Patent ID: 8861984
Filing Date: 2014-10-14
Classification: G02B,H04B

Abstract:
1. A polarization-insensitive optical receiver for demodulating a phase-modulated input optical signal, the optical receiver comprising: a polarization splitter for splitting the input optical signal into a first and a second polarization component having substantially orthogonal polarization states and for launching the polarization components into a first and a second optical path, respectively; a first and a second interferometric module respectively disposed in the first and second optical paths to receive a respective one of the first and second polarization components, each interferometric module comprising a delay line receiving a portion of the respective polarization component and producing therefrom a time-shifted version of the respective polarization component, each interferometric module being configured to mix the respective polarization component with the time-shifted version thereof so as to provide a plurality of output signals, each output signal corresponding to a different relative phase shift between the respective polarization component and the time-shifted version thereof, the delay lines of the first and second interferometric modules being disposed within a same physical region of the optical receiver and defining spiraling structures intertwined with each other; and a plurality of detectors, each detector detecting one of a plurality of combined signals, each combined signal including an output signal from each of the first and second interferometric modules corresponding to a same relative phase shift.