Patent ID: 6634810
Filing Date: 2003-10-21
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A free space multiport wavelength router for directing a WDM optical signal having a plurality of discrete adjacent-in-wavelength channels and received from an input optic port to a plurality of output optic ports, said router having an optical axis and comprising:an optical diffraction grating having a periodic structure and being oriented in a substantially perpendicular direction relative to a first direction; a lens for receiving the WDM optical signal from the input optic port and for collimating the signal on said grating, said grating providing angular displacement, in the first direction relative to the optical axis, to the discrete channels as a function of the wavelength of each discrete channel and directing said angularly-displaced discrete channels to said lens for focusing said angularly displaced discrete channels; and an array of optical elements arranged along the first direction and positioned for receiving, at each optical element, a select one of said angularly-displaced discrete channels, each optical element producing a corresponding spatial shift along a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction for imparting an associated spatial shift to each received discrete channel and for directing each spatially-shifted channel to a separate output port.