Miniature monolithic optical add-drop multiplexer
First Claim
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1. A miniature monolithic optical add-drop multiplexer, comprising:
- a monolithic substrate;
a wavelength dispersive optical element fabricated on said monolithic substrate, said wavelength dispersive optical element receiving an input beam having a plurality of spatially overlapping distinct colors and providing an output signal composed of a plurality of spatially separated substantially single-color beams, each substantially single-color beam having a primary wavelength that is different than the primary wavelengths of the other substantially single-color beams;
a wavelength filter array fabricated on said monolithic substrate and having at least one filter element, said at least one filter element receiving a selected one of said plurality of spatially separated substantially single-color optical beams and removing therefrom any portions of beams of other primary wavelengths that were separated incompletely from the selected beam by the wavelength dispersive optical element, thereby providing a purified single-color output beam substantially free of colors associated with other primary wavelengths and having a first direction of propagation; and
a diverter that intercepts said purified single-color output beam and diverts said output beam from the first direction of propagation.
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Abstract
A miniature monolithic optical add-drop multiplexer that comprises a dispersive optical element, a wavelength filter array and a diverter. The miniature monolithic optical DWDM add-drop multiplexer can be fabricated using micro- and nano-scale techniques common to the semiconductor industry. The operating principles and some characteristics of the DWDM add-drop multiplexer are described. The device will be useful in the field of optical communication as a component within networks that perform all of the necessary switching, adding, dropping, and manipulating of optical signals entirely in the optical domain.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A miniature monolithic optical add-drop multiplexer, comprising:
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a monolithic substrate;
a wavelength dispersive optical element fabricated on said monolithic substrate, said wavelength dispersive optical element receiving an input beam having a plurality of spatially overlapping distinct colors and providing an output signal composed of a plurality of spatially separated substantially single-color beams, each substantially single-color beam having a primary wavelength that is different than the primary wavelengths of the other substantially single-color beams;
a wavelength filter array fabricated on said monolithic substrate and having at least one filter element, said at least one filter element receiving a selected one of said plurality of spatially separated substantially single-color optical beams and removing therefrom any portions of beams of other primary wavelengths that were separated incompletely from the selected beam by the wavelength dispersive optical element, thereby providing a purified single-color output beam substantially free of colors associated with other primary wavelengths and having a first direction of propagation; and
a diverter that intercepts said purified single-color output beam and diverts said output beam from the first direction of propagation. - 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)
a second diverter adjacent to said miniature monolithic optical demultiplexer, said diverter receiving a second input beam having a purified single color substantially identical to the purified single color of said output beam that is diverted; and
optionally, a second wavelength dispersive optical element, said second wavelength dispersive optical element capable of combining a plurality of spatially-separated substantially single color optical beams, at least one beam containing primarily a single color that is different than the color of another substantially single color optical beam, into a single beam having a plurality of spatially overlapping distinct colors;
wherein said second diverter is adapted to direct said second input beam for combination with another spatially-separated substantially single color optical beam having a color distinct from that of said second input beam to form a second output beam having a plurality of spatially overlapping distinct colors, using a selected one of said wavelength dispersive optical element and said optionally fabricated second wavelength dispersive optical element to effect said combination.
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28. A method of processing an optical beam having a plurality of spatially overlapping colors, comprising the steps of:
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providing an assembly of miniature optical elements, comprising;
a monolithic substrate;
a wavelength dispersive optical element fabricated on said monolithic substrate;
a wavelength filter array fabricated on said monolithic substrate; and
a diverter;
receiving an input beam having a plurality of spatially overlapping distinct colors;
dispersing the input beam, by use of the wavelength dispersive optical element, into a plurality of spatially-separated substantially single color optical beams, each beam containing primarily a single color that is different than the color of the other substantially single color optical beams;
filtering said at least one of the substantially single-color optical beams and removing therefrom colors other than the designated primary color of that beam, thereby providing at least one purified single-color output beam having a first direction of propagation, said output beam being substantially free of other colors; and
intercepting said at least one purified single-color output beam and diverting said output beam from the first direction of propagation. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
providing a second assembly of miniature optical elements, comprising;
a second monolithic substrate;
a second wavelength dispersive optical element fabricated on said monolithic substrate, said second wavelength dispersive optical element capable of combining a plurality of spatially-separated substantially single color optical beams, at least one beam containing primarily a single color that is different than the color of another substantially single color optical beam, into a single beam having a plurality of spatially overlapping distinct colors; and
a second diverter;
receiving a second input beam having a purified single color substantially identical to the purified single color of said output beam that is diverted;
controlling a direction of propagation of said second input beam with said second diverter; and
directing said diverted second input beam and another spatially-separated substantially single color optical beam having a color distinct from that of said diverted second input beam to said second wavelength dispersive optical element to form a second output beam having a plurality of spatially overlapping distinct colors.
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32. The method of claim 31, further comprising transmitting said second output beam having a plurality of spatially overlapping distinct colors to an optical waveguide external to said second assembly.
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33. The method of claim 31 wherein said monolithic substrate and said second monolithic substrate are the same monolithic substrate.
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34. The method of claim 31 wherein said wavelength dispersive optical element and said second wavelength dispersive optical element are the same wavelength dispersive optical element.
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35. The method of claim 31 wherein said second input beam is said diverted purified single-color output beam.
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36. The method of claim 35 wherein said second input beam is substantially a duplicate of said diverted purified single color output beam.
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37. The method of claim 35 wherein said second input beam is a modified version of said diverted purified single color output beam.
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38. A method of fabricating a miniature monolithic optical add-drop multiplexer comprising the steps of:
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utilizing semiconductor fabrication methods to create a wavelength dispersive optical element and an array of wavelength filtering elements upon a monolithic substrate, the combination of the wavelength dispersive optical element and the array of wavelength filtering elements providing a miniature monolithic optical demultiplexer; and
providing a diverter adjacent to said miniature monolithic optical demultiplexer, said diverter adapted to intercept and divert an optical beam that passes through said miniature monolithic optical demultiplexer. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
providing a second diverter adjacent to said miniature monolithic optical demultiplexer, said diverter receiving a second input beam having a purified single color substantially identical to the purified single color of said output beam that is diverted; and
optionally fabricating, utilizing semiconductor fabrication methods, a second wavelength dispersive optical element, said second wavelength dispersive optical element capable of combining a plurality of spatially-separated substantially single color optical beams, at least one beam containing primarily a single color that is different than the color of another substantially single color optical beam, into a single beam having a plurality of spatially overlapping distinct colors;
wherein said second diverter is adapted to direct said second input beam for combination with another spatially-separated substantially single color optical beam having a color distinct from that of said second input beam to form a second output beam having a plurality of spatially overlapping distinct colors, using a selected one of said wavelength dispersive optical element and said optionally fabricated second wavelength dispersive optical element to effect said combination.
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43. The fabrication method of claim 38, wherein the diverter is formed by semiconductor fabrication processes.
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44. The fabrication method of claim 43, wherein a diverter component is formed on the monolithic substrate.
Specification