Detunable Fabry-Perot interferometer and an add/drop multiplexer using the same
First Claim
1. A Fabry-Perot interferometer, comprising:
- a first mirror;
a second mirror oriented with respect to the first mirror so as to define a Fabry-Perot cavity therebetween; and
an actuator configured to adjust a resonant wavelength of the Fabry-Perot cavity by varying a gap between the first and second mirrors, wherein the actuator is configured to selectively maintain the first and second mirrors in a substantially non-parallel relationship while the resonant wavelength of the Fabry-Perot interferometer is varied.
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Abstract
A detunable Fabry-Perot interferometer, and method of tuning a Fabry-Perot interferometer are provided. The Fabry-Perot interferometer includes a first mirror, a second mirror oriented with respect to the first mirror so as to define a Fabry-Perot cavity therebetween, and an actuator configured to adjust a resonant wavelength of the Fabry-Perot cavity by varying a gap between the first and second mirrors, wherein the actuator is configured to selectively maintain the first and second mirrors in a substantially non-parallel relationship while the resonant wavelength of the Fabry-Perot interferometer is varied. The detunable Fabry-Perot interferometer can be employed in a multiplexer of a telecommunications system, as provided.
59 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A Fabry-Perot interferometer, comprising:
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a first mirror;
a second mirror oriented with respect to the first mirror so as to define a Fabry-Perot cavity therebetween; and
an actuator configured to adjust a resonant wavelength of the Fabry-Perot cavity by varying a gap between the first and second mirrors, wherein the actuator is configured to selectively maintain the first and second mirrors in a substantially non-parallel relationship while the resonant wavelength of the Fabry-Perot interferometer is varied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
an island, to which the second mirror is affixed; and
a frame, wherein the island and the frame are flexibly joined by a compliant member.
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12. The Fabry-Perot interferometer according to claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the actuator is attached to the island.
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13. The Fabry-Perot interferometer according to claim 11, wherein the compliant member comprises an elastomer.
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14. The Fabry-Perot interferometer according to claim 11, wherein the island and the frame comprise silicon.
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15. The Fabry-Perot interferometer according to claim 11, wherein the actuator comprises:
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a plurality of electrodes positioned on a surface of the island opposite a surface to which the second mirror is attached; and
an electrode disposed on an actuator support.
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16. The Fabry-Perot interferometer according to claim 15, wherein the actuator support comprises silicon.
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17. The Fabry-Perot interferometer according to claim 15, further comprising an anti-reflective coating formed on the surface of the island where the plurality of electrodes are formed.
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18. The Fabry-Perot interferometer according to claim 1, wherein the second mirror is affixed to a complaint optical support that is movable by the actuator.
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19. A wavelength-division-multiplexer system comprising the Fabry-Perot interferometer of claim 1.
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20. A Fabry-Perot interferometer, comprising:
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a first mirror;
a second mirror oriented with respect to the first mirror so as to define a Fabry-Perot cavity therebetween; and
an actuator configured to tune a resonant wavelength of the Fabry-Perot cavity between a first wavelength and a second wavelength by varying a gap between the first and second mirrors, wherein the actuator controls the relationship between the first and second mirrors to suppress transmission of intervening resonant wavelengths while the resonant wavelength of the Fabry-Perot cavity is tuned from the first wavelength to the second wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A multiplexer for a telecommunications system, comprising:
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an input pathway though which a main optical signal is input into the multiplexer;
an output pathway though which a main optical signal is output from the multiplexer;
an add pathway though which an optical channel is added to the main optical signal;
a drop pathway though which an optical channel is removed from the main optical signal;
an auxiliary pathway containing a tunable Fabry-Perot interferometer;
a first circulator joining the auxiliary pathway to the input pathway and the output pathway; and
a second circulator joining the auxiliary pathway to the add pathway and the drop pathway, wherein the Fabry-Perot interferometer comprises;
a first mirror;
a second mirror oriented with respect to the first mirror so as to define a Fabry-Perot cavity therebetween; and
an actuator configured to adjust a resonant wavelength of the Fabry-Perot cavity by varying a gap between the first and second mirrors, wherein the actuator is configured to selectively maintain the first and second mirror in a substantially non-parallel relationship while the resonant wavelength of the Fabry-Perot interferometer is varied.
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23. A method of tuning a Fabry-Perot interferometer between a first resonant wavelength and a second resonant wavelengths, comprising:
suppressing transmission of resonant wavelengths that lie between the first and second resonant wavelengths while adjusting a gap between the first and second Fabry-Perot cavity mirrors to tune between the first and second resonant wavelengths. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
Specification