Patent ID: 6741813
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: G02B,H04J

Abstract:
An optical signal interleaver for receiving an optical composite signal input having a continuous spectrum of multiple channels each having a center wavelength and generating a pair of optical composite signal outputs each having a non-continuous spectrum of multiple channels having respective center wavelength;the interleaver comprising: a serial array of optical components through which beams of optical signals may pass first in one direction and then be reflected to pass in the opposite direction; said optical components having at least one polarization beam splitter, configured for splitting said beams into a greater number of beams based upon respective polarizations of said beams, at least one beam combiner, configured for recombining said split beams into a smaller number of beams based upon respective polarizations of said beams; at least one phase shifter placed between said at least one beam splitter and said at least one beam combiner for shifting the phase of some selected said split beams before they are recombined with split beams without phase shift; at least one beam processor to adjust the fraction of the light beam components with different relative phase shift to achieve a spectral interference pattern such that unwanted center wavelength channels are attenuated while desired center wavelength channels are reinforced.