MULTI-UNIT PLANAR LIGHTWAVE CIRCUIT WAVELENGTH DISPERSIVE DEVICE

• US 20070237451A1
• Filed: 04/04/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Colbourne, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/696,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20070237451A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/18
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12007 forming wavelength selective elements, e.g. multiplexer, demultiplexer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12021 Comprising cascaded AWG devices; AWG multipass configuration; Plural AWG devices integrated on a single chip
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2931 Diffractive element operating in reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29311 Diffractive element operating in transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29313 characterised by means for controlling the position or direction of light incident to or leaving the diffractive element, e.g. for varying the wavelength response switching G02B6/35
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2938 for multiplexing or demultiplexing, i.e. combining or separating wavelengths, e.g. 1xN, NxM
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29395 configurable, e.g. tunable or reconfigurable switching G02B6/35
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3512 the optical element being reflective, e.g. mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3524 the optical element being refractive
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/356 in an optical cross-connect device, e.g. routing and switching aspects of interconnecting different paths propagating different wavelengths to (re)configure the various input and output links switching polarized beams G02B6/3594; power equalizers G02B6/356 and G02B6/3594; path selecting means H04Q11/0001

Abstract

A multi-unit wavelength dispersive optical device includes a plurality of independent planar lightwave circuit (PLC) wavelength dispersive optical devices in a single device in which a plurality of independent front and backend units can utilize the same dispersion platform and share the same opto-mechanics and packaging.

Claims

1. A multi-unit planar lightwave circuit device comprising:

a first planar lightwave circuit chip including a first input port, a first input arrayed waveguide grating, a first plurality of output arrayed waveguide gratings, and a first plurality of output ports, wherein a first input optical signal launched into the first input arrayed waveguide grating via the first input port is dispersed into wavelength channels in a first dispersion plane upon exiting the first input arrayed waveguide grating;

a first cylindrical lens for collimating the first input optical signal in a first direction after exiting the first planar lightwave circuit;

a first array of switching elements for independently redirecting each of the wavelength channels from the first input optical signal to selected first output arrayed waveguide gratings forming a plurality of first output optical signal for output respective first output ports;

a second planar lightwave circuit chip including a second input port, a second input arrayed waveguide grating, at least one second output arrayed waveguide gratings, and at least one second output ports, wherein a second input optical signal launched into the second input arrayed waveguide grating via the second input port disperses according to wavelength into a second dispersion plane parallel to the first dispersion plane upon exiting the second input arrayed waveguide grating;

a second cylindrical lens for collimating the second input optical signal in the first direction after exiting the second planar lightwave circuit;

a second array of switching elements, parallel to the first array of switching elements, for independently redirecting each of the wavelength channels from the second input optical signal to selected second output arrayed waveguide gratings for output respective second output ports; and

a switching lens for focusing the wavelength channels of the first input optical signal onto respective switching elements from the first array of switching elements, and for focusing the wavelength channels of the second optical signal onto respective switching elements from the second array of switching elements.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second array of switching elements comprise two parallel rows of MEMs mirrors on a same substrate.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a photo-detector optically coupled to one of the second output waveguide gratings;

wherein the second array of switching elements consecutively redirects each wavelength channel in the second input optical signal to the one output waveguide grating, while directing remaining wavelength channels to the second input waveguide for output the second output port.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the second output port is optically coupled to the first input port.

5. The device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a third planar lightwave circuit chip including a third input port, a third input arrayed waveguide grating, a third plurality of output arrayed waveguide gratings, and a third plurality of output ports, wherein a third input optical signal launched into the third input arrayed waveguide grating via the third input port disperses according to wavelength into a third dispersion plane upon exiting the third input arrayed waveguide grating;

a third cylindrical lens for collimating the third input optical signal in the first direction after exiting the third planar lightwave circuit; and

a third array of switching elements for independently attenuating and redirecting each of the wavelength channels from the third input optical signal to selected third output arrayed waveguide gratings for output respective third output ports;

wherein the switching lens focuses the wavelength channels of the third input optical signal onto respective switching elements from the third array of switching elements.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the first, second and third array of switching elements comprise three parallel rows of MEMs mirrors on a same substrate.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the first output ports is optically coupled to the second input port.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the second output ports is optically coupled to the third input port.

9. The device according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the second output ports is optically coupled to the third input port.

10. The device according to claim 5, wherein the second array of switching elements independently attenuates and redirects each of the wavelength channels from the second input optical signal to selected second output arrayed waveguide gratings for output respective second output ports.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the first output ports is optically coupled to the second input port.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second array of switching elements independently attenuates and redirects each of the wavelength channels from the second input optical signal to selected second output arrayed waveguide gratings for output respective second output ports.

13. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third planar lightwave circuit chip including a third input port, a third input arrayed waveguide grating, a third plurality of output arrayed waveguide gratings, and a third plurality of output ports, wherein a third input optical signal launched into the third input arrayed waveguide grating via the third input port disperses according to wavelength into a third dispersion plane upon exiting the third input arrayed waveguide grating;

a third cylindrical lens for collimating the third input optical signal in the first direction after exiting the third planar lightwave circuit; and

a third array of switching elements for independently attenuating and redirecting each of the wavelength channels from the third input optical signal to selected third output arrayed waveguide gratings for output respective third output ports;

wherein the switching lens focuses the wavelength channels of the third input optical signal onto respective switching elements from the third array of switching elements.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the first, second and third array of switching elements comprise three parallel rows of MEMs mirrors on a same substrate.

15. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth planar lightwave circuit chip positioned adjacent and parallel to the first planar lightwave circuit including a fourth plurality of output arrayed waveguide gratings, and a fourth plurality of output ports, wherein each of the switching elements in the first array of switching elements pivots about a first axes for directing wavelength channels back in the first dispersion plane to the first plurality of output diffraction gratings, and about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis for directing wavelength channels at an acute angle to the first dispersion plane; and

a fourth cylindrical lens for receiving and focusing the wavelength channels from the first input optical signal redirected out of the first dispersion plane onto the fourth plurality of output arrayed waveguides.