Patent US5889906A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5889906A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Signal router with coupling of multiple waveguide modes for provicing a shaped multi-channel radiation pattern
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
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Filing: 1997-05-28
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Granted: 1999-03-30
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Expires: 2017-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A signal router includes a free space region with input and output sides. A number of input and output waveguide arms extend from the respective input and output sides of the free space region. At least a subset of the input or output waveguide arms are configured such that a signal applied to one of the waveguide arms excites multiple modes of that waveguide arm. Coupling between the multiple modes of the various waveguide arms is used to shape a multi-channel output radiation pattern of the router. The excitation of multiple modes may be provided by configuring a given waveguide arm to include a first portion and a second portion, with the second portion arranged between the first portion and a side of the free space region and having a width which is greater than a width of the first portion. Alternatively, the excitation of multiple modes may be provided by including one or more auxiliary waveguide arms between a given pair of main input or output waveguide arms. In either case, a desired multi-channel radiation pattern for a given router may be provided by altering characteristics of the waveguide arms.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerry Chia-yung Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:30
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/12007; G02B6/12009; G02B6/12011; G02B6/12016; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2808; G02B6/2813
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A signal router comprising: a free space region; and a plurality of waveguide arms extending from a side of the free space region, wherein at least one of the waveguide arms is configured such that a signal applied to the at least one waveguide arm excites multiple modes of that waveguide arm, and coupling of the multiple modes is used to shape a multi-channel output radiation pattern of the router.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A signal router comprising: a free space region; and a plurality of waveguide arms extending from a side of the free space region, wherein at least one of the waveguide arms is configured such that a signal applied to the at least one waveguide arm excites multiple modes of that waveguide arm, and coupling of the multiple modes is used to shape a multi-channel output radiation pattern of the router.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The router of claim 1 wherein the at least one waveguide arm is configured to include a first portion and a second portion, with the second portion arranged between the first portion and the free space region, and wherein the first and second portions have different widths.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The router of claim 2 wherein a transition between the first portion and the second portion is an abrupt transition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The router of claim 1 wherein the plurality of waveguide arms extending from a side of the free space region include first and second adjacent input waveguide arms, and at least one auxiliary waveguide arm is arranged between the first and second adjacent input waveguide arms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The router of claim 4 wherein a gap between the auxiliary waveguide arm and at least one of the first and second waveguide arms is maintained at a substantially constant width along a portion of a length of the auxiliary waveguide arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The router of claim 4 wherein the at least one auxiliary waveguide arm is a tapered waveguide arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The router of claim 4 wherein the at least one auxiliary waveguide arm is a segmented waveguide arm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The router of claim 4 wherein two or more auxiliary waveguide arms are arranged between the first and second adjacent input waveguide arms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The router of claim 1 wherein the signal is an optical signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The router of claim 1 further including a second plurality of waveguide arms extending from a side of the free space region opposite the side from which the first plurality of waveguide arms extend.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of shaping a radiation pattern of a signal router including a free space region and a plurality of waveguide arms extending from a side of the free space region, the method comprising the steps of: configuring at least one of the waveguide arms such that a signal applied to the at least one waveguide arm excites multiple modes of that waveguide arm; and shaping a multi-channel output radiation pattern of the router by providing coupling between the multiple modes.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of shaping a radiation pattern of a signal router including a free space region and a plurality of waveguide arms extending from a side of the free space region, the method comprising the steps of: configuring at least one of the waveguide arms such that a signal applied to the at least one waveguide arm excites multiple modes of that waveguide arm; and shaping a multi-channel output radiation pattern of the router by providing coupling between the multiple modes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the configuring step further includes configuring the at least one waveguide arm to include a first portion and a second portion, such that the second portion is arranged between the first portion and the free space region, and the first and second portions have different widths.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 12 wherein a transition between the first portion and the second portion is an abrupt transition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 11 wherein first and second adjacent input waveguide arms extend from the side of the free space region, and the configuring step includes providing at least one auxiliary waveguide arm between the first and second adjacent waveguide arms.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 14 further including the step of maintaining a gap between the auxiliary waveguide arm and at least one of the first and second waveguide arms at a substantially constant width along a portion of a length of the auxiliary waveguide arm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one auxiliary waveguide arm is a tapered waveguide arm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one auxiliary waveguide arm is a segmented waveguide arm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14 wherein two or more auxiliary waveguide arms are arranged between the first and second adjacent input waveguide arms.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the signal is an optical signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
74 words
A signal router having a free space region with an input side and an output side, the router comprising: first and second adjacent input waveguide arms extending from one of the sides of the free space region; and at least one auxiliary waveguide arm arranged between the first and second adjacent input waveguide arms, the auxiliary waveguide arm providing coupling between multiple modes of at least one of the first and second waveguide arms.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
74 words
A signal router having a free space region with an input side and an output side, the router comprising: first and second adjacent input waveguide arms extending from one of the sides of the free space region; and at least one auxiliary waveguide arm arranged between the first and second adjacent input waveguide arms, the auxiliary waveguide arm providing coupling between multiple modes of at least one of the first and second waveguide arms.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
The router of claim 20 wherein a gap between the auxiliary waveguide arm and at least one of the first and second waveguide arms is maintained at a substantially constant width along a portion of a length of the auxiliary waveguide arm.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The router of claim 20 wherein the at least one auxiliary waveguide arm is a tapered waveguide arm.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The router of claim 20 wherein the at least one auxiliary waveguide arm is a segmented waveguide arm.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The router of claim 20 wherein two or more auxiliary waveguide arms are arranged between the first and second adjacent input waveguide arms.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
113 words
A signal router comprising: first and second couplers each having a set of input waveguide arms and a set of output waveguide arms; and a connection between at least one of the output waveguide arms of the first coupler and at least one of the input waveguide arms of the second coupler; wherein at least one of the output waveguide arms of the first coupler or the input waveguide arms of the second coupler is configured such that a signal applied to the at least one waveguide arm excites multiple modes of that waveguide arm, and coupling of the multiple modes is used to shape a multi-channel output radiation pattern of the router.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
113 words
A signal router comprising: first and second couplers each having a set of input waveguide arms and a set of output waveguide arms; and a connection between at least one of the output waveguide arms of the first coupler and at least one of the input waveguide arms of the second coupler; wherein at least one of the output waveguide arms of the first coupler or the input waveguide arms of the second coupler is configured such that a signal applied to the at least one waveguide arm excites multiple modes of that waveguide arm, and coupling of the multiple modes is used to shape a multi-channel output radiation pattern of the router.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-29 | 2002-09-28 | 2003-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-29 | 2006-09-28 | 2007-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-29 | 2010-09-28 | 2011-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |