Patent ID: 9110232
Filing Date: 2015-08-18
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A method for adjusting the optical path through a dispersive element of a planar lightwave circuit comprising: a combined signal waveguide; a set of dispersed signal waveguides; a first slab waveguide; a first mirror optically connected to the first slab waveguide; a mirror assembly supporting the first mirror; a waveguide array; and a second slab waveguide, wherein the waveguide array optically connects the first slab waveguide and the second slab waveguide to provide an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG), wherein the combined signal waveguide or the set of dispersed signal waveguides is optically connected at an access edge to the first slab waveguide and the other of the combined signal waveguide or the set of dispersed signal waveguides is optically connected to the second slab waveguide and wherein an optical path through the first slab waveguide from the access edge is folded by providing an optical reflection from the first mirror to the array edge connecting the waveguide array and the appropriate element of the combined signal waveguide or the set of dispersed signal waveguides, and wherein the mirror assembly comprises a manually adjustable actuator that sets the wavelength response of the AWG by tuning the position of the central wavelength optical path, the method comprising: adjusting the actuator through external manipulation to move the first mirror to alter the optical path between the combined signal waveguide and the dispersed signal waveguides.