FREE-SPACE OPTICAL SYSTEMS FOR WAVELENGTH SWITCHING AND SPECTRAL MONITORING APPLICATIONS

This invention provides a novel method and apparatus which use a wavelength-dispersing means such as a diffraction grating (220) to spatially separate a multi-wavelength optical signal along with a reference signal by wavelength into multiple spectral channels and a reference spectral component in a...

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser:	GARRETT, MARK H, TIMMONS, MICHAEL J, POLYNKIN, PAVEL G, WILDE, JEFFREY P
Format:	Patent
Sprache:	eng ; fre
Schlagworte:	COLORIMETRY DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH ISMODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THEDEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY,COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g.SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE ELECTRICITY FREQUENCY-CHANGING MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT,POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRA-RED,VISIBLE OR ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT MEASURING MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION NON-LINEAR OPTICS OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS OPTICS PHYSICS RADIATION PYROMETRY TECHNIQUES OR PROCEDURES FOR THE OPERATION THEREOF TESTING
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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:	This invention provides a novel method and apparatus which use a wavelength-dispersing means such as a diffraction grating (220) to spatially separate a multi-wavelength optical signal along with a reference signal by wavelength into multiple spectral channels and a reference spectral component in a spectral array with a predetermined relative alignment. By aligning the reference spectral component at a predetermined location, the spectral channels simultaneously impinge onto designated locations, e.g., on an array of beam-receiving elements positioned in accordance with the spectral array. The reference spectral component may be further maintained at the predetermined location by way of servo-control (260), thereby ensuring that the spectral channels stay aligned at the designated locations. The present invention can be used to construct a new line of servo-based optical systems, including spectral power monitors and optical multiplexers/demultiplexers, for WDM optical networking applications.