Multi-channel optical filter
First Claim
1. An optical communication device, comprising:
- an optical communication path; and
a plurality of optical filtering elements coupled to said optical communication path, each of said plurality of filtering elements having a single optical interference filter that includes a plurality of alternating high and low refractive indices and has two passbands, a first passband being configured to add/drop a plurality of optical signals corresponding to an optical payload channel, each of the optical signals being at a respective one of a plurality of wavelengths, the first passband being a approximately 1 nm wide around a first center wavelength within said plurality of wavelengths of said optical signals;
a second passband of said optical interference filter being configured to add/drop a service channel at a wavelength different than the plurality of wavelengths of the optical signals, the second passband being aproximately 20 nm wide around a second center wavelength corresponding to said service channel wavelength.
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Abstract
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is an optical filter including a mirror including a plurality of first dielectric layers having a first index of refraction and a plurality of second dielectric layers having a second index of refraction. A plurality of the first dielectric layers have an integer quarter wave optical thickness and at least one of the first dielectric layers has a non-integer quarter wave optical thickness. A plurality of the second dielectric layers have an integer quarter wave optical thickness and at least one of the second dielectric layers has a non-integer quarter wave optical thickness. In an exemplary embodiment, the non-integer quarter wave optical thickness first layer and the non-integer quarter wave optical thickness second layer are determined so as to enhance transmission at a predetermined wavelength.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An optical communication device, comprising:
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an optical communication path; and
a plurality of optical filtering elements coupled to said optical communication path, each of said plurality of filtering elements having a single optical interference filter that includes a plurality of alternating high and low refractive indices and has two passbands, a first passband being configured to add/drop a plurality of optical signals corresponding to an optical payload channel, each of the optical signals being at a respective one of a plurality of wavelengths, the first passband being a approximately 1 nm wide around a first center wavelength within said plurality of wavelengths of said optical signals;
a second passband of said optical interference filter being configured to add/drop a service channel at a wavelength different than the plurality of wavelengths of the optical signals, the second passband being aproximately 20 nm wide around a second center wavelength corresponding to said service channel wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An optical communication device, comprising:
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an optical communication path, said optical communication path being configured to carry a plurality of optical signals, each at a respective on of a plurality of wavelengths, and a service channel optical signal at a wavelength different than said plurality of wavelengths; and
an optical interference filter coupled to said optical communication path, said optical interference filter including a plurality of alternating high and low refractive indices and being configured to select by a first passband a grouping of said plurality of optical signals and by a second passband said service channel optical signal, said first passband being aproximately 1 nm wide around a first center wavelength within said plurality of wavelengths of said plurality of optical signals, and said second passband being aproximately 20 nm wide around a second center wavelength corresponding to said wavelength of said service channel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification