Patent ID: 6624889
Filing Date: 2003-09-23
Classification: G01J,H04J

Abstract:
An optical channel monitor for analyzing an incident light comprising narrow band signal channels, said optical channel monitor comprising:a) an acousto-optic tunable filter for refracting from said incident light a refracted light comprising a test channel having a center frequency &ngr;0, said test channel being selected from said narrow band signal channels; b) a first birefringent element for filtering from said refracted light a first polarized light and a second polarized light orthogonal to said first polarized light, such that transmissions of said first polarized light and said second polarized light are substantially equal at said center frequency &ngr;0; c) a second birefringent element for filtering from said first polarized light a first polarized portion and a second polarized portion orthogonal to said first polarized portion, such that transmissions of said first polarized portion and said second polarized portion are substantially equal at a first offset &dgr;1&ngr; from said center frequency &ngr;0; d) a set of photodetectors for measuring intensities of said first polarized light, said first filtered portion and said second filtered portion; and e) an analyzing means for deriving from said intensities said center frequency &ngr;0, total intensity and a bandwidth &Dgr;&ngr;0 of said test channel.