Patent ID: 6829409
Filing Date: 2004-12-07
Classification: G02B,H04B

Abstract:
A method for compensating for higher-order dispersion of an incoming optical communications signal, the method comprising the steps of:a) adjusting the state of polarization of the incoming optical communications signal to correctly align the principal states of polarization of the communications signal to the principal states of polarization of the compensator system; b) splitting the communications signal into a first and a second orthogonal principal states of polarizations at a split point; c) directing the first of the polarization states to a first waveguide having a first non-linearly chirped grating having a first reference reflection point; d) directing the second of the polarization states to a second waveguide having a second non-linearly chirped grating having a chirp pattern substantially similar to that of the first chirped grating and having a second reference reflection point; e) adjustably varying the chromatic dispersion of the first and second reflections by varying the position of the first and second reflection points along the gratings; f) adjustably varying the relative optical path lengths between the first and second reflection points and the split point to compensate for polarization dispersion between the first and second orthogonal states of polarization; and g) recombining the first and second polarization states into an output signal.