Optical gate array device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical gate array device for controlling optical signals, comprising:
- an optical gate array having an array of optical gates;
an optical fiber array having an array of optical fibers; and
a lens arranged between the optical gate array and the optical fiber array, with a distance “
a”
from the optical gate array and with a distance “
b”
from the optical fiber array, for collectively achieving optical coupling between all of the optical gates of the optical gate array and all of the optical fibers of the optical fiber array,wherein;
the lens has a focal distance “
f”
satisfying (1/a)+(1/b)=(1/f), andthe lens provides an image magnification of b/a, which is so determined as to be equal to the ratio of the beam spot size of the optical fibers to that of the optical gates, and the ratio of a pitch of the optical fiber array to a pitch of the optical gate array is set so as to be equal to the image magnification.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical gate array device which permits the use of an optical gate array with a pitch smaller than the diameter of optical fibers. The optical gate array has an array of optical gates, and an optical fiber array has an array of optical fibers. A lens is arranged between the optical gate array and the optical fiber array, for collectively achieving optical coupling between all of the optical gates of the optical gate array and all of the optical fibers of the optical fiber array.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. An optical gate array device for controlling optical signals, comprising:
-
an optical gate array having an array of optical gates; an optical fiber array having an array of optical fibers; and a lens arranged between the optical gate array and the optical fiber array, with a distance “
a”
from the optical gate array and with a distance “
b”
from the optical fiber array, for collectively achieving optical coupling between all of the optical gates of the optical gate array and all of the optical fibers of the optical fiber array,wherein; the lens has a focal distance “
f”
satisfying (1/a)+(1/b)=(1/f), andthe lens provides an image magnification of b/a, which is so determined as to be equal to the ratio of the beam spot size of the optical fibers to that of the optical gates, and the ratio of a pitch of the optical fiber array to a pitch of the optical gate array is set so as to be equal to the image magnification. - View Dependent Claims (5, 10, 16)
-
-
2. An optical gate array device for controlling optical signals, comprising:
-
an optical gate array having an array of optical gates; an optical fiber array having an array of optical fibers; and first and second lenses having focal distances f1 and f2, respectively, arranged between the optical gate array and the optical fiber array, for collectively achieving optical coupling between all of the optical gates of the optical gate array and all of the optical fibers of the optical fiber array; wherein; the optical gate array and the first lens constitute a confocal system with the optical gate array positioned at the focal distance “
f1”
from the first lens,the second lens and the optical fiber array constitute a confocal system with the optical fiber array positioned at the focal distance “
f2”
from the second lens,the first and second lenses provide an image magnification of f2/f1, which is so determined as to be equal to the ratio of the beam spot size of the optical fibers to that of the optical gates, and the ratio of a pitch of the optical fiber array to a pitch of the optical gate array is set so as to be equal to the image magnification. - View Dependent Claims (3)
-
-
4. An optical gate array device for controlling optical signals, comprising:
-
an optical gate array having an array of optical gates; an optical fiber array having an array of optical fibers; a lens arranged between the optical gate array and the optical fiber array, for collectively achieving optical coupling between all of the optical gates of the optical gate array and all of the optical fibers of the optical fiber array; and an optical isolator arranged between the optical gate array and the optical fiber array and having an aperture large enough to admit all light beams emerging from the optical gate array.
-
-
6. An optical gate array module for controlling transmission of optical signals, comprising:
-
an optical gate unit including an optical gate array constituted by an array of N optical gates, a single optical gate, and an N;
1 coupler for coupling the optical gate array and the single optical gate with each other, the optical gate unit having N ports on one end face thereof and a single port on the other end face thereof;an optical fiber array located on one side of the optical gate unit close to the N ports and including an array of N optical fibers; an N-port-side lens arranged between the optical gate unit and the optical fiber array, for collectively achieving optical coupling between all of the N optical gates of the optical gate array and all of the N optical fibers of the optical fiber array; a single optical fiber located on the other side of the optical gate unit close to the single port; and a single port-side lens arranged between the optical gate unit and the single optical fiber, for optically coupling the single optical gate and the single optical fiber with each other. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
-
-
11. An optical switch system for controlling m×
- n switching of optical signals, comprising;
m optical splitters each having one input and n outputs, for splitting light into n beams; n optical gate array modules each having m inputs and one output, each of the optical gate array modules including an optical gate unit including an optical gate array constituted by an array of m optical gates connected to respective output lines of the m optical splitters, a single optical gate, and an m;
1 coupler for coupling the optical gate array and the signal optical gate with each other, the optical gate unit having m input ports on an input-side end face thereof and a single output port on an output-side end face thereof,an optical fiber array located on one side of the optical gate unit close to the inputs ports and including an array of m optical fibers, an input port-side lens arranged between the optical gate unit and the optical fiber array, for collectively achieving optical coupling between all of the m optical gates of the optical gate array and all of the m optical fibers of the optical fiber array, a single optical fiber located on the other side of the optical gate unit close to the output port, and an output port-side lens arranged between the optical gate unit and the single optical fiber, for optically coupling the single optical gate and the single optical fiber with each other; and a switch controller for controlling driving of the optical gate units. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
- n switching of optical signals, comprising;
Specification