Configurable add-drop filter utilizing chiral fiber gratings
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An add-drop passive optical filter for subtracting a drop signal from a target wavelength channel of a multi-channel main input signal and adding an add signal into said target wavelength channel, comprising:
- an input line for receiving the main input signal, the main input signal comprising a plurality of input signals in a plurality of channels and the drop signal in the target wavelength channel;
an add line for delivering the add signal at the target wavelength to the input signal;
a drop line for receiving the drop signal in the target wavelength channel separate from the main input signal;
a pair of passive chiral couplers, each said passive chiral coupler having a predetermined redirection hand and being optically connected to one another and to at least one of said input, add, and drop lines, said passive chiral coupler pair being operable to passively;
a) separate the drop signal from the main input signal to generate a modified main signal;
b) direct the drop signal into said drop line;
c) add the add signal to said modified main signal to generate an output signal; and
an output line for receiving and transmitting said output signal from said passive chiral coupler pair.
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Abstract
An add-drop filter, utilizing chiral couplers, that enables a new signal to be added at a particular vacuum wavelength λ′k to a fiber optic line carrying n signal channels over a band of wavelengths encompassing λ1 . . . λk−1, λk, λk+1 . . . λn, while an existing signal, λk, is simultaneously dropped from the signal group.
33 Citations
64 Claims
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1. An add-drop passive optical filter for subtracting a drop signal from a target wavelength channel of a multi-channel main input signal and adding an add signal into said target wavelength channel, comprising:
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an input line for receiving the main input signal, the main input signal comprising a plurality of input signals in a plurality of channels and the drop signal in the target wavelength channel;
an add line for delivering the add signal at the target wavelength to the input signal;
a drop line for receiving the drop signal in the target wavelength channel separate from the main input signal;
a pair of passive chiral couplers, each said passive chiral coupler having a predetermined redirection hand and being optically connected to one another and to at least one of said input, add, and drop lines, said passive chiral coupler pair being operable to passively;
a) separate the drop signal from the main input signal to generate a modified main signal;
b) direct the drop signal into said drop line;
c) add the add signal to said modified main signal to generate an output signal; and
an output line for receiving and transmitting said output signal from said passive chiral coupler pair. - 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, 35)
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36. A passive chiral coupler for separating at least a portion of a target signal at a target wavelength from a main signal, comprising:
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a first fiber element having a first end and a second end and a second fiber element comprising a third end and a fourth end, wherein said first fiber element comprises a first coupling section between said first and second ends, wherein said second fiber element comprises a second coupling section between said third and fourth ends, and wherein said first and second coupling sections are proximal to one another; and
first passive chiral coupling means of a first handedness, disposed at at least one of said first and second coupling sections, for redirecting a first handedness component of the target signal at the target wavelength, and for passing a second handedness component of the target signal and the main signal therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A passive chiral coupler for separating at least a portion of a target signal at a target wavelength from a main signal, comprising:
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a first fiber element having a first end and a second end and a second fiber element comprising a third end and a fourth end, wherein said first fiber element comprises a first coupling section between said first and second ends, wherein said second fiber element comprises a second coupling section between said third and fourth ends, and wherein said first and second coupling sections are proximal to one another; and
first defect passive chiral coupling means of a first handedness, disposed at at least one of said first and second coupling sections, for redirecting the target signal at the target wavelength matching a defect wavelength, for splitting the main signals into first and second handedness components, for redirecting said first handedness main signal component, and for passing said second handedness main signal component therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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49. A passive chiral coupler for separating at least a portion of a target signal at a target wavelength from a main signal, comprising:
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a first fiber element having a first end and a second end and a second fiber element comprising a third end and a fourth end, wherein said first and second fiber elements intersect with one another at a first intersection area; and
first passive chiral coupling means of a first handedness, disposed at said first intersection area, for redirecting a first handedness component of the target signal at the target wavelength, and for passing a second handedness component of the target signal and the main signal therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (50)
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55. A passive chiral coupler for separating at least a portion of a target signal at a target wavelength from a main signal, comprising:
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a first fiber element having a first end and a second end and a second fiber element comprising a third end and a fourth end, wherein said first and second fiber elements intersect with one another at a first intersection area; and
first defect passive chiral coupling means of a first handedness, disposed at said first intersection area, for redirecting the target signal at the target wavelength matching a defect wavelength, for splitting the main signals into first and second handedness components, for redirecting said first handedness main signal component, and for passing said second handedness main signal component therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A method for subtracting a drop signal from a target wavelength channel of a multi-channel main input signal and adding an add signal into said target wavelength channel, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a pair of passive chiral couplers, each said passive chiral coupler each having a predetermined redirection band and being optically connected to one another and to at least one of input, add, and drop lines (b) passively separating, by at least one of said pair of passive chiral couplers, the drop signal from the main input signal to generate a modified main signal;
(c) passively directing, by at least one of said pair of passive chiral couplers, the drop signal into said drop line;
(d) passively adding, by at least one of said pair of passive chiral couplers, the add signal to said modified main signal to generate an output signal; and
(e) providing an output line for receiving and transmitting said output signal from said passive chiral coupler pair.
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63. A method, implemented in a passive chiral coupler, for separating at least a portion of a target signal at a target wavelength from a main signal comprising the steps of:
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(a) passively redirecting a first handedness component of the target signal at the target wavelength; and
(b) passively passing a second handedness component of the target signal and the main signal therethrough.
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64. A method, implemented in a passive chiral defect coupler, for separating at least a portion of a target signal at a target wavelength from a main signal comprising the steps of:
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(a) passively redirecting the target signal at the target wavelength matching a defect wavelength;
(b) passively splitting the main signals into first and second handedness components;
(c) passively redirecting said first handedness main signal component; and
(d) passively passing said second handedness main signal component therethrough.
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Specification