Patent ID: 6639707
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An interleaver comprising:a first birefringent element assembly comprising first, second, and third birefringent elements; a second birefringent element assembly comprising fourth, fifth and sixth birefringent elements; a polarization rotator configured to make two orthogonally polarized components of the first birefringent element assembly approximately parallel with respect to one another prior to the two polarization components being incident upon the second birefringent element assembly; wherein the second birefringent element assembly has an order of phase delays of the fourth, fifth and sixth elements being the same as an order of phase delays of the first, second and third elements of the first birefringent element assembly; wherein the first, second and third birefringent elements have angular orientations of &phgr;1, &phgr;2, and &phgr;3, respectively; and wherein the fourth, fifth, and sixth birefringent elements have angular orientations selected from the group consisting of: 90Â°âˆ’&phgr;1, 90Â°âˆ’&phgr;2, and 90Â°âˆ’&phgr;3; and 90Â°âˆ’&phgr;1, 90Â°+&phgr;2, and 90Â°+&phgr;3.