Multi-channel dispersion compensator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dispersion compensator, comprising:
- a waveguide including an input end configured to receive an input optical signal and an output end configured to provide an output optical signal;
a first closed loop resonator,the waveguide and the closed loop resonator constituting a tunable coupler, a first portion of the tunable coupler being a first optical coupler having an input configured to receive the input optical signal and an output, a second portion of the tunable coupler constituting a differential phase cell having an input coupled to the output of the first optical coupler and an output, a third portion of the tunable coupler being a second optical coupler having an input coupled to the output of the differential phase cell and an output configured to provide the output optical signal,wherein, collectively, the first and second couplers and the differential phase cell constitute a Mach-Zehnder interferometer having first and second arms extending between the first and second couplers, the differential phase cell including the first and second arms of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer, the first arm having a first length and the second arm having a second length different than the first length, such that the first arm of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer includes a portion of the first closed loop resonator, andthe differential phase cell further including a tuning element configured to adjust a phase of light propagating in one of the first and second arms;
a second closed loop resonator optically coupled to a portion of the second arm of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer between the first and second couplers; and
a tuning element including a thermal device located adjacent to the second arm of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer and a portion of the second closed loop resonator, the thermal device overlapping the portion of the second arm of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer and the portion of the second closed loop resonator to adjust a temperature of the portion of the second arm of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer and a portion of the second closed loop resonator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-channel dispersion compensator comprising an optical signal waveguide that forms an input end for receiving an optical signal and an output end for providing a filtered optical signal. The multi-channel dispersion compensator also includes a series of closed-loop resonators providing frequency delay to at least one channel of the optical signal. The optical signal waveguide and each closed-loop resonator form a tunable coupler having a coupling value. The coupling value for each tunable coupler is selected to minimize constant dispersion and linear slope dispersion of the optical signal. Methods of fabrication and use are also described.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A dispersion compensator, comprising:
-
a waveguide including an input end configured to receive an input optical signal and an output end configured to provide an output optical signal; a first closed loop resonator, the waveguide and the closed loop resonator constituting a tunable coupler, a first portion of the tunable coupler being a first optical coupler having an input configured to receive the input optical signal and an output, a second portion of the tunable coupler constituting a differential phase cell having an input coupled to the output of the first optical coupler and an output, a third portion of the tunable coupler being a second optical coupler having an input coupled to the output of the differential phase cell and an output configured to provide the output optical signal, wherein, collectively, the first and second couplers and the differential phase cell constitute a Mach-Zehnder interferometer having first and second arms extending between the first and second couplers, the differential phase cell including the first and second arms of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer, the first arm having a first length and the second arm having a second length different than the first length, such that the first arm of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer includes a portion of the first closed loop resonator, and the differential phase cell further including a tuning element configured to adjust a phase of light propagating in one of the first and second arms; a second closed loop resonator optically coupled to a portion of the second arm of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer between the first and second couplers; and a tuning element including a thermal device located adjacent to the second arm of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer and a portion of the second closed loop resonator, the thermal device overlapping the portion of the second arm of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer and the portion of the second closed loop resonator to adjust a temperature of the portion of the second arm of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer and a portion of the second closed loop resonator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A dispersion compensator, comprising:
-
a waveguide having an input end for receiving an input optical signal and an output end for providing a filtered optical signal; a first closed loop resonator; and a tunable coupler coupling the input optical signal from the waveguide to the closed loop resonator, the tunable coupler including; a Mach-Zehnder interferometer having first and second couplers, and first and second arms extending between the first and second couplers, the first arm having a first length and the second arm having a second length different than the first length; the first optical coupler having an input and an output, the input configured to receive the input optical signal; a differential phase cell including the first and second arms of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer, and an input and an output, the input of the differential phase cell being coupled to the output of the first optical coupler, the first arm of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer including a portion of the first closed loop resonator; the second optical coupler of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer having an input and an output, the input coupled to the output of the differential phase cell and the output being configured to provide the filtered optical signal; a tuning element configured to adjust a phase of light propagating in the second arm of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer, the light constituting at least a portion of the filtered optical signal; and a second closed loop resonator optically coupled to a portion of the second arm of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer between the first and second couplers, wherein the tuning element includes a thermal device located adjacent to the second arm of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer and a portion of the second closed loop resonator, the thermal device overlapping the portion of the second arm of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer and the portion of the second closed loop resonator to adjust a temperature of the portion of the second arm of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer and a portion of the second closed loop resonator. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification