Patent ID: 6587267
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical component for directing signals between a first port and a first path, and for directing signals between a second port and a second path, wherein the first and second paths are parallel, and wherein the first and second ports are positioned between said first and second paths, the optical component comprising:a first port for inputting and/or outputting optical signals; a second port for inputting and/or outputting optical signals; a first lens for collimating incoming signals from the first and second ports and for launching them along diverging third and fourth paths, respectively; and/or for receiving outgoing optical signals traveling along the third and fourth paths and focusing them onto the first and second ports, respectively; first polarization dependent beam deflecting means optically coupled to said first lens for directing optical signals with a first polarization traveling between the third path and the first path, and/or for directing optical signals with a second orthogonal polarization between the fourth path and the second path; a third port for inputting and/or outputting optical signals; a fourth port for inputting and/or outputting optical signals; a second lens for collimating incoming signals from the third and fourth ports and for launching them along diverging fifth and sixth paths, respectively; and/or for receiving outgoing optical signals traveling along the fifth and sixth paths and focusing them onto the third and fourth ports, respectively; second polarization dependent beam deflecting means optically coupled to said second lens for directing optical signals with a first polarization between the fifth path and a seventh path, and for redirecting optical signals with a second orthogonal polarization between the sixth path and an eighth path; a wavelength selective polarization rotator for rotating the polarization of wavelength channels from a first set of wavelength channels, while having no cumulative effect on the polarization of wavelength channels from a second set of wavelength channels, which is independent of the first set of wavelength channels; a first beam director optically coupled between the first polarization dependent beam deflecting means and the wavelength selective polarization rotator for directing the signals from the first and second ports to travel along the same path through the wavelength selective polarization rotator, and/or for separating the signals exiting the wavelength selective polarization rotating means into orthogonally polarized signals traveling along the first and second paths; and a second beam director optically coupled between the second polarization dependent beam deflecting means and the wavelength selective polarization rotator for directing the signals from the third and fourth ports to travel along the same path through the wavelength selective polarization rotator, and/or for separating the signals exiting the wavelength selective polarization rotating means into orthogonally polarized signals traveling along the seventh and eighth paths; whereby an optical signal comprising at least one wavelength channel from the first set of wavelength channels travels from the first port to the fourth port and from the second port to the third port, while an optical signal comprising at least one wavelength channel from the second set of wavelength channels travels from the second port to the fourth port from the first port to the third port.