Patent ID: 6332050
Filing Date: 2001-12-18
Classification: G02B,H04J

Abstract:
An apparatus comprising a plurality of light sources, a waveguide, at least one input port, and at least one output port; wherein:(a) said waveguide is adapted to transmit light received at said input ports to said output ports; wherein said waveguide comprises a first reflecting boundary and a second reflecting boundary; wherein said reflecting boundaries are adapted to reflect at least some of the light within said waveguide; such that if two input light beams are incident at different angles at the same point on either of said reflecting surfaces, then those two light beams necessarily entered said waveguide at different angles; independent of the number of times, if any, that the light beam is reflected within said waveguide;(b) the dimensions of said waveguide are sufficiently larger than the wavelength of the light generated by said light sources that the waveguide will simultaneously transmit a plurality of modes of light traveling at different angles;(c) each of said light sources is adapted to generate light that is modulated to carry information, wherein the generated light is collimated parallel to a plane;(d) each of said input ports is adapted to couple one or more of said light sources to said waveguide, at any selected angle within a range of angles, wherein each of said input ports preserves the separation of generated light having angles of different magnitude; and(e) each of said output ports is adapted to output light transmitted by said waveguide, wherein each of said output ports preserves the separation of generated light having angles of different magnitude.