Optical Switching
First Claim
1. An optical switch comprising:
- a plurality of inputs, each arranged to receive a respective input optical signal at one of a plurality of wavelengths and having a respective planar wavefront;
conversion apparatus arranged to receive each input optical signal and arranged to convert each input optical signal into a respective optical signal having a respective one of a plurality of helical wavefronts, each helical wavefront having a different orbital angular momentum;
optical multiplexing apparatus arranged to receive each helical wavefront optical signal from the conversion apparatus and arranged to multiplex the helical wavefront optical signals into an orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal; and
optical demultiplexing apparatus comprising a plurality of outputs, the optical demultiplexing apparatus arranged to;
receive the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal;
demultiplex the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal into a plurality of wavelength multiplexed optical signals each having a different one of the orbital angular momenta;
reconvert each wavelength multiplexed optical signal from its helical wavefront into a respective planar wavefront; and
deliver each planar wavefront wavelength multiplexed optical signal to a respective one of the outputs according to the respective orbital angular momentum it had before reconversion.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical switch (10) comprising: inputs (12) to receive input optical signals at respective wavelengths and having planar wavefronts; conversion apparatus (14) to convert each input optical signal into a respective optical signal having a respective helical wavefront, each helical wavefront having a different orbital angular momentum, OAM; optical multiplexing apparatus (16) to receive each helical wavefront optical signal from the conversion apparatus and to multiplex the helical wavefront optical signals into an OAM multiplexed optical signal; and optical demultiplexing apparatus (18) comprising a plurality of outputs (20), the optical demultiplexing apparatus arranged to: receive the OAM multiplexed optical signal; demultiplex the OAM multiplexed optical signal into a plurality of wavelength multiplexed optical signals each having a different OAM; reconvert each wavelength multiplexed optical signal from its helical wavefront into a respective planar wavefront; and deliver each planar wavefront wavelength multiplexed optical signal to a respective one of the outputs according to the respective OAM it had before reconversion.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An optical switch comprising:
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a plurality of inputs, each arranged to receive a respective input optical signal at one of a plurality of wavelengths and having a respective planar wavefront; conversion apparatus arranged to receive each input optical signal and arranged to convert each input optical signal into a respective optical signal having a respective one of a plurality of helical wavefronts, each helical wavefront having a different orbital angular momentum; optical multiplexing apparatus arranged to receive each helical wavefront optical signal from the conversion apparatus and arranged to multiplex the helical wavefront optical signals into an orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal; and optical demultiplexing apparatus comprising a plurality of outputs, the optical demultiplexing apparatus arranged to;
receive the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal;
demultiplex the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal into a plurality of wavelength multiplexed optical signals each having a different one of the orbital angular momenta;
reconvert each wavelength multiplexed optical signal from its helical wavefront into a respective planar wavefront; and
deliver each planar wavefront wavelength multiplexed optical signal to a respective one of the outputs according to the respective orbital angular momentum it had before reconversion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 12)
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5. A method of switching optical signals, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of input optical signals, each having one of a plurality of wavelengths and each having a respective planar wavefront; converting each input optical signal into a respective optical signal having a respective one of a plurality of helical wavefronts, each helical wavefront having a different orbital angular momentum; multiplexing the helical wavefront optical signals into an orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal; and demultiplexing the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal into a plurality of wavelength multiplexed optical signals each having a different one of the orbital angular momenta and reconverting each wavelength multiplexed optical signal from it helical wavefront into a respective planar wavefront. - View Dependent Claims (6, 10, 11, 13, 14)
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Specification