Patent ID: 6577786
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: G01J,G02B,H04B,H04J

Abstract:
An optical device for monitoring operating conditions of a multiplexed optical signal in an optical communications network, comprising:an input port coupled to a fiber optic line for receiving a multiplexed optical signal appearing thereon; a diffraction grating disposed relative to and in optical communication with the input port so as to diffract the multiplexed optical signal received at the input port as a demultiplexed optical signal having a plurality of narrowband optical signals over a wavelength range of at least approximately 30 nm, within the wavelength range the optical device is substantially polarization insensitive; and an optical detector optically coupled to the diffraction grating and including a plurality of detector elements disposed to receive the narrowband optical signals and convert each narrowband optical signal into an electrical signal having a value representative of a power level of the corresponding narrowband optical signal.