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Optical processing

  • US 9,529,325 B2
  • Filed: 12/12/2014
  • Issued: 12/27/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An optical processor for selectively routing optical signals on wavelength channels from at least one input port to at least two output ports, the optical processor comprising:

  • a reflective spatial light modulator (“

    SLM”

    ) having a two-dimensional array ofcontrollable elements, wherein the SLM is configured for selection of the controllable elements whereby two-dimensional groups of controllable elements are formed at chosen locations of the SLM to independently and controllably deflect light incident on the two-dimensional groups of controllable elements;

    a dispersion device positioned to receive an input beam from each of the at least one input port and disperse light from the input beam;

    a focusing device disposed between the reflective SLM and the dispersion device to receive the dispersed light from the dispersion device and spatially distribute this dispersed light by wavelength across the SLM and within each of the two-dimensional groups; and

    a controller coupled to the reflective SLM for assigning which controllable elements correspond to which group and configurable to select the groups so that each wavelength channel from the at least one input port corresponds to a respective one of the groups and further configurable to select a first set of one or more of the optical signals for routing to a first one of the output ports and to further select a second set of one or more of the optical signals for routing to a second one of the output ports,wherein, during operation, the controller causes the reflective SLM to deflect the first and second sets of one or more of the optical signals incident on the SLM back to the focusing device, wherein the deflections provided by the controllable elements of the groups are selected by the controller so that the focusing device then directs the first and second sets of one or more optical signals to different respective locations on the dispersion device, and wherein the dispersion device combines the wavelength channels from the first set of one or more optical signals into a first output beam and combines the wavelength channels from the second set of one or more optical signals into a second output beam.

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