US4483582A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1980-04-23
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Granted: 1984-11-20
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Expires: 2000-04-23
Abstract
Abstract A multiwavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer constructed from units each cble of multiplexing or demultiplexing two wavelengths. As many such units as required can be interconnected to form multiplexer-demultiplexers of any number of wavelengths. Each two-wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer unit includes a four-port power divider, a four-port phase shifter having two ports connected to two ports of the power divider, and another four-port power divider having two ports connected to two ports of the phase shifter. The power divider may be a single-mode optical fiber directional coupler, or a half-silvered mirror beam splitter. The phase shifter may include a pair of single mode optical fibers or a pair of oppositely disposed mirrors.
Inventors
- 👤 Sang K. Sheem
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:56
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/293; G02B6/29331; G02B6/29332; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2817; G02B6/2861; G02B6/29379; G02B6/2938
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer comprising: a first pair of single-mode optical fibers disposed in close proximity with one another over a defined length to form a first four-port optical power divider; a second pair of single-mode optical fibers disposed in close proximity with one another over a defined length to form a second four-port optical power divider; each power divider having the property of providing two equal power outputs differing in phase by 90° and conversely, of coupling all the power to one of two isolated ports when power is applied equally to two other ports with a 90° phase differential, and of coupling all the power to the other of the two isolated ports when power is applied equally to the two other ports with a -90° phase differential; and a four-port phase shifter having the property of providing two equal power outputs differing in phase by 90° for one wavelength, and of providing two equal power outputs differing in phase by -90° for another wavelength, when power is applied equally to two other ports thereof with a 90° phase differential, two of the ports of the first power divider and two of the ports of the second power divider being respectively connected to the four-ports of the phase shifter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer comprising: a first pair of single-mode optical fibers disposed in close proximity with one another over a defined length to form a first four-port optical power divider; a second pair of single-mode optical fibers disposed in close proximity with one another over a defined length to form a second four-port optical power divider; each power divider having the property of providing two equal power outputs differing in phase by 90° and conversely, of coupling all the power to one of two isolated ports when power is applied equally to two other ports with a 90° phase differential, and of coupling all the power to the other of the two isolated ports when power is applied equally to the two other ports with a -90° phase differential; and a four-port phase shifter having the property of providing two equal power outputs differing in phase by 90° for one wavelength, and of providing two equal power outputs differing in phase by -90° for another wavelength, when power is applied equally to two other ports thereof with a 90° phase differential, two of the ports of the first power divider and two of the ports of the second power divider being respectively connected to the four-ports of the phase shifter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The wavelength multipler-demultiplexer recited in claim 1 wherein the four-port phase shifter includes: means for forming two wavepaths of unequal length, each wavepath connecting a respective pair of ports of the phase shifter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer recited in claim 2 wherein the wavepath-forming means includes: a pair of single-mode optical fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
184 words
A wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer comprising: a first branching single-mode optical fiber forming a first four-port optical power divider; a second branching single-mode optical fiber forming a second four-port optical power divider, each power divider having the property of providing two equal power outputs differing in phase by 90° and conversely, of coupling all the power to one of two isolated ports when power is applied equally to two other ports with a 90° phase differential, and of coupling all the power to the other of the two isolated ports when power is applied equally to the two other ports with a -90° phase differential; and a four-port phase shifter having the property of providing two equal power outputs differing in phase by 90° for one wavelength, and of providing two equal power outputs differing in phase by -90° for another wavelength, when power is applied equally to two other ports thereof with a 90° phase differential, two of the ports of the first power divider and two of the ports of the second power divider being respectively connected to the four-ports of the phase shifter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
184 words
A wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer comprising: a first branching single-mode optical fiber forming a first four-port optical power divider; a second branching single-mode optical fiber forming a second four-port optical power divider, each power divider having the property of providing two equal power outputs differing in phase by 90° and conversely, of coupling all the power to one of two isolated ports when power is applied equally to two other ports with a 90° phase differential, and of coupling all the power to the other of the two isolated ports when power is applied equally to the two other ports with a -90° phase differential; and a four-port phase shifter having the property of providing two equal power outputs differing in phase by 90° for one wavelength, and of providing two equal power outputs differing in phase by -90° for another wavelength, when power is applied equally to two other ports thereof with a 90° phase differential, two of the ports of the first power divider and two of the ports of the second power divider being respectively connected to the four-ports of the phase shifter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer recited in claim 4 wherein the four-port phase shifter includes: means for forming two wavepaths of unequal length, each wavepath connecting a respective one of the ports of the first power divider to a respective one of the ports of the second power divider.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer recited in claim 5 wherein the wavepath-forming means includes: a pair of single-mode optical fibers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
215 words
A wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer comprising: three two-wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexers, each two-wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer including a pair of four-port power dividers and a four-port phase shifter, two of the ports of one power divider and two of the ports of the other power divider being respectively connected to the four-ports of the phase shifter, one of the ports of one power divider of one of the two-wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexers and one of the ports of one power divider of another two-wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer being connected to respective ports of one power divider of a third two-wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer, each power divider having the property of providing two equal power outputs differing in phase by 90° and conversely, of coupling all the power to one of two isolated ports when power is applied equally to two other ports with a 90° phase differential, and of coupling all the power to the other of the two isolated ports when power is applied equally to the two other ports with a -90° phase differential; and each phase shifter having the property of providing two equal power outputs differing in phase by 90° for one wavelength, and of providing two equal power outputs differing in phase by -90° for another wavelength, when power is applied equally to two other ports thereof with a 90° phase differential.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
215 words
A wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer comprising: three two-wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexers, each two-wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer including a pair of four-port power dividers and a four-port phase shifter, two of the ports of one power divider and two of the ports of the other power divider being respectively connected to the four-ports of the phase shifter, one of the ports of one power divider of one of the two-wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexers and one of the ports of one power divider of another two-wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer being connected to respective ports of one power divider of a third two-wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer, each power divider having the property of providing two equal power outputs differing in phase by 90° and conversely, of coupling all the power to one of two isolated ports when power is applied equally to two other ports with a 90° phase differential, and of coupling all the power to the other of the two isolated ports when power is applied equally to the two other ports with a -90° phase differential; and each phase shifter having the property of providing two equal power outputs differing in phase by 90° for one wavelength, and of providing two equal power outputs differing in phase by -90° for another wavelength, when power is applied equally to two other ports thereof with a 90° phase differential.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer recited in claim 7 wherein each four-port phase shifter includes: means for forming two wavepaths of unequal length, each wavepath connecting a respective pair of ports of the phase shifter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer recited in claim 8 wherein each wavepath forming means includes: a pair of single-mode optical fibers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer recited in claim 8 wherein each wavepath forming means includes: a pair of oppositely disposed plane mirrors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer recited in claim 7 wherein each four-port power divider includes: a directional coupler.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer recited in claim 11 wherein each directional coupler includes: a pair of single-mode optical fibers disposed in close proximity with one another over a defined length.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer recited in claim 7 wherein each four-port power divider includes: a beam splitter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer recited in claim 13 wherein each beam splitter includes: a branching single-mode optical fiber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The wavelength multiplexer-demultiplexer recited in claim 13 wherein each beam splitter includes: a half-silvered mirror.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of demultiplexing wavelengths comprising the steps of: dividing one multiwavelength power beam into two equal multiwavelength power beams; shifting the phases of the different wavelength components of each of the two equal multiwavelength power beams; and coupling all of the power at each wavelength to a separate isolated output port in the forward direction.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of demultiplexing wavelengths comprising the steps of: dividing one multiwavelength power beam into two equal multiwavelength power beams; shifting the phases of the different wavelength components of each of the two equal multiwavelength power beams; and coupling all of the power at each wavelength to a separate isolated output port in the forward direction.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of multiplexing wavelengths comprising the steps of: coupling single wavelength power beams, each single wavelength beam having a different wavelength into two equal multiwavelength power beams; shifting the phases of the different wavelength components of each multiwavelength power beam; and combining the two equal multiwavelength power beams into one multiwavelength power beam.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of multiplexing wavelengths comprising the steps of: coupling single wavelength power beams, each single wavelength beam having a different wavelength into two equal multiwavelength power beams; shifting the phases of the different wavelength components of each multiwavelength power beam; and combining the two equal multiwavelength power beams into one multiwavelength power beam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-11-20 | 1988-05-21 | 1988-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-11-20 | 1992-05-21 | 1992-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-11-20 | 1996-05-21 | 1996-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |