Patent ID: 6426821
Filing Date: 2002-07-30
Classification: H04B,H04J

Abstract:
A polarization element, comprising:a polarization beam splitter having an input and first and second outputs, wherein an optical signal which includes first and second signal channels having a frequency difference and which enters the input is split into first and second amplitude polarization components, wherein the first polarization component is provided at the first output and the second polarization component is provided at the second output; a polarization beam combiner having a first and second inputs and an output; first and second optical waveguides, wherein the first optical waveguide optically couples the first output of the polarization beam splitter with the first input of the polarization beam combiner, and wherein the second optical waveguide optically couples the second output of the polarization beam splitter with the second input of the polarization beam combiner, and wherein a time differential equal to 1/(2 * the frequency difference between the first and second signal channels) is introduced between the first and second polarization components such that, when the first and second polarization components are combined, the first and second signal channels have orthogonal polarization.