Patent ID: 7286732
Filing Date: 2007-10-23
Classification: G02B,G02F,G03H

Abstract:
1. An optical apparatus comprising: a planar optical waveguide arranged so as to substantially confine in at least one transverse spatial dimension optical signals propagating therein; and at least one set of diffractive elements formed in or on the planar optical waveguide and collectively arranged in or on the planar optical waveguide so as to exhibit a positional variation in diffractive amplitude, optical separation, or spatial phase over some portion of the set, wherein: the diffractive element set is collectively arranged in or on the planar optical waveguide so as to route, as an output optical signal, between corresponding input and output optical ports, a corresponding diffracted portion of an input optical signal that is diffracted by the diffractive element set; the diffractive element set is collectively arranged in or on the planar optical waveguide so that the input optical signal or the output optical signal is successively incident on the diffractive elements of the set; and the diffractive elements of the set are arranged in or on the planar optical waveguide according to an interference pattern derived from computed interference between a simulated design input optical signal and a simulated design output optical signal, the interference pattern exhibiting said positional variation.