Wavelength-conserving grating router for intermediate wavelength density

Patent · Tue Mar 20 00:00:00 EDT 2007

OSTI ID:1176162

Deri, Robert J.; Patel, Rajesh R.; Bond, Steven W.; Bennett, Cory V.

A wavelength router to be used for fiber optical networking router is based on a diffraction grating which utilizes only N wavelengths to interconnect N inputs to N outputs. The basic approach is to augment the grating with additional couplers or wavelength selective elements so than N-1 of the 2N-1 outputs are combined with other N outputs (leaving only N outputs). One embodiment uses directional couplers as combiners. Another embodiment uses wavelength-selective couplers. Another embodiment uses a pair of diffraction gratings to maintain parallel propagation of all optical beams. Also, beam combining can be implemented either by using retroflection back through the grating pair or by using couplers.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): 7,194,161
• Application Number: 09/609,178
• OSTI ID: 1176162
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 2000 Jun 30
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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