Dynamically configurable spectral filter
First Claim
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1. A dynamically configurable spectral filter comprising:
- a wavelength dispersing system that receives an input beam having a plurality of different wavelength channels and spatially separates the different wavelength channels of the input beam;
a spatial light modulator that differentially affects the different wavelength channels of the input beam depending on their spatial positions, wherein the wavelength dispersing system also provides for realigning the differentially affected channels into a common output beam;
a spectral monitor that distinguishes optical power among the differentially affected channels; and
a controller that receives the optical power information from the spectral monitor and adjusts the spatial light modulator to achieve a predetermined power distribution among the differentially affected channels of the output beam.
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Abstract
Wavelength dispersion and spatial light modulation are combined having regard for polarization management within a feedback control system for dynamically adjusting spectral power distributions among different wavelength channels. Micro-optic, hybrid, and planar implementations are proposed along with coupling schemes to larger fiber optic systems. Utility is found throughout multi-channel wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission systems.
136 Citations
73 Claims
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1. A dynamically configurable spectral filter comprising:
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a wavelength dispersing system that receives an input beam having a plurality of different wavelength channels and spatially separates the different wavelength channels of the input beam;
a spatial light modulator that differentially affects the different wavelength channels of the input beam depending on their spatial positions, wherein the wavelength dispersing system also provides for realigning the differentially affected channels into a common output beam;
a spectral monitor that distinguishes optical power among the differentially affected channels; and
a controller that receives the optical power information from the spectral monitor and adjusts the spatial light modulator to achieve a predetermined power distribution among the differentially affected channels of the output beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An optical equalizer for a wavelength division multiplexing system comprising:
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a polarization manager that converts a mixed polarization signal into a signal having pure polarization states;
a wavelength disperser that spatially separates wavelength channels of the signal;
a spatial light modulator that at least indirectly modulates individual amplitudes of the spatially separated wavelength channels;
a spectral monitor that detects amplitude differences between the wavelength channels; and
a controller that controls the spatial light modulator to adjust the individual amplitudes of the wavelength channels based on differences between the monitored amplitudes and desired amplitudes of the wavelength channels. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of dynamically configuring a spectral filter comprising the steps of:
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spatially distinguishing different wavelength channels of an input beam spanning a range of wavelengths;
differentially modulating amplitudes of the spatially distinguished channels of the input beam;
realigning the differentially modulated channels into a common output beam;
monitoring optical power of the different channels; and
further differentially modulating amplitudes of the spatially distinguished channels to iteratively reduce differences between the monitored power distributions and a desired power distribution among the channels. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A dynamically configurable spectral filter comprising:
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a spatial light modulator that receives a plurality of spatially separated wavelengths and that relatively modulates polarization directions of the separated wavelengths depending on their relative spatial positions;
a polarization-sensitive optic that exhibits different transmission efficiencies as a function of polarization direction and that aligns the separated wavelengths into a common output beam at relative efficiencies corresponding to the polarization directions of the wavelengths; and
a control system that converts a monitored optical power distribution among the wavelengths into a feedback adjustment of the spatial light modulator to achieve a desired power distribution among the wavelengths in the output beam. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. An integrated device for a dynamically configurable spectral filter comprising:
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a planar waveguide that conducts light having a range of different wavelengths along an optical path that extends (a) past a wavelength disperser that spatially separates the different wavelengths, (b) past a spatial light modulator that at least indirectly modulates individual amplitudes of the spatially separated wavelengths, and (c) through a common output; and
a control loop that includes another optical path in the planar waveguide from the spatial light modulator to a converter that adjusts the individual amplitudes of the wavelengths based on differences between the actual amplitudes and desired amplitudes of the wavelengths. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. An integrated dynamically configurable spectral filter formed in a planar waveguide comprising:
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a common pathway that conveys a range of different wavelength signals through the planar waveguide;
individual planar pathways that convey the different wavelength signals through the planar waveguide;
a central planar pathway that couples the different wavelength signals through the planar waveguide between the common pathway and the individual pathways;
the central pathway including a wavelength dispersing mechanism that spatially separates the different wavelength signals;
a spatial light modulator connected to the individual pathways for at least indirectly modulating individual amplitudes of the different wavelength signals; and
a controller that controls the spatial light modulator to adjust the individual amplitudes of the wavelength signals. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. An optical filter for a wavelength division multiplexing system comprising:
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a wavelength dispersing system that (a) receives an input beam having a range of wavelengths conveying a plurality of different wavelength channels and (b) spatially separates the range of wavelengths including the different wavelength channels of the input beam; and
a spatial light modulator that differentially affects the wavelengths of the input beam depending on the wavelengths'"'"' spatial positions, wherein;
the wavelength dispersing system provides for realigning the differentially affected wavelengths into a common output beam; and
the spatial light modulator attenuates wavelengths between the channels for improving signal-to-noise ratios in the output beam. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73)
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Specification