Tunable receiver for a wavelength division multiplexing optical apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus for receiving and decoding a plurality of wavelength division multiplexed light signals from a single optical fiber, the light signals carrying modulated information in the different wavelengths, comprising:
- A) wavelength separation means, for spatially separating the different wavelength light signals from the single optical fiber;
B) a plurality of light detectors for detecting the modulated information in the different wavelength light signals, wherein detected information may be processed, transmitted or stored; and
C) wavelength tuning means, interposed between the wavelength separation means and the plurality of light detectors, for tuning to different wavelengths λ
c in the optical fiber transmission band, wherein λ
c is defined as the center wavelength of the light signals, and whereby accommodation is provided to both multi-longitudinal mode laser diodes or distributed feedback (DFB) laser diode arrays as the source of the different wavelength light signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatically providing for both multiplexing and independent external modulation of two or more wavelengths emitted by one or more multi-longitudinal mode laser(s) or other light source. The present invention uses an integrated optics device chip to enable coupling of the dispersed wavelengths into separate electro-optic modulators which encode each of the carrier wavelengths with a different signal. Accordingly, the volume of data which can be transmitted over an optical fiber network is increased. The carrier wavelengths can be transmitted over single or multi-mode optical fibers.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for receiving and decoding a plurality of wavelength division multiplexed light signals from a single optical fiber, the light signals carrying modulated information in the different wavelengths, comprising:
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A) wavelength separation means, for spatially separating the different wavelength light signals from the single optical fiber; B) a plurality of light detectors for detecting the modulated information in the different wavelength light signals, wherein detected information may be processed, transmitted or stored; and C) wavelength tuning means, interposed between the wavelength separation means and the plurality of light detectors, for tuning to different wavelengths λ
c in the optical fiber transmission band, wherein λ
c is defined as the center wavelength of the light signals, and whereby accommodation is provided to both multi-longitudinal mode laser diodes or distributed feedback (DFB) laser diode arrays as the source of the different wavelength light signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for receiving and decoding a plurality of wavelength division multiplexed light signals from a single optical fiber, the light signals carrying modulated information in the different wavelengths, comprising:
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A) wavelength separation means, for spatially separating the different wavelength light signals from the single optical fiber; B) a physical array including a plurality of light detectors for detecting the modulated information in the different wavelength light signals, wherein detected information may be processed, transmitted or stored; and C) magnification means, physically interposed between the wavelength separation means and the physical array, for increasing the spatial dispersion of the different wavelength light signals at the physical array to accommodate different wavelength separation Δ
λ
between the carrier wavelengths λ
i of the wavelength division multiplexed signals. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for transmitting and receiving wavelength division multiplexed signals over a single optical fiber, comprising:
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A) transmitter means, including; i) a single laser for generating a plurality of optical signals of different wavelengths; ii) external modulator means for modulating the optical signals in accordance with control signals, whereby the optical signals carry information; and iii) wavelength separation means, for spatially separating the different wavelength signals and directing the signals from the laser to the integrated optic modulator; B) a multi-mode or single mode optical fiber; and C) receiver means, including; i) wavelength separation means, for spatially separating the different wavelength signals transmitted by said optical fiber; ii) a light detector array or optical fiber array with each fiber terminated at a photodetector, for detecting the modulated information in the different wavelength signals, wherein transmitted information may be processed, transmitted or stored; iii) wavelength tuning means, interposed between the input optical fiber and the light detector array, for tuning to different center wavelengths λ
c in the optical fiber transmission band, whereby accommodation is provided to both multi-longitudinal mode laser diodes or distributed feedback (DFB) laser diode arrays; andiv) magnification means, physically interposed between the wavelength tuning means and the light detector array, for increasing the spatial dispersion of the different wavelength light signals at the light detector array or optical fiber array to accommodate different wavelength separation Δ
λ
between the carrier wavelengths λ
i of the wavelength division multiplexed signals.
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20. A system for transmitting and receiving wavelength division multiplexed signals over a single optical fiber, comprising:
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a) transmitter means, including; i) a plurality of lasers equal to n for generating a plurality m optical signals of different wavelengths, and wherein m is greater than n. ii) external modulator means for modulating the optical signals in accordance with control signals, whereby the optical signals carry information; and iii) wavelength separation means, for spatially separating the different wavelength signals and directing the signals from the lasers to the integrated optic modulator; b) a multi-mode or single mode optical fiber; and c) receiver means, including; i) wavelength separation means, for spatially separating the different wavelength signals transmitted by the optical fiber; ii) a light detector array for detecting the modulated information in the different wavelength signals, wherein transmitted information may be processed, transmitted or stored; and iii) optical components for tuning the receiver to detect the specific set of wavelengths used in the WDM optical system. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of wavelength division multiplexing a plurality of signals over an optical fiber, comprising the steps of:
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a) generating a plurality "m" of optical signals of different wavelengths from "n" laser diodes, wherein m is greater than n; b) spatially separating the different wavelength signals and directing the signals from the laser to an integrated optic modulator; c) modulating the optical signals with the integrated optic modulator in accordance with control signals, whereby the optical signals carry information; d) receiving the modulated optical signals; and e) tuning the receiver to the center frequency λ
c of the m optical signals. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification