Patent ID: 6574380
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An apparatus for changing, and providing for in situ monitoring of, the spectral profile of an optical signal comprising:a plurality of optical paths, each of said optical paths having associated therewith a delay element which imparts a predetermined delay to a signal propagating through the optical path; an optical path leading from said delay element on a side opposite to the delay element input side, said path terminating in a partially reflective surface made such that a portion of the signal energy is allowed to pass through said partially reflective surface for detection by a detector and the remainder of the signal energy is reflected back upon itself and through said delay element; a plurality of couplers configured to split the optical signal among said plurality of optical paths according to predetermined splitting ratios; and wherein said predetermined delays and predetermined splitting ratios are chosen so as to effect the desired change to said spectral profile.