Patent ID: 7499610
Filing Date: 2009-03-03
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A method of using a passive polarization sorter, the passive polarization sorter including a first waveguide having a first input and a first output constituting a first input and a first output of the passive polarization sorter, respectively, the passive polarization sorter further including a second waveguide having a second input and a second output constituting a second input and a second output of the passive polarization sorter, respectively, a portion of the first waveguide and a portion of the second waveguide defining an adiabatic region, the method comprising the steps of: introducing an optical signal into one of the first and second inputs of the passive polarization sorter, the optical signal having a first polarized mode and a second polarized mode; supplying a first portion of the optical signal having one of the first and second polarized modes at the first output of the passive polarization sorter; evanescently coupling a second portion of the optical signal having a remaining one of the first and second polarized modes into the second waveguide; and supplying the second portion of the optical signal at the second output of the passive polarization sorter.