US5703708A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Adjustable optical delay line
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1996-01-05
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Granted: 1997-12-30
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Expires: 2016-01-05
Abstract
Abstract When merging optical pulse streams having a high bit rate, there is the problem that, for example given a bit rate of 40 Gbit/s, the pulses at the multiplexer output have 25 pulses temporal spacing and approximately 5 mm spatial spacing. Given a precision of 10% of the bit rate, the light waveguides must be matched with a precision of 0.5 mm, which previously required mechanical or inserted length-adjustable open beam optics and which leads to high outlay. In the optical delay line, by contrast, the temperature of a light waveguide is varied such that the desired optical length is set via the change in the refractive index of the optical fibers. The optical fibers are wound on coil bodies that have a through bore containing a heating element connected to a temperature control.
Inventors
- 👤 Chandan Das
- 👤 Ulrich Gaubatz
- 👤 Erich Gottwald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:25
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04J; H04J14/00; H04J14/08; H04J14/083; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2861
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
An optical delay line having a line input and a line output and having a variable delay, comprising: a light waveguide connected between the line input and the line output, the light waveguide being wound on a coil body; and a device for adjusting and controlling the temperature of the light waveguide; the coil body having a central bore in which a heating element, connected to a temperature control, is secured in highly thermally conductive fashion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
An optical delay line having a line input and a line output and having a variable delay, comprising: a light waveguide connected between the line input and the line output, the light waveguide being wound on a coil body; and a device for adjusting and controlling the temperature of the light waveguide; the coil body having a central bore in which a heating element, connected to a temperature control, is secured in highly thermally conductive fashion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical delay line according to claim 1, wherein the coil body is composed of a material with good thermal conductivity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical delay line according to claim 1, wherein the coil body is composed of a metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
152 words
The optical delay line according to claim 1, wherein the optical delay line is employed in a multiplexer for optical digital signals, whereby a first modulator is directly connected to a source of optical pulses that are comparatively short compared to a repetition rate of the optical pulse; wherein at least one series circuit of a first optical delay line and second modulator is also connected to said source; and wherein a delay of the first optical delay line corresponds to a bit period of the optical digital signals and a delay of a further optical delay line, respectively corresponds to a bit period longer than that of a preceding optical delay line; wherein outputs of the modulators are connected to a common light waveguide connected to an optical output of the multiplexer; and wherein the sequence of an optical delay line and a modulator is interchangeable in a respective series circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
An optical delay line having a line input and a line output and having a variable delay, comprising: a light waveguide connected between the line input and the line output, the light waveguide being wound on a coil body; and a device for adjusting and controlling the temperature of the light waveguide; the waveguide and coil body are arranged in a heatable liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
An optical delay line having a line input and a line output and having a variable delay, comprising: a light waveguide connected between the line input and the line output, the light waveguide being wound on a coil body; and a device for adjusting and controlling the temperature of the light waveguide; the waveguide and coil body are arranged in a heatable liquid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical delay line according to claim 5, wherein the coil body is composed of a material with good thermal conductivity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical delay line according to claim 5, wherein the coil body is composed of a metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
152 words
The optical delay line according to claim 5, wherein the optical delay line is employed in a multiplexer for optical digital signals, whereby a first modulator is directly connected to a source of optical pulses that are comparatively short compared to a repetition rate of the optical pulse; wherein at least one series circuit of a first optical delay line and second modulator is also connected to said source; and wherein a delay of the first optical delay line corresponds to a bit period of the optical digital signals and a delay of a further optical delay line, respectively corresponds to a bit period longer than that of a preceding optical delay line; wherein outputs of the modulators are connected to a common light waveguide connected to an optical output of the multiplexer; and wherein the sequence of an optical delay line and a modulator is interchangeable in a respective series circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
170 words
A multiplexer for optical digital signals, comprising: optical delay lines each having a line input and a line output and having a variable delay; each of said optical delay having a light waveguide connected between the line input and the line output and having a device for adjusting and controlling the temperature of the light waveguide; a source of optical pulses that are comparatively short compared to a repetition rate of the optical pulses; a first modulator connected to the source of optical pulses; a series circuit of a first optical delay line and a second modulator connected to said source of optical pulses; a delay of the first optical delay line corresponding to a bit period of the optical digital signals; outputs of the first and second modulators being operatively connected to a common light waveguide connected to an optical output of the multiplexer; the optical delay line and the modulator being interchangeable in a respective series circuit; the waveguide and coil body being arranged in a heatable liquid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
170 words
A multiplexer for optical digital signals, comprising: optical delay lines each having a line input and a line output and having a variable delay; each of said optical delay having a light waveguide connected between the line input and the line output and having a device for adjusting and controlling the temperature of the light waveguide; a source of optical pulses that are comparatively short compared to a repetition rate of the optical pulses; a first modulator connected to the source of optical pulses; a series circuit of a first optical delay line and a second modulator connected to said source of optical pulses; a delay of the first optical delay line corresponding to a bit period of the optical digital signals; outputs of the first and second modulators being operatively connected to a common light waveguide connected to an optical output of the multiplexer; the optical delay line and the modulator being interchangeable in a respective series circuit; the waveguide and coil body being arranged in a heatable liquid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical delay line according to claim 9, wherein the coil body is composed of a material with good thermal conductivity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical delay line according to claim 10, wherein the coil body is composed of a metal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
183 words
A multiplexer for optical digital signals, comprising: optical delay lines each having a line input and a line output and having a variable delay; each of said optical delay having a light waveguide connected between the line input and the line output and having a device for adjusting and controlling the temperature of the light waveguide; a source of optical pulses that are comparatively short compared to a repetition rate of the optical pulses; a first modulator connected to the source of optical pulses; a series circuit of a first optical delay lien and a second modulator connected to said source of optical pulses; a delay of the first optical delay line corresponding to a bit period of the optical digital signals; outputs of the first and second modulators being operatively connected to a common light waveguide connected to an optical output of the multiplexer; the optical delay line and the modulator being interchangeable in a respective series circuit; the coil body having a central bore in which a heating element, connected to a temperature control, is secured in highly thermally conductive fashion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
183 words
A multiplexer for optical digital signals, comprising: optical delay lines each having a line input and a line output and having a variable delay; each of said optical delay having a light waveguide connected between the line input and the line output and having a device for adjusting and controlling the temperature of the light waveguide; a source of optical pulses that are comparatively short compared to a repetition rate of the optical pulses; a first modulator connected to the source of optical pulses; a series circuit of a first optical delay lien and a second modulator connected to said source of optical pulses; a delay of the first optical delay line corresponding to a bit period of the optical digital signals; outputs of the first and second modulators being operatively connected to a common light waveguide connected to an optical output of the multiplexer; the optical delay line and the modulator being interchangeable in a respective series circuit; the coil body having a central bore in which a heating element, connected to a temperature control, is secured in highly thermally conductive fashion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical delay line according to claim 12, wherein the coil body is composed of a material with good thermal conductivity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
249 words
A multiplexer for optical digital signals, comprising: a plurality of optical delay lines each having a line input and a line output and having a variable delay; each of said optical delay lines having a light waveguide connected between the line input and the line output and having a device for adjusting and controlling the temperature of the light waveguide; a source of optical pulses that are comparatively short compared to a repetition rate of the optical pulse; a plurality of modulators; a first modulator of said plurality of modulators connected to the source of optical pulses; a plurality of series circuit, each having a respective optical delay line of said plurality of optical delay lines and a respective modulator of said plurality of modulator, connected to said source; a delay of a first optical delay line of said plurality of optical delay lines corresponding to a bit period of the optical digital signals and a delay of further optical delay lines, of said plurality of optical delay lines, corresponding to a bit period that is longer than a bit period of a preceding optical delay line of said plurality of delay lines; outputs of the modulators being operatively connected to a common light waveguide that is connected to an optical output of the multiplexer; an optical delay line and a modulator being interchangeable in a respective series circuit; the light waveguide being wound on a coil body; the waveguide and coil body being arranged in a heatable liquid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
249 words
A multiplexer for optical digital signals, comprising: a plurality of optical delay lines each having a line input and a line output and having a variable delay; each of said optical delay lines having a light waveguide connected between the line input and the line output and having a device for adjusting and controlling the temperature of the light waveguide; a source of optical pulses that are comparatively short compared to a repetition rate of the optical pulse; a plurality of modulators; a first modulator of said plurality of modulators connected to the source of optical pulses; a plurality of series circuit, each having a respective optical delay line of said plurality of optical delay lines and a respective modulator of said plurality of modulator, connected to said source; a delay of a first optical delay line of said plurality of optical delay lines corresponding to a bit period of the optical digital signals and a delay of further optical delay lines, of said plurality of optical delay lines, corresponding to a bit period that is longer than a bit period of a preceding optical delay line of said plurality of delay lines; outputs of the modulators being operatively connected to a common light waveguide that is connected to an optical output of the multiplexer; an optical delay line and a modulator being interchangeable in a respective series circuit; the light waveguide being wound on a coil body; the waveguide and coil body being arranged in a heatable liquid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical delay line according to claim 14, wherein the coil body is composed of a material with good thermal conductivity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical delay line according to claim 15, wherein the coil body is composed of a metal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
262 words
A multiplexer for optical digital signals, comprising: a plurality of optical delay lines each having a line input and a line output and having a variable delay; each of said optical delay lines having a light waveguide connected between the line input and the line output and having a device for adjusting and controlling the temperature of the light waveguide; a source of optical pulses that are comparatively short compared to a repetition rate of the optical pulse; a plurality of modulators; a first modulator of said plurality of modulators connected to the source of optical pulses; a plurality of series circuit, each having a respective optical delay line of said plurality of optical delay lines and a respective modulator of said plurality of modulator, connected to said source; a delay of a first optical delay line of said plurality of optical delay lines corresponding to a bit period of the optical digital signals and a delay of further optical delay lines, of said plurality of optical delay lines, corresponding to a bit period that is longer than a bit period of a preceding optical delay line of said plurality of delay lines; outputs of the modulators being operatively connected to a common light waveguide that is connected to an optical output of the multiplexer; an optical delay line and a modulator being interchangeable in a respective series circuit; the light waveguide being wound on a coil body; the coil body having a central bore in which a heating element, connected to a temperature control, is secured in highly thermally conductive fashion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
262 words
A multiplexer for optical digital signals, comprising: a plurality of optical delay lines each having a line input and a line output and having a variable delay; each of said optical delay lines having a light waveguide connected between the line input and the line output and having a device for adjusting and controlling the temperature of the light waveguide; a source of optical pulses that are comparatively short compared to a repetition rate of the optical pulse; a plurality of modulators; a first modulator of said plurality of modulators connected to the source of optical pulses; a plurality of series circuit, each having a respective optical delay line of said plurality of optical delay lines and a respective modulator of said plurality of modulator, connected to said source; a delay of a first optical delay line of said plurality of optical delay lines corresponding to a bit period of the optical digital signals and a delay of further optical delay lines, of said plurality of optical delay lines, corresponding to a bit period that is longer than a bit period of a preceding optical delay line of said plurality of delay lines; outputs of the modulators being operatively connected to a common light waveguide that is connected to an optical output of the multiplexer; an optical delay line and a modulator being interchangeable in a respective series circuit; the light waveguide being wound on a coil body; the coil body having a central bore in which a heating element, connected to a temperature control, is secured in highly thermally conductive fashion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical delay line according to claim 17, wherein the coil body is composed of a material with good thermal conductivity.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical delay line according to claim 18, wherein the coil body is composed of a metal.
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) | 2000-12-29 | 2001-06-30 | 2001-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-29 | 2005-06-30 | 2005-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-29 | 2009-06-30 | 2009-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |