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US5233187A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatuses having serially arranged grating directional couplers

Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1992-11-17
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Granted: 1993-08-03
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Expires: 2012-11-17
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Abstract

Abstract In a multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus, there are provided of a first unit of a first directional coupler having a grating for an optical coupling function and a photodetector having a photoelectric conversion function and a second unit of a second directional coupler having a grating for an optical coupling function and a semiconductor laser, and a common light waveguide extending parallel with the unit in a light propagating direction. The first directional coupler and the photodetector are serially arranged in the light propagating direction and parallel with the common light waveguide, and the second directional coupler and the semiconductor laser are serially arranged in the light propagating direction and parallel with the common light waveguide. When there are formed a plurality of the first units and the gratings have different pitches, wavelength multiplexed light signals can be simultaneously detected per each wavelength with an equal detection performance. When there are formed a plurality of the second units and the gratings have different pitches, laser lights of different wavelengths can be emitted from a single emission end of the common waveguide and the semiconductor lasers can be independently driven.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hajime Sakata
  • 👤 Shinsuke Takeuchi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 13:09
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/40; H01S5/4025; H01S5/4031; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4249; H01S5/10; H01S5/1028; H01S5/1032; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/293; G02B6/29304; G02B6/29316; H01S5/0014; H01S5/0028; H01S5/02; H01S5/026; H01S5/0262; H01S5/0264; H01S5/1035; H01S5/4087; H01S5/50; H01S5/5045

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim 63 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus comprising: a first unit of a first directional coupler having a grating for an optical coupling function and a photodetector having a photoelectric conversion function, said first directional coupler and said photodetector being serially arranged in a light propagating direction; and a common light waveguide extending parallel with said first unit in the light propagating direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 63 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus comprising: a first unit of a first directional coupler having a grating for an optical coupling function and a photodetector having a photoelectric conversion function, said first directional coupler and said photodetector being serially arranged in a light propagating direction; and a common light waveguide extending parallel with said first unit in the light propagating direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 56 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second unit of a second directional coupler having a grating for an optical coupling function and a semiconductor laser, said second directional coupler and said semiconductor laser being serially arranged in the light propagating direction and parallel with said common light waveguide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there are provided a plurality of said first units and said gratings of said first directional couplers have different pitches from each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein there are provided a plurality of said second units and said gratings of said second directional couplers have different pitches from each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 29 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first directional coupler comprises two parallel waveguides and a cladding layer therebetween formed on a substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 23 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said grating is formed on one of said two parallel waveguides.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said photodetector comprises a MES-FET type photodetector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said photodetector comprises a pin photodetector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 42 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first directional couplers are arranged in an order from a shortest pitch of said grating thereof to a longest pitch of said grating thereof from a light input side.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 30 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 1, there are provided a plurality of said first units and wherein a groove is formed between said first units.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 32 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 1, there are provided a plurality of said first units and wherein a light absorbing region is formed between said first units.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 37 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 1, there are provided a plurality of said first units and wherein a boundary surface between said first units is formed diagonally to the light propagating direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 22 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for changing an effective pitch of said grating.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 56 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus comprising: a unit of a directional coupler having a grating for an optical coupling function and a semiconductor laser, said directional coupler and said semiconductor laser being serially arranged in a light propagating direction; and a common light waveguide extending parallel with said unit in the light propagating direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 56 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus comprising: a unit of a directional coupler having a grating for an optical coupling function and a semiconductor laser, said directional coupler and said semiconductor laser being serially arranged in a light propagating direction; and a common light waveguide extending parallel with said unit in the light propagating direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 33 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein there are provided a plurality of said units and said gratings of said directional couplers have different pitches from each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 28 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said directional coupler comprises two parallel waveguides and a cladding layer therebetween formed on a substrate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 23 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said grating is formed on one of said two parallel waveguides.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 21 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said semiconductor laser comprises a DFB type semiconductor laser.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 21 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said semiconductor laser comprises a DBR type semiconductor laser.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 20 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said grating has a forward direction coupling function.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 20 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said grating has a reverse direction coupling function.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 20 words
A multi-wavelength light detecting and/or emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor laser comprises a tunable semiconductor laser.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 81 words
An optical communication system comprising: a plurality of transmitting stations; a plurality of receiving stations, each of which comprise a light detecting apparatus comprising a first unit of a first directional coupler having a grating for an optical coupling function and a photodetector having a photoelectric conversion function, said first directional coupler and said photodetector being serially arranged in a light propagating direction, and a signal processing unit; and a photoconductive transmitting route connecting said transmitting station and said receiving station.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 81 words
An optical communication system comprising: a plurality of transmitting stations; a plurality of receiving stations, each of which comprise a light detecting apparatus comprising a first unit of a first directional coupler having a grating for an optical coupling function and a photodetector having a photoelectric conversion function, said first directional coupler and said photodetector being serially arranged in a light propagating direction, and a signal processing unit; and a photoconductive transmitting route connecting said transmitting station and said receiving station.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 75 words
An optical communication system comprising: a plurality of terminal devices, each of which comprise a light detecting apparatus comprising a first unit of a first directional coupler having a grating for an optical coupling function and a photodetector having a photoelectric conversion function, said first directional coupler and said photodetector being serially arranged in a light propagating direction, and a plurality of laser units; and an optical communication line connecting said plurality of terminal devices.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 75 words
An optical communication system comprising: a plurality of terminal devices, each of which comprise a light detecting apparatus comprising a first unit of a first directional coupler having a grating for an optical coupling function and a photodetector having a photoelectric conversion function, said first directional coupler and said photodetector being serially arranged in a light propagating direction, and a plurality of laser units; and an optical communication line connecting said plurality of terminal devices.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 23 words
An optical communication system according to claim 24, wherein said optical communication line connects said plurality of terminal devices to a bus type.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 23 words
An optical communication system according to claim 24, wherein said optical communication line connects said plurality of terminal devices to a loop type.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 23 words
An optical communication system according to claim 24, further comprising: an optical amplifier set up on the way of said optical communication line.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 75 words
An optical communication system comprising: a plurality of terminal devices, each of which comprise a light detecting apparatus and a laser unit comprising at least a unit of a directional coupler having a grating for an optical coupling function and a semiconductor laser, said directional coupler and said semiconductor laser being serially arranged in a light propagating direction, and a plurality of laser units; and an optical communication line connecting said plurality of terminal units.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 75 words
An optical communication system comprising: a plurality of terminal devices, each of which comprise a light detecting apparatus and a laser unit comprising at least a unit of a directional coupler having a grating for an optical coupling function and a semiconductor laser, said directional coupler and said semiconductor laser being serially arranged in a light propagating direction, and a plurality of laser units; and an optical communication line connecting said plurality of terminal units.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 23 words
An optical communication system according to claim 28, wherein said optical communication line connects said plurality of terminal devices to a bus type.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 23 words
An optical communication system according to claim 28, wherein said optical communication line connects said plurality of terminal devices to a loop type.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 23 words
An optical communication system according to claim 28, further comprising: an optical amplifier set up on the way of said optical communication line.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-08-02 1997-02-01 1997-08-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-08-02 2001-02-01 2001-08-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-08-02 2005-02-01 2005-08-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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