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Wavelength selective modulator

  • US 6,295,397 B1
  • Filed: 02/18/2000
  • Issued: 09/25/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A wavelength selective modulator (1) for modulating optical wavelengths and including at least two multimode waveguides (10, 20), at least one wavelength selective cross-switch structure (2, 4, 6, 8), at least two phase control elements (C1, C2, D1, D2, E1, E2, F1, F2), and at least four connecting waveguides, wherein the wavelength selective cross-switch structure is disposed between a first multimode waveguide (10) and a second multimode waveguide (20), wherein the first multimode waveguide (10) is connected to at least one access waveguide on a first side and to at least two access waveguides on a second side, wherein the second multimode waveguide (20) is connected to at least two access waveguides on a first side and to at least one access waveguide on a second side, wherein said wavelength selective cross-switch structure is connected to at least two access waveguides on a first side and on a second side, wherein in respect of a wavelength selective cross-switch structure a first access waveguide on the second side of the first multimode waveguide is connected to a first access waveguide on the first side of the wavelength selective cross-switch structure via a first connecting waveguide, a second access waveguide on the second side of the first multimode waveguide is connected to a first access waveguide on the second side of said wavelength selective cross-switch structure via a second connecting waveguide, a second access waveguide on the first side of the wavelength selective cross-switch structure is connected to a first access waveguide on the first side of the second multimode waveguide via a third connecting waveguide, and a second access waveguide on the second side of the wavelength selective cross-switch structure is connected to a second access waveguide on the first side of the second multimode waveguide via a fourth connecting waveguide, wherein the phase control elements are arranged in the connecting waveguides on one side of the wavelength selective cross-switch structure, wherein a first phase control element (C1) is adapted to effect a phase change for a given time period Δ

  • t1 that is as many time units τ

    earlier than the time at which a second phase control element (C2) effects the phase change for a time period Δ

    t2, said time difference corresponding to the time taken for the light to travel from a contemplated point (30) to the second phase control element (C2) or to the time taken for the light to travel from the first phase control element (C1) to the second phase control element (C1), wherein in the case of two or more wavelength selective cross-switch structures two phase control elements (D1, D2, E1, E2, F1 and F2) and two connecting waveguides are provided for each wavelength selective cross-switch structure, wherein each wavelength selective cross-switch structure has two phase control elements on the opposite side relative to a nearest adjacent wavelength selective cross-switch structure, and wherein the first of said phase control elements (D1, E1 and F1) is adapted to effect a phase change during a given time period Δ

    t1 which is earlier than a phase change caused by the second phase control elements (D2, E2 and F2) during a time period Δ

    t2 by a length of time corresponding to the time taken for transmitted or reflected light to travel to said second phase control elements (D2, E2 and F2) from the nearest adjacent phase control element, and wherein the wavelength selective cross-switch structures are mutually connected via connecting waveguides from one access waveguide on a first wavelength selective cross-switch structure to another access waveguide on an adjacent wavelength selective cross-switch structure, and wherein said access waveguides are chosen so as to lie closely adjacent one another and on mutually the same side.

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