Optical gate array device

• US 8,014,642 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2009
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Nakagawa, Goji
• Primary Examiner(s): STAHL, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/418,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20090279830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 385/33
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4201 Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4206 Optical features G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4271 with thermo electric cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0005 Switch and router aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0013 using gating amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0016 using wavelength multiplexing or demultiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0026 using free space propagation (e.g. lenses, mirrors)

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.

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 first lens and a second lens arranged between the optical gate array and the optical fiber array, the first lens 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 first lens has a center aligned with a center of the optical gate array in an arraying direction thereof so that light beams emerging from the optical gates may pass through one half of the first lens only,

and wherein an off-center portion of the second lens is substantially an only region that receives the light beams passing through said one half of the first lens.

2. The optical gate array device according to claim 1, wherein the first lens is a single bulk lens and the second lens is a single bulk lens.

3. 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 first lens and a second lens arranged between the optical gate array and the optical fiber array, the first lens 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 first lens has a center aligned with a center of the optical gate array in an arraying direction thereof so that light beams emerging from the optical gates pass through only an off-center portion of the first lens,

and wherein an off-center portion of the second lens is substantially an only region that receives the light beams passing through only an off-center portion of the first lens.