Device and method for receiving, processing and transmitting optical an electrical signals and method for manufacturing such a device

• US 20040240771A1
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lightwave Devices Group Universiteit Twente
• Original Assignee: Lightwave Devices Group Universiteit Twente
• Inventors: Driessen, Alfred
• Application Number:
  US10/477,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20040240771A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02 Wavelength-division multiplex systems

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for receiving, processing and transmitting optical and electrical signals, comprising: an optical or processing optical signals; a connection for optically coupling an optical wave-guide such as a glass fibre to the optical circuit; at least one opto-electrical converter for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal, which opto-electrical converter is coupled optically to the optical circuit and which opto-electrical converter can be coupled electrically to an electronic appliance, and at least one electro-optical converter for converting an electrical signal into an optical signal, which electro-optical converter is coupled optically to the optical circuit. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a device.

Claims

1. A device for receiving, processing and transmitting optical and electrical signals, comprising:

an optical circuit for processing optical signals;

a connection for optically coupling an optical wave-guide such as a glass fibre to the optical circuit;

at least one opto-electrical converter for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal, which opto-electrical converter is coupled optically to the optical circuit and which opto-electrical converter can be coupled electrically to an electronic applicance, and

at least one electro-optical converter for converting an electrical signal into an optical signal, which electro-optical converter is coupled optically to the optical circuit, characterized in that the optical circuit comprises an integrated circuit comprising a plurality of optical ring resonators.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device comprises at least one passive optical ring resonator and at least one active optical ring resonator.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device also comprises:

at least one polarization splitter, and

at least one polarization converter.

4. A method for manufacturing a device as claimed claim 1, characterized in that the optical circuit is manufactured in at least partly integrated manner by means of a planar technology.

5. A method for receiving, processing and transmitting optical and electrical signals, comprising the steps of:

A. guiding a first optical signal from an optical wave-guide into an optical circuit;

B. splitting the first optical signal into a number of first optical part-signals, each falling within a given wavelength range, by means of a number of first passive optical ring resonators;

C. separately switching at least one of the first optical part-signals by means of a number of first active optical ring resonators;

D. converting at least one of the switched first optical part-signals into a first electrical signal by means of an opto-electrical converter;

E. generating a second optical signal;

F. splitting the second optical signal into a number of second optical part-signals, each falling within a given wavelength range, by means of a number of second passive optical ring resonators;

G. separately modulating at least one of the second optical part-signals by a second electrical signal by means of a number of second active optical ring resonators;

H. combining at least one of the modulated second optical part-signals to form a third optical signal by means of a number of third passive optical ring resonators; and

I. guiding the third optical signal into the optical wave-guide.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the method also comprises the steps of:

X. splitting the first optical signal into two polarized optical part-signals by means of a polarization splitter; and

Y. converting the polarization direction of one of the two polarized optical part-signals by means of a polarization converter.

6. A method for receiving, processing and transmitting optical and electrical signals, comprising the steps of:

A. guiding a first optical signal from an optical wave-guide into an optical circuit;

B. splitting the first optical signal into a number of first optical part-signals, each falling within a given wavelength range, by means of a number of first passive optical ring resonators;

C. separately switching at least one of the first optical part-signals by means of a number of first active optical ring resonators;

D. converting at least one of the switched first optical part-signals into a first electrical signal by means of an opto-electrical converter;

Q. generating at least one second optical signal;

R. modulating the second optical signal by a second electrical signal;

H. combining at least one of the modulated second optical part-signals to form a third optical signal by means of a number of third passive optical ring resonators; and

I. guiding the third optical signal into the optical wave-guide.