Beam combiner
First Claim
1. A beam combiner that includes a planar lightwave circuit, the planar lightwave circuit comprising:
- a plurality of input ports, the plurality of input ports including a first input port;
a mixing region, the mixing region comprising a plurality of directional couplers that are arranged in a first arrangement comprising a tree structure;
a first output port that is optically coupled with the plurality of input ports via the mixing region;
a first polarization filter that is optically coupled with the first input port, the first polarization filter being dimensioned and arranged to (1) receive a first light signal that comprises a first polarization mode and a second polarization mode and (2) selectively reduce an optical energy in the first polarization mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A beam combiner is disclosed that comprises a planar lightwave circuit that is based on undoped silicon nitride-based surface waveguides, wherein the planar lightwave circuit comprises a plurality of input ports, a mixing region, and an output port, and wherein the mixing region comprises a plurality of directional couplers that are arranged in a tree structure. Embodiments of the present invention are capable of combining a plurality of light signals characterized by disparate wavelengths on irregular spacings with low loss. Further, the present invention enables high-volume, low cost production of beam combiners capable of combining three or more light signals into a single composite output beam.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A beam combiner that includes a planar lightwave circuit, the planar lightwave circuit comprising:
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a plurality of input ports, the plurality of input ports including a first input port; a mixing region, the mixing region comprising a plurality of directional couplers that are arranged in a first arrangement comprising a tree structure; a first output port that is optically coupled with the plurality of input ports via the mixing region; a first polarization filter that is optically coupled with the first input port, the first polarization filter being dimensioned and arranged to (1) receive a first light signal that comprises a first polarization mode and a second polarization mode and (2) selectively reduce an optical energy in the first polarization mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A beam combiner comprising a planar lightwave circuit, the planar lightwave circuit comprising:
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a plurality of input ports, the plurality of input ports including a first input port; a mixing region, the mixing region comprising a plurality of directional couplers, including a first directional coupler, a second directional coupler, and a third directional coupler, which are arranged in a first arrangement comprising a tree structure; a first output port that is optically coupled with the plurality of input ports via the mixing region; and an attenuator that receives light from a mode-matching region and outputs phase-shifted light to one of the input ports, the attenuator comprising; a fourth directional coupler; a fifth directional coupler; a first waveguide that is optically coupled with each of the fourth directional coupler and fifth directional coupler, the first waveguide being between the fourth direction coupler and fifth directional coupler; and a phase adjuster that is operative for inducing a phase shift on light propagating through the first waveguide in response to a first control signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification