplexer as defined in claim 10 wherein the arrangement further comprises M pluralities of focusing Bragg reflectors comprising confocal essentially elliptical gratings and M pluralities of output optical waveguides, each plurality of focusing Bragg reflectors disposed to include as foci the associated ports from the previous and subsequent plurality of optical output waveguides, said demultiplexer capable of providing M reflections of said plurality of N optical signals before focusing into said plurality of N output optical waveguides.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 171 words

An optical multiplexer including a plurality of N input optical waveguides, each including separate entrance and exit ports and capable of supporting a separate one of a plurality of N input optical signals (λ 1 , λ 2 , . . . , λ N ); a plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors disposed in a serial arrangement, each including a plurality of confocal essentially elliptical grating lines and exhibiting a different Bragg wavelength, for reflecting a separate one of said plurality of N input optical signals, each focusing Bragg reflector exhibiting a different ellipticity and disposed to share a first common focal point, the exit port of each input optical waveguide being located at the second, remaining focal point of its associated focusing Bragg reflector; and an output optical waveguide, including separate entrance and exit ports, capable of supporting the plurality of N reflected optical signals, the entrance port of said output optical waveguide being located at the first common focal point of said plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 171 words

An optical multiplexer including a plurality of N input optical waveguides, each including separate entrance and exit ports and capable of supporting a separate one of a plurality of N input optical signals (λ 1 , λ 2 , . . . , λ N ); a plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors disposed in a serial arrangement, each including a plurality of confocal essentially elliptical grating lines and exhibiting a different Bragg wavelength, for reflecting a separate one of said plurality of N input optical signals, each focusing Bragg reflector exhibiting a different ellipticity and disposed to share a first common focal point, the exit port of each input optical waveguide being located at the second, remaining focal point of its associated focusing Bragg reflector; and an output optical waveguide, including separate entrance and exit ports, capable of supporting the plurality of N reflected optical signals, the entrance port of said output optical waveguide being located at the first common focal point of said plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 45 words

An optical multiplexer as defined in claim 13 wherein the multiplexer further comprises an optical guiding medium disposed between the plurality of N input optical waveguides, the output optical waveguide, and the plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors for providing transmission of optical signals therebetween.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 44 words

An optical multiplexer as defined in claims 13 or 14 wherein the plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors are arranged in sequence from shortest Bragg wavelength to longest Bragg wavelength, the reflector with the shortest Bragg wavelength being positioned closest to the optical waveguides.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 12 words

An optical multiplexer as defined in claims 13 or 14 wherein 1≦N≦4.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 88 words

An optical multiplexer as defined in claims 13 or 14 which is capable of providing optical feedback between at least one Bragg reflector of the plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors and at least one input waveguide of the plurality of N input optical waveguides, said multiplexer further comprising at least one feedback Bragg reflector associated with a corresponding focusing Bragg reflector and comprising a plurality of grating lines configured so as to redirect the reflected optical signal into the exit port of the associated input optical waveguide.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 38 words

An optical feedback multiplexer as defined in claim 17 wherein the at least one feedback Bragg reflector comprises a plurality of N feedback Bragg reflectors, associated in a one-to-one relationship with the plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 51 words

An optical feedback multiplexer as defined in claim 17 wherein each feedback Bragg reflector comprises a relatively few grating lines in relation to its associated focusing Bragg reflector so that only a fraction of the associated input optical signal is redirected into the exit port of the associated input optical waveguide.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 44 words

An optical feedback multiplexer as defined in claim 17 wherein each feedback Bragg reflector comprises a plurality of confocal circular grating lines and is disposed such that its associated exit port is located at the focus of said plurality of confocal circular grating lines.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 37 words

An optical feedback multiplexer as defined in claim 17 wherein the feedback multiplexer further comprises a plurality of N laser-based signal sources, each source associated in a one-to-one relationship with the plurality of N input optical waveguides.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 18 words

An optical feedback multiplexer as defined in claim 21 wherein all components are formed on a single substrate.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 162 words

An optical filter comprising an input optical waveguide, including separate entrance and exit ports, capable of supporting a plurality of N optical input signals (λ 1 , λ 2 , . . . λ N ); a plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors disposed in a serial arrangement, each including a plurality of confocal essentially elliptical grating lines and exhibiting a different Bragg wavelength, for reflecting a separate one of said plurality of N optical input signals, the plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors exhibiting a substantially identical ellipticity and sharing a pair of common focal points, the exit port of said input optical waveguide being located at a first focal point of said pair of common focal points; and an output optical waveguide, including separate entrance and exit ports, capable of supporting the plurality of N reflected optical signals, the entrance port of said output optical waveguide located at a second, remaining focal point of said pair of common focal points.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 162 words

An optical filter comprising an input optical waveguide, including separate entrance and exit ports, capable of supporting a plurality of N optical input signals (λ 1 , λ 2 , . . . λ N ); a plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors disposed in a serial arrangement, each including a plurality of confocal essentially elliptical grating lines and exhibiting a different Bragg wavelength, for reflecting a separate one of said plurality of N optical input signals, the plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors exhibiting a substantially identical ellipticity and sharing a pair of common focal points, the exit port of said input optical waveguide being located at a first focal point of said pair of common focal points; and an output optical waveguide, including separate entrance and exit ports, capable of supporting the plurality of N reflected optical signals, the entrance port of said output optical waveguide located at a second, remaining focal point of said pair of common focal points.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 58 words

An optical filter as defined in claim 23 wherein the input optical waveguide is defined as the output of a first optical amplifier, and the output optical waveguide is defined as the input to a second optical amplifier, the plurality of N focusing Bragg reflectors functioning as an in-line optical filter between said first and second optical amplifiers.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 24 words

An optical filter as defined in claim 24 wherein the filter further comprises an optical isolator disposed between the first and second optical amplifiers.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 19 words

An optical filter as defined in claims 24 or 25 wherein all components are formed on a single substrate.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-05-07	1993-11-06	1994-05-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-05-07	1997-11-06	1998-05-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-05-07	2001-11-06	2002-05-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Optical multiplexer/demultiplexer using focusing Bragg reflectors

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