Patent ID: 6594082
Filing Date: 2003-07-15
Classification: G02B,H04Q

Abstract:
An optical router comprising:at least one dispersive medium; at least one reflective surface optically coupled to said at least one dispersive medium; wherein an incident beam is separated into individual components by said at least one dispersive medium, each one of said individual components being reflected back to said at least one dispersive medium from said reflective surface and being recombined into one or more separate output signals; a first birefringent element directing said individual components having a first polarization state and said individual components having a second polarization state in different direction; a polarization modulator comprising a rotating segment to rotate the polarization of said individual components; and a non-rotating segment to not rotate the polarization of said individual components; wherein said segments are aligned along an axis substantially perpendicular to the direction in which said individual components travel through said polarization modulator; and a second birefringent element directing said individual components having a first polarization state and said individual components having a second polarization state to different parts of said at least one reflective surface.