Cyclic demultiplexer with grating and mirror array

• US 9,435,957 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2013
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: II-VI Delaware, Inc. (Coherent Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Coadna Photonics Incorporated (Coherent Corp.)
• Inventors: Xiao, Shijun (Shawn), Zhong, Shan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lepisto, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US14/074,553
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 385/18, 385/22, 385/37, 385/47
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12164 Multiplexing; Demultiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29305 as bulk element, i.e. free space arrangement external to a light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2931 Diffractive element operating in reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2938 for multiplexing or demultiplexing, i.e. combining or separating wavelengths, e.g. 1xN, NxM
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3512 the optical element being reflective, e.g. mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/356 in an optical cross-connect device, e.g. routing and switching aspects of interconnecting different paths propagating different wavelengths to (re)configure the various input and output links switching polarized beams G02B6/3594; power equalizers G02B6/356 and G02B6/3594; path selecting means H04Q11/0001

Abstract

A demultiplexer includes an input optical link to receive an input signal. A grating receives the input signal from the input optical link and generates individual optical wavelength signals. A mirror array operative as a beam steering engine receives the individual optical wavelength signals and redirects them to the grating. Output optical links receive the individual optical wavelength signals from the grating.

Claims

1. A demultiplexer, comprising:

an input optical link to receive an input signal;

a grating to receive the input signal from the input optical link and generate a plurality of individual optical wavelength signals;

a mirror array operative as a beam steering engine to receive the individual optical wavelength signals and redirect them to the grating, wherein the mirror array includes stacked glass plates, wherein each stacked glass plate has selectively positioned high-reflective coatings operative as mirror pixels; and

a plurality of output optical links to receive the individual optical wavelength signals from the grating.

2. The demultiplexer of claim 1 wherein the mirror array is laser machined on a glass wafer.

3. The demultiplexer of claim 2 wherein the mirror array has periodically angled mirrors with a highly reflective coating.

4. The demultiplexer of claim 1 wherein the input optical link and the plurality of output optical links are vertically aligned.

5. The demultiplexer of claim 1 in combination with an optical line termination transceiver.

6. A demultiplexer, comprising:

an input optical link to receive an input signal;

a grating to receive the input signal from the input optical link and generate a plurality of individual optical wavelength signals;

a mirror array operative as a beam steering engine to receive the individual optical wavelength signals and redirect them to the grating, wherein the mirror array includes stacked glass plates, wherein each stacked gas plate has a selectively positioned anti-reflective coating; and

a plurality of output optical links to receive the individual optical wavelength signals from the grating.

7. The demultiplexer of claim 6 wherein the mirror array is laser machined on a glass wafer.

8. The demultiplexer of claim 7 wherein the mirror array has periodically angled mirrors with a highly reflective coating.

9. The demultiplexer of claim 6 wherein the input optical link and the plurality of output optical links are vertically aligned.

10. The demultiplexer of claim 6 in combination with an optical line termination transceiver.

11. A demultiplexer, comprising:

an input optical link to receive an input signal;

a grating to receive the input signal from the input optical link and generate a plurality of individual optical wavelength signals;

a mirror array operative as a beam steering engine to receive the individual optical wavelength signals and redirect them to the grating, wherein the mirror array includes spacers between stacked glass plates, wherein the spacers are configured to form desired angles between the stacked glass plates;

a plurality of output optical links to receive the individual optical wavelength signals from the grating.

12. The demultiplexer of claim 11 wherein the spacers are tubes.

13. The demultiplexer of claim 11 wherein the spacers are wedges.