Patent ID: 6856459
Filing Date: 2005-02-15
Classification: G02B,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A polarization controller, comprising: a first polarization beam splitter operable to receive an input optical signal having an input state of polarization and to separate the signal into a first and a second principal mode of polarization; and at least three stages of phase shifters each operable to introduce a phase shift between the first and second principal modes, at least one phase shifter comprising a beam splitter that is shared with at least one other of the phase shifters, the at least three stages of phase shifters comprising a first stage coupled to the first polarization beam splitter and a last stage coupled to a second polarization beam splitter, wherein the beam splitter that is shared comprises a partially transmitting mirror; wherein the second polarization beam splitter is operable to receive phase shifted copies of the first and second principal modes, and to align the phase shifted copies of the principal modes to an output state of polarization.