Patent ID: 6337933
Filing Date: 2002-01-08
Classification: G02B,H04J

Abstract:
An optical device configured to select an optical channel from a plurality of closely spaced optical channels comprising:an optical transfer element having a first port for receiving multiplexed optical signals having a plurality of channels, each of said channels at a respective wavelength, said optical transfer element having a second, third and fourth ports; a first filtering element optically communicating with said second port of said transfer element, said first filtering element being a narrow band filtering element and being configured to have a reflectivity characteristic at or near a particular wavelength associated with one channel included in said plurality of multiplexed channels, said first filtering element receiving said multiplexed signal and reflecting a first portion of said multiplexed signal including said one optical channel toward said second port of said optical transfer element, said first filtering element being the only filtering element optically communicating with said second port; and a second filtering element optically communicating with said third port of said optical transfer element, said second filtering element being a narrow band filtering element and being configured to have a reflectivity characteristic at or near said said particular wavelength, said second filtering element receiving said first portion of said multiplexed signal and reflecting said one optical channel toward said third port of said transfer element and transmitting a second portion of said multiplexed signal including channels near said one channel, said optical transfer element supplying said one channel at said particular wavelength to said fourth port.