Flexible optical multiplexer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A multiplexer for a wavelength division multiplexed optical communication system, comprising:
- an optical circulator including at least a first, second, third and fourth circulator ports;
an optical fiber with a first optical transmission path coupled to the first circulator port of the optical circulator and carrying a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal including signals λ
1-λ
n and at least one signal λ
1 to be dropped by the multiplexer;
a second optical transmission path in optical communication with the second circulator port;
a first detector/filter coupled to the second optical transmission path, the first detector/filter detecting the λ
1 signal and passing a portion of the λ
1 signal, and reflecting a first residual λ
1 signal and signals λ
2-λ
n to the optical circulator;
a third optical transmission path in optical communication with the third circulator port and transmitting the signals λ
2-λ
n received from the optical circulator;
a fourth optical transmission path in optical communication with the fourth optical circulator port, the fourth optical transmission path being positioned after the second optical transmission path and before the third optical transmission path; and
a first optoelectronic device coupled to the fourth optical transmission path.
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Abstract
A multiplexer has an optical circulator including at least first, second and third circulator ports. An optical fiber with a first optical transmission path is coupled to the first circulator port of the optical circulator. The optical fiber carries a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal, including signals λ1-λn, and at least one signal λ1 to be dropped by the multiplexer. A second optical transmission path is in optical communication with the second circulator port. A first filter is coupled to the second optical transmission path. The first filter passes a portion of the λ1 signal, and reflects a first residual λ1 signal and signals λ2-λn to the optical circulator. A third optical transmission path is in optical communication with the third circulator port and transmits the signals λ2-λn received from the optical circulator.
123 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A multiplexer for a wavelength division multiplexed optical communication system, comprising:
-
an optical circulator including at least a first, second, third and fourth circulator ports;
an optical fiber with a first optical transmission path coupled to the first circulator port of the optical circulator and carrying a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal including signals λ
1-λ
n and at least one signal λ
1 to be dropped by the multiplexer;
a second optical transmission path in optical communication with the second circulator port;
a first detector/filter coupled to the second optical transmission path, the first detector/filter detecting the λ
1 signal and passing a portion of the λ
1 signal, and reflecting a first residual λ
1 signal and signals λ
2-λ
n to the optical circulator;
a third optical transmission path in optical communication with the third circulator port and transmitting the signals λ
2-λ
n received from the optical circulator;
a fourth optical transmission path in optical communication with the fourth optical circulator port, the fourth optical transmission path being positioned after the second optical transmission path and before the third optical transmission path; and
a first optoelectronic device coupled to the fourth optical transmission path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
a fifth optical transmission path in optical communication with a fifth optical circulator port, the fifth optical transmission path being positioned after the fourth optical transmission path and before the third optical transmission path; and
a second optoelectronic device coupled to the fifth optical transmission path.
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8. The multiplexer of claim 7, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a third detector/filter that detects the second residual λ
-
1 signal, passes the second residual λ
1 signal and reflects a third residual λ
1 signal and the signals λ
2-λ
n.
-
1 signal, passes the second residual λ
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9. The multiplexer of claim 7, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a first filter that passes the second residual λ
-
1 signal and reflects a third residual λ
1 signal and the signals λ
2-λ
n.
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1 signal and reflects a third residual λ
-
10. The multiplexer of claim 7, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a first laser that reflects the second residual λ
-
1 signal and the signals λ
2-λ
n and adds back the λ
1 signal.
-
1 signal and the signals λ
-
11. The multiplexer of claim 7, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a first laser that reflects the second residual λ
-
1 signal and the signals λ
2-λ
n and adds λ
n+1 signal.
-
1 signal and the signals λ
-
12. The multiplexer of claim 4, further comprising:
-
a fifth optical transmission path in optical communication with a fifth optical circulator port, the fifth optical transmission path being positioned after the fourth optical transmission path and before the third optical transmission path; and
a second optoelectronic device coupled to the fifth optical transmission path.
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13. The multiplexer of claim 12, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a second detector/filter that detects the second residual λ
-
1 signal, passes the second residual λ
1 signal and reflects a third residual λ
1 signal and the signals λ
2-λ
n.
-
1 signal, passes the second residual λ
-
14. The multiplexer of claim 12, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a second filter that passes the second residual λ
-
1 signal and reflects a third residual λ
1 signal and the signals λ
2-λ
n.
-
1 signal and reflects a third residual λ
-
15. The multiplexer of claim 12, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a first laser that reflects the second residual λ
-
1 signal and the signals λ
2-λ
n and adds back the λ
1 signal.
-
1 signal and the signals λ
-
16. The multiplexer of claim 12, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a first laser that reflects the second residual λ
-
1 signal and the signals λ
2-λ
n and adds a signal λ
n+1.
-
1 signal and the signals λ
-
17. The multiplexer of claim 6, further comprising:
-
a fifth optical transmission path in optical communication with a fifth optical circulator port, the fifth optical transmission path being positioned after the fourth optical transmission path and before the third optical transmission path; and
a second optoelectronic device coupled to the fifth optical transmission path.
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18. The multiplexer of claim 17, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a second detector/filter that detects the first residual λ
-
1 signal, passes the first residual λ
1 signal and reflects a second residual λ
1 signal, the signals λ
2-λ
n and the signal λ
n+1.
-
1 signal, passes the first residual λ
-
19. The multiplexer of claim 17, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a first filter that passes the first residual λ
-
1 signal and reflects a second residual λ
1 signal, the signals λ
2-λ
n and the signal λ
n+1.
-
1 signal and reflects a second residual λ
-
20. The multiplexer of claim 17, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a second laser that reflects the first residual λ
-
1 signal, the signals λ
2-λ
n, the signal λ
n+1 and adds a signal λ
n+2.
-
1 signal, the signals λ
-
21. The multiplexer of claim 8, further comprising:
-
a sixth optical transmission path in optical communication with a sixth optical circulator port, the sixth optical transmission path being positioned after the fifth optical transmission path and before the third optical transmission path; and
a first laser coupled to the sixth optical transmission path, wherein the first laser reflects the third residual λ
1 signal, the signals λ
2-λ
n and adds back the signal λ
1.
-
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22. The multiplexer of claim 8, further comprising:
-
a sixth optical transmission path in optical communication with a sixth optical circulator port, the sixth optical transmission path being positioned after the fifth optical transmission path and before the third optical transmission path; and
a first laser coupled to the sixth optical transmission path, wherein the first laser reflects the third residual λ
1 signal, the signals λ
2-λ
n and adds a signal λ
n+1.
-
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23. The multiplexer of claim 14, further comprising:
-
a sixth optical transmission path in optical communication with a sixth optical circulator port, the sixth optical transmission path being positioned after the fifth optical transmission path and before the third optical transmission path; and
a first laser coupled to the sixth optical transmission path, wherein the first laser reflects the third residual λ
1 signal, the signals λ
2-λ
n and adds back the signal λ
1.
-
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24. The multiplexer of claim 14, further comprising:
-
a sixth optical transmission path in optical communication with a sixth optical circulator port, the sixth optical transmission path being positioned after the fifth optical transmission path and before the third optical transmission path; and
a first laser coupled to the sixth optical transmission path, wherein the first laser reflects the third residual λ
1 signal, the signals λ
2-λ
n and adds back a signal λ
1+1.
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25. The multiplexer of claim 2, wherein the detector/filter, filter, and laser are each tunable.
-
26. The multiplexer of claim 25, wherein the detector/filter, filter, and laser are each programmably tunable.
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27. The multiplexer of claim 1, further comprising:
a bi-directional optical amplifier coupled to the second optical transmission path positioned between first detector/filter and the optical circulator.
-
28. The multiplexer of claim 1, wherein the first detector/filter is an integral detector and filter device.
-
29. The multiplexer of claim 1, wherein the first detector/filter includes a non-integral detector and a filter.
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30. The multiplexer of claim 1, wherein the λ
-
1 signal is any wavelength of the signals λ
1-λ
n.
-
1 signal is any wavelength of the signals λ
-
31. A multiplexer for a wavelength division multiplexed optical communication system, comprising:
-
an optical circulator including at least a first, second, third and fourth circulator ports;
an optical fiber with a first optical transmission path coupled to the first circulator port of the optical circulator and carrying a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal including signals λ
1-λ
n and at least one signal λ
1 to be dropped by the multiplexer;
a second optical transmission path in optical communication with the second circulator port;
a first filter coupled to the second optical transmission path, the first filter passing a portion of the λ
1 signal, and reflecting a first residual λ
1 signal and the signals λ
2-λ
n to the optical circulator;
a third optical transmission path in optical communication with the third circulator port and transmitting the signals λ
2-λ
n received from the optical circulator;
a fourth optical transmission path in optical communication with the fourth optical circulator port, the fourth optical transmission path being positioned after the second optical transmission path and before the third optical transmission path; and
a first optoelectronic device coupled to the fourth optical transmission path. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
a fifth optical transmission path in optical communication with a fifth optical circulator port, the fifth optical transmission path being positioned after the fourth optical transmission path and before the third optical transmission path; and
a second optoelectronic device coupled to the fifth optical transmission path.
-
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38. The multiplexer of claim 37, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a first detector/filter that detects and passes the second residual λ
-
1 signal, and reflects a third residual λ
1 signal and the signals λ
2-λ
n.
-
1 signal, and reflects a third residual λ
-
39. The multiplexer of claim 37, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a third filter that passes the second residual λ
-
1 signal, and reflects a third residual λ
1 signal and the signals λ
2-λ
n.
-
1 signal, and reflects a third residual λ
-
40. The multiplexer of claim 37, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a first laser that reflects the second residual λ
-
1 signal and the signals λ
2-λ
n, and adds back the signal λ
1.
-
1 signal and the signals λ
-
41. The multiplexer of claim 37, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a first laser that reflects the second residual λ
-
1 signal and the signals λ
2-λ
n, and adds a signal λ
n+1.
-
1 signal and the signals λ
-
42. The multiplexer of claim 34, further comprising:
-
a fifth optical transmission path in optical communication with a fifth optical circulator port, the fifth optical transmission path being positioned after the fourth optical transmission path and before the third optical transmission path; and
a second optoelectronic device coupled to the fifth optical transmission path.
-
-
43. The multiplexer of claim 42, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a second detector/filter that detects and passes the second residual λ
-
1 signal, and reflects a third residual λ
1 signal and the signals λ
2-λ
n.
-
1 signal, and reflects a third residual λ
-
44. The multiplexer of claim 42, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a second filter that passes the second residual λ
-
1 signal, and reflects a third residual λ
1 signal and the signals λ
2-λ
n.
-
1 signal, and reflects a third residual λ
-
45. The multiplexer of claim 42, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a first laser that reflects the second residual λ
-
1 signal and the signals λ
2-λ
n, and adds back the signal λ
1.
-
1 signal and the signals λ
-
46. The multiplexer of claim 42, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a first laser that reflects the second residual λ
-
1 signal and the signals λ
2-λ
n, and adds a signal λ
n+1.
-
1 signal and the signals λ
-
47. The multiplexer of claim 36, further comprising:
-
a fifth optical transmission path in optical communication with a fifth optical circulator port, the fifth optical transmission path being positioned after the fourth optical transmission path and before the third optical transmission path; and
a second optoelectronic device coupled to the fifth optical transmission path.
-
-
48. The multiplexer of claim 47, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a first detector/filter that detects and passes the first residual λ
-
1 signal, and reflects a second residual λ
1 signal, the signals λ
2-λ
n and the signal λ
n+1.
-
1 signal, and reflects a second residual λ
-
49. The multiplexer of claim 47, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a second filter that passes the first residual λ
-
1 signal, and reflects a second residual λ
1 signal, the signals λ
2-λ
n and the signal λ
n+1.
-
1 signal, and reflects a second residual λ
-
50. The multiplexer of claim 47, wherein the second optoelectronic device is a second laser that reflects the signals λ
-
2-λ
n, the signal λ
n+1 and adds a signal λ
n+2.
-
2-λ
-
51. The multiplexer of claim 31, wherein the detector/filter, filter, and laser are each tunable.
-
52. The multiplexer of claims 51, wherein the detector/filter, filter, and laser are each programmably tunable.
-
53. The multiplexer of claim 31, further comprising:
a bi-directional optical amplifier coupled to the second optical transmission path positioned between first filter and the optical circulator.
Specification
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Current AssigneeNeoPhotonics Corporation (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
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Original AssigneeBANDWIDTH9
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InventorsChang-Hasnain, Constance, Schwager, Marc, Yu, Rang-Chen
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Primary Examiner(s)Healy, Brian
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Application NumberUS09/326,127Time in Patent Office697 DaysField of Search385/4, 385/15, 385/16, 385/17, 385/24, 385/31, 385/46, 385/47, 385/37, 385/42, 359/115, 359/117, 359/124, 359/127, 359/128, 359/130US Class Current385/24CPC Class CodesH04J 14/02 Wavelength-division multipl...H04J 14/021 Reconfigurable arrangements...
