Switchable optical components
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A component for selectively reconfiguring an optical signal on a guided wave optical path including:
- at least one ESBG in optical contact with said path; and
electrodes for selectively applying at least a first and a second voltage across each said ESBG, there being no change in the optical signal for said path when said first voltage is across a said ESBG and there being a selected change in the optical signal on said path when said second voltage is across the ESBG.
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Abstract
This invention relates to a number of components, devices and networks involving integrated optics and/or half coupler technology, all of which involve the use of electronically switchable Bragg grating devices and device geometries realized using holographic polymer/dispersed liquid crystal materials. Most of the components and devices are particularly adapted for use in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems and in particular for use in switchable add/drop filtering (SADF) and wavelength selective crossconnect. Attenuators, outcouplers and a variety of other devices are also provided.
398 Citations
71 Claims
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1. A component for selectively reconfiguring an optical signal on a guided wave optical path including:
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at least one ESBG in optical contact with said path; and
electrodes for selectively applying at least a first and a second voltage across each said ESBG, there being no change in the optical signal for said path when said first voltage is across a said ESBG and there being a selected change in the optical signal on said path when said second voltage is across the ESBG. - 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, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An integrated optics component for selectively reconfiguring an optical signal including:
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a substrate;
at least one optical waveguide formed in said substrate, each said waveguide having a core with cladding therearound;
an ESBG in one of said core and said cladding for said waveguide; and
electrodes for selectively applying at least a first and a second voltage across said ESBG, there being no change in the optical signal when applied to the said waveguide if said first voltage is across the ESBG and there being a selected change in the optical signal if said second signal is across the ESBG. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A coupler half component for selectively reconfiguring an optical signal including:
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an optical fiber having a core with cladding therearound, the core having an index n1, the cladding having an index n2, and the effective index of the fiber being ne, the cladding being at least partially removed in a selected region;
an ESBG mounted to said fiber in said region, said ESBG having an index nB when in a first state, where nB is substantially equal to n2; and
electrical elements including electrodes for selectively applying a voltage across said ESBG, the effect which the ESBG has on light applied to the ESBG varying as the voltage thereacross changes, thereby changing the state of the ESBG. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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Specification