Patent ID: 7349602
Filing Date: 2008-03-25
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical device for coupling light to a plurality of waveguides, the device comprising: a plurality of light sources, wherein each light source provides at least one wavelength of light that is different than wavelengths of light provided by the other light sources; a first plane located proximate to the light sources, and comprising plurality of first optical elements that collimate the light from the light sources, wherein each first optical elements is associated with a respective light source; a second plane located separate from and proximate to the first plane, and comprising a plurality of second optical elements that tilt the light from the first plan to a particular angle, wherein each second optical elements is associated with a respective first optical element; a third plane located proximate to the second plane, and comprising a plurality of bandpass filters, wherein each filter will pass a particular range of wavelengths of light and reflect other wavelengths of light, wherein the particular range is different for each of the bandpass filters, and each bandpass filter is located to pass light that has been tilted by a respective second optical element; and a fourth plane proximate to the third plane, and comprising a plurality of relay minors that reflect incident light, and a plurality of output lenses, wherein a number of the plurality of output lenses is equal to a number of the plurality of waveguides, wherein each relay minor is located to receive light from a particular bandpass filter and reflect the light to another bandpass filter, wherein the relay mirrors and the bandpass filters operate to merging the light from the plurality of sources into an optical path, and wherein each output lens couples the light in the optical path to specific a waveguide; wherein the first plane, the second plane, the third plane, and the fourth plane are substantially parallel with each other; and wherein a number of the plurality of the light sources is greater than a number of the plurality of the waveguides.