Bulk optic wavelength division multiplexer
First Claim
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1. An optical multiplexing/demultiplexing device comprising:
- an etalon-like structure consisting of a pair of spaced apart, substantially parallel, highly reflective mirror surfaces at least one of which is partially transparent over a predetermined band of wavelengths;
a weak diffraction grating formed on one of said reflective mirror surfaces;
means for coupling a collimated optical beam, containing a plurality of signals of different wavelength within said predetermined band, into said etalon-like structure so that said optical beam travels from one end of said etalon-like structure to the other by being alternately reflected between said reflective mirror surfaces a multiple number of times and strikes said diffraction grating at a predetermined angle of incidence as it travels lengthwise along said etalon-like structure, said diffraction grating being structured so that, acting by itself, it diffracts a small percentage of said signals in said predetermined band perpendicular to said reflective mirror surfaces each time said optical beam is incident thereto at said predetermined angle of incidence; and
means for locally controlling the optical path length between said reflective mirror surfaces at lengthwise locations along said etalon-like structure corresponding to those places where said signals have been diffracted perpendicular to said reflective surfaces to render said lengthwise locations resonant at one or more preselected wavelengths within said predetermined band of wavelengths, each of said selected wavelengths resonant between said reflective mirror surfaces reflecting therebetween a multiplicity of times with at least a part of the energy therein emerging from said lengthwise locations through said reflecting mirror surface which is partially transparent.
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Abstract
An optical multiplexing/demultiplexing device combines an etalon and weak diffraction grating along with temperature control to finely tune local resonant stations along the etalon to separate and/or combine a plurality of optical signals that are finely spaced in wavelength.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An optical multiplexing/demultiplexing device comprising:
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an etalon-like structure consisting of a pair of spaced apart, substantially parallel, highly reflective mirror surfaces at least one of which is partially transparent over a predetermined band of wavelengths; a weak diffraction grating formed on one of said reflective mirror surfaces; means for coupling a collimated optical beam, containing a plurality of signals of different wavelength within said predetermined band, into said etalon-like structure so that said optical beam travels from one end of said etalon-like structure to the other by being alternately reflected between said reflective mirror surfaces a multiple number of times and strikes said diffraction grating at a predetermined angle of incidence as it travels lengthwise along said etalon-like structure, said diffraction grating being structured so that, acting by itself, it diffracts a small percentage of said signals in said predetermined band perpendicular to said reflective mirror surfaces each time said optical beam is incident thereto at said predetermined angle of incidence; and means for locally controlling the optical path length between said reflective mirror surfaces at lengthwise locations along said etalon-like structure corresponding to those places where said signals have been diffracted perpendicular to said reflective surfaces to render said lengthwise locations resonant at one or more preselected wavelengths within said predetermined band of wavelengths, each of said selected wavelengths resonant between said reflective mirror surfaces reflecting therebetween a multiplicity of times with at least a part of the energy therein emerging from said lengthwise locations through said reflecting mirror surface which is partially transparent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification