Patent ID: 6704478
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A wavelength separation optical device comprising:a photo transfer medium which carries and transfers multiplied optical wavelength components; a wavelength separation means which separates optical signals having multiple wavelength components carried through the photo transfer medium for every wavelength; a plurality of photo detectors which receive the optical signals separated by the wavelength separation means; a spreading angle reducing means which reduces a spreading angle of the optical signals making incidence from the photo transfer medium; and a front polarized light conversion means which converts the optical signals transmitted from the spreading angle reducing means to the wavelength separation means into linear polarized light; and a rear polarized light conversion means which passes the optical signals separated by the wavelength separation means before being received by the photo detectors, and wherein the wavelength separation means is a wavelength separation prism including a plurality of wavelength separation filters, and the optical signals separated by the front polarized light conversion means into two optical passages are merged into one optical passage by the rear polarized light conversion means; and either the front polarized light conversion means or the rear polarized light conversion means is constituted by a polarized light beam splitter and a &lgr;/2 plate.