Patent ID: 9025094
Filing Date: 2015-05-05
Classification: G02B,G02F

Abstract:
1. A wavelength selective switch device, comprising: an incidence part where input wavelength multiplexed light comprising a plurality of wavelengths enters along an input direction; an exit part comprising a plurality of fibers that outputs, along an output direction, output wavelength multiplexed light comprising selected wavelengths from the plurality of wavelengths; a polarization diversity part that: a wavelength dispersion and synthesis element that: a condensing element that condenses the spatially dispersed light travelling along the input direction onto a two-dimensional liquid crystal beam deflection element; the two dimensional liquid crystal beam deflection element comprising a plurality of pixels arrayed in a lattice on an xy plane, with an x-axis direction defining a wavelength dispersion direction, and wherein changes in refractive index characteristics of the pixels changes a phase of the plurality of pixels along the y axis direction, and changes the output direction of each wavelength of the spatially dispersed light to generate the direction; a liquid crystal beam deflection element drive part that changes the refractive index characteristics of the pixels by driving an electrode of each pixel; and an image height adjusting medium (IHAM) disposed at a position to receive either the third or the fourth optical beam, such that one of the third or the fourth optical beam passes through the IHAM and the other of the third or the fourth optical beam does not pass through the IHAM, and the IHAM adjusts an image height of the third or the fourth beam that passes through the IHAM to match an image height of the third or fourth optical beam that does not pass through the IHAM, wherein the image height is defined to be a height of the optical beams relative to the plurality of optical fibers of the exit part.