Single-mode wavelength division optical multiplexer

• US 4,153,330 A
• Filed: 12/01/1977
• Issued: 05/08/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Tomlinson, Walter J. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Application Number:
  US05/856,280
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.12, 350/96.13, 350/96.15, 350/96.16, 350/96.17, 350/96.18, 350/96.19
• US Class Current: 385/35
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29328 Diffractive elements operating in reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2938 for multiplexing or demultiplexing, i.e. combining or separating wavelengths, e.g. 1xN, NxM

Abstract

A wavelength division optical multiplexer for combining single mode beams involves a lens formed in a thin-film waveguide and a reflection diffraction grating outside the waveguide.

Claims

1. A single-mode optical multiplexer comprising:

a thin-film optical waveguide mounted on a substrate and having a first edge and a second edge,

a single-mode output optical fiber coupled to said first edge,

at least two means for coupling optical radiation into said first edge,

means, located between said first edge and said second edge, for collimating input light emerging from said at least two means for coupling optical radiation into said first edge, and for focusing collimated light entering from said second edge into said output optical fiber, and

a reflection diffraction grating adjacent to said second edge for reflecting input light back through said collimating and focusing means into said output fiber.

2. A single-mode optical demultiplexer comprising:

a thin-film optical waveguide having a first edge and a second edge,

a single-mode input optical fiber coupled to said first edge,

at least two means coupled to said first edge, for detecting optical radiation,

means, located between said first edge and said second edge, for collimating input light emerging from said input fiber and for focusing collimated input light entering from said second edge into said at least two means for detecting optical radiation, and

a reflection diffraction grating adjacent to said second edge for reflecting and diffracting input light back through said collimating and focusing means into said output fibers.

3. A single-mode optical multiplexer comprising:

a thin-film optical waveguide mounted on a substrate and having a first edge and a second edge,

a single-mode output optical fiber coupled to said first edge,

at least two single-mode input optical fibers coupled to said first edge,

means, located between said first edge and said second edge, for collimating input light emerging from said at least two input fibers and for focusing collimated light entering from said second edge into said output optical fiber, and

a reflection diffraction grating adjacent to said second edge for reflecting input light back through said collimating and focusing means into said output fiber.

4. An optical multiplexer according to claim 3 in which said input and output optical fibers are connected to said thin-film waveguide by butt joints.

5. An optical multiplexer according to claim 3 in which said means for collimating input light includes a geodesic lens formed in said substrate.

6. An optical multiplexer according to claim 3 in which said means for collimating input light includes a mode index lens.

7. A single-mode optical demultiplexer comprising:

a thin-film optical waveguide having a first edge and a second edge,

a single-mode input optical fiber coupled to said first edge,

at least two single-mode output optical fibers coupled to said first edge,

means, located between said first edge and said second edge, for collimating input light emerging from said input fiber and for focusing collimated input light entering from said second edge into said output optical fibers, and

a reflection diffraction grating adjacent to said second edge for reflecting and diffracting input light back through said collimating and focusing means into said output fibers.

8. An optical demultiplexer according to claim 7 in which said input and output optical fibers are connected to said thin-film waveguide by butt joints.

9. An optical demultiplexer according to claim 7 in which said means for collimating input light includes a geodesic lens formed in said substrate.

10. An optical demultiplexer according to claim 7 in which said means for collimating input light includes a mode index lens.