Patent ID: 6317536
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical waveguide component for reciprocal multiplexing and demultiplexing by wavelength division, described for signals propagating in the direction in which demultiplexing occurs, comprising:a phase shifting array of N waveguides, which propagate M multiplexed signal wavelengths, each signal having an intensity and a phase, and each of the N waveguides of said phase shifting array having a first and a second end, and a propagation constant different from the propagation constant of every other waveguide of said phase shifting array to provide a unique phase shift for each signal wavelength, wherein N>M;at least one input waveguide, for propagating the M multiplexed signal wavelengths, optically coupled to the first end of each of the N waveguides of said phase shifting array, to provide uniform signal intensity distribution to the N waveguides of said phase shifting array; and,an output array of M waveguides, each of the M waveguides of said output array having an end which is optically coupled to the second ends of the N waveguides of said phase shifting array, and the phase shifted signals exiting said phase shifting array interfere so that each of the M waveguides of said output array receives a single signal wavelength from said phase shifting array;wherein the M waveguides of said output array each have a propagation constant different from the propagation constant of every other waveguide in said output array, at least over a portion of the lengths of said output array beginning nearest the ends coupled to the second end of said phase shifting array, to prevent cross coupling of demultiplexed signals among said M waveguides of the output array.