Abstract:
A tunable optical filter integrates the functions of wavelength tuning and power isolation of back reflection. The optical signal enters a Faraday rotator twice, and isolation is provided by two birefringent crystals, having their optical axes oriented at 45 degrees with respect to each other. The two birefringent crystals are on the same side of the Faraday rotator. The integration of an optical tunable filter and an isolator function into a single packaged component helps to reduce the size and complexity of optical amplifier systems, such as EDFAs and PDFAs, operating in the 1550 nm and 1310 nm transmission bands, respectively.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/320,188, filed on Apr. 8, 2016, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by this reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The following relates generally to the optical components used in optical communication networks, and specifically to optical devices that can filter optical signals, while providing the functions of wavelength tuning, as well as power isolation of the optical signal. 
         [0003]    Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFAs) or Praseodymium-doped fiber Amplifiers (PDFAs) are widely deployed in optical networks, in the 1550 nm or 1310 nm wavelength windows, respectively.  FIG. 1  illustrates the optical components that are typically included in a prior art EDFA. Note that PDFAs use a similar configuration. The optical power from the pump light source  102  boosts the Erbium ions embedded in the erbium-doped fiber  103  to a higher energy level. The optical input signal  101  then induces stimulated emission and is therefore amplified to create the output signal. However, amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise is also generated simultaneously, and creates noise on top of the input signal  101 . Thus the output signal  111  consists of an amplified input signal, as well as the ASE noise component. Two isolators,  109  and  110 , are located on the input side of a WDM coupler  107 , and after the erbium-doped fiber  103 , respectively. The second isolator B ( 110 ) is intended to prevent the back scattering power out of the downstream optical fiber and other components from re-entering the EDFA. This unwanted back scattering power would otherwise be amplified, and would therefore interfere with the EDFA&#39;s normal characteristics and performance. The first isolator A ( 109 ) is intended to block the ASE noise and back scattering that are generated inside the EDFA, from propagating upstream and interfering with the input signal  101 . 
         [0004]    An optical filter  112  is also used to filter out most of the unwanted ASE noise that exits the output signal port  111 , so that only the intended optical signal wavelength or bandwidth is allowed to pass through the filter. In today&#39;s advanced, re-configurable optical networks, the signal wavelength can be dynamically changed to provide flexibility in the overall network configuration. Therefore, a tunable optical filter  112  is typically used, and must be tuned or adjusted so that its passband matches the wavelength change in input signal  101 . 
         [0005]    As has been occurring with cell phones, more and more components are being squeezed into individual optical modules, with the same limited volume, in order to save space, and also to upgrade the performance of network control centers. Fiber splicing between separate fiber optic components is cumbersome, and also occupies space. It is therefore desirable to integrate multiple optical components into a single package. In the case of EDFAs, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , it is desirable for the optical tunable filter  112  to be physically integrated with isolator B ( 110 ). 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A tunable optical filter device includes a diffraction element, oriented to differentially diffract light of different wavelengths of a beam of light incident thereupon from an input port, and a reflector configured to reflect a portion of the beam of light incident on the reflector by the diffraction element to be diffracted a second time by the diffraction element in an optical path between the input port and an output port. A first birefringent element having a first optical axis in included in the optical path between the input port and the diffraction element, and a second birefringent element having a second optical axis is also included in the optical path between the diffraction element and the output port. The second optical axis is oriented substantially at a 45 degree angle with respect to the first optical axis along the optical path. The tunable optical filter device also includes one or more Faraday rotators located in the optical path between the first and second birefringent elements such that the optical path passes through the each of the Faraday rotators one or more times, where the Faraday rotators are configured to provide a combined rotation of polarization to a beam of light traversing the optical path between the first and second birefringent elements substantially equal to the difference in orientation between the optical axes of the first and second birefringent elements. An actuator is connected to change a position of the reflector so that a selected range of wavelengths of the portion of the beam of light incident upon the reflector is reflected along the optical path from the input port to the output port. 
         [0007]    A method includes receiving a beam of light from an input port and refracting the beam of light a first time by a first birefringent element having a first optical axis. A diffraction element differentially diffracts light of different wavelengths of the beam of light from the input port that is incident upon it through the first birefringent element. A reflector is positioned so that a first selected range of wavelengths of a portion of the beam of light incident upon the reflector from the diffraction element is reflected along an optical path from the input port to an output port. The diffraction element diffracts a second time the portion of the beam of light incident upon the reflector along a portion the optical path between the reflector and the output port. The beam of light is refracted a second time along a portion the optical path between the diffraction element and the output port by a second birefringent element having a second optical axis, where the second optical axis is oriented substantially at a 45 degree angle with respect to the first optical axis along the optical path. The method also includes rotating one or more times a polarization of a beam of light traversing the optical path between the first and second birefringent elements, wherein the combined rotation from the one or more times is substantially equal to the difference in orientation between the optical axes of the first and second birefringent elements. 
         [0008]    Various aspects, advantages, features and embodiments are included in the following description of exemplary examples thereof, which description should be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. All patents, patent applications, articles, other publications, documents and things referenced herein are hereby incorporated herein by this reference in their entirety for all purposes. To the extent of any inconsistency or conflict in the definition or use of terms between any of the incorporated publications, documents or things and the present application, those of the present application shall prevail. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates an Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA), used to amplify an optical signal. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a prior art embodiment of a tunable optical filter, using a diffraction grating and a rotating or tilting mirror. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3A  shows a polarization-independent isolator component. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3B  provides further details on the construction and principles of operation of the isolator embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3C  shows the behavior of the isolator embodiment of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , with light that passes in the reverse direction, back through the isolator. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  shows another embodiment of an isolator component, utilizing an optical path compensator element. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4B  provides further details on the construction and principles of operation of the isolator embodiment shown in  FIG. 4A . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5A  shows one embodiment integrating an isolator with a tunable optical filter. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5B  shows a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5A . 
           [0018]      FIG. 5C  shows details of the design and construction of the isolator elements used in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
           [0019]      FIG. 6A  shows another embodiment integrating an isolator with a tunable optical filter, in which a Faraday rotor and a pair of birefringent crystals are located adjacent to each other. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6B  shows a perspective view of the embodiment of shown in  FIG. 6A , with additional details of the design and construction. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7A  shows an additional embodiment integrating an isolator with a tunable optical filter, with an optical path compensator element. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7B  shows a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a prior art embodiment of a tunable optical filter (refer to U.S. Pat. No. 7,899,330 for more detail). The optical signal light in an input fiber  261  carrying multiple wavelengths is collimated by a lens  251  and then impinges on a diffraction grating  253 . The optical signal is angularly dispersed into its multiple wavelengths, propagating at slightly different angles (denoted by three rays  271 ,  272  and  273 , respectively). One of the rays  273 , representing one of the wavelengths of the input optical signal, or a contiguous range of wavelengths, is reflected by a rotational mirror  276 , passing back through the grating  253  and the lens  251  a second time, and is coupled to an output fiber  262 . Thus, one or a few of the multiple wavelengths from the input fiber  261  are selected, and sent to the output fiber  262 . The mirror  276  is rotated by the actuator to select the wavelength(s) that are being coupled to the output fiber  262 , by adjusting a voltage from the voltage control circuit  280 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3A  shows a prior art embodiment of a polarization-independent isolator. A Faraday rotator  310  can rotate the polarization of the incoming light, by an angle that is dependent on the thickness of the rotator  310 , and the magnetic field provided by a magnet  311  that surrounds the Faraday rotator. Two birefringent crystals  315  and  316 , having their individual optical axes oriented at 45 degrees with respect to each other, are located on opposite sides of the Faraday rotator  310 . (Although referred to here and in the following as “birefringent crystals”, more generally other birefringent elements, such as made of plastics that are under stress or other materials exhibiting birefringence, can be used.) Optical signal light with arbitrary polarization E, carried by an input fiber  301 , is collimated by a lens  302 . The polarization of the electrical field E of the light exiting the lens surface  302 A can be decomposed into two perpendicular components, E o  and E e  (also shown in  FIG. 3B ). E o  is also perpendicular to the optical axis (OA) of the birefringent crystal  315 . The light is therefore split due to the difference in refraction indexes into two paths. One path carries polarization E o , and is referred to as the ordinary ray, marked by o in  FIGS. 3B and 3C . The other path carries polarization E e , and is referred to as the extraordinary ray, marked by e. 
         [0025]    In  FIG. 3B , the OA of the birefringent crystal  315  is chosen be in the X-Y plane, and is oriented at 22.5 degrees with respect to the X-axis (the angle can be chosen arbitrarily without affecting the birefringent crystal&#39;s operational physics). Both polarizations, as represented by the o-ray and e-ray, are rotated 45 degrees in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the light propagation direction (i.e., as shown by arrow  323  in  FIG. 3B ), by the Faraday rotator  310  with its applied magnetic field from the magnet  311 . The OA of the birefringent crystal  316  shown in  FIG. 3B  is oriented 45 degree with respect to that of birefringent crystal  315 , such that the o-ray in birefringent crystal  315  is maintained as the o-ray in birefringent crystal  316  and similarly for the e-ray. Indeed, birefringent crystal  316  is rotationally symmetric to birefringent crystal  315 , as can be seen by rotating 315 along its X axis by 180 degrees (because a unique OA orientation of 22.5 degrees with respect to the X-axis is selected for birefringent crystal  315 ). Therefore, the o-ray and e-ray exit the birefringent crystal  316  as two parallel rays as indicated by  319  in  FIG. 3A , with a small spatial separation s, depending on the optical thickness of the two birefringent crystals and the Faraday rotator  311 . The o-ray and e-ray are thereafter focused by a second lens  320  to the output fiber  321 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 3C  shows the optical paths of two polarized rays being transmitted in the reverse direction, from the original output fiber  321  to the original input fiber  301 , of the isolator shown in  FIG. 3A . A ray  361  emitted from the output fiber  321 , resulting from back reflection, enters the second birefringent crystal  316  and is decomposed into two polarized rays, the o-ray and e-ray, marked by o and e, respectively. In addition to the any reflection off of the output fiber  321  or off of the lens  320 , the back reflection can originate from elements off to the right side (as represented in  FIG. 3 c   ) of the birefringent crystal  316  that are not explicitly represented in the Figures. The two rays then pass through the Faraday rotator  310 , and their individual polarizations are rotated by 45 degrees in the clockwise direction, similarly to what is shown in  FIG. 3B . However, in the case of the reverse light path shown in  FIG. 3C , the o-ray becomes the e-ray, and vice versa for the e-ray, with respect to the first birefringent crystal  315 , and therefore the two rays diverge from each other. The use of a Faraday type rotator provides for the rotation to be “additive” in the two directions of optical signal travel, rather than “reciprocal” rotation, such as would be provided by quarter-wave plate, for example, which provides polarization rotation, but where the rotation is reciprocal in the two directions. The o-ray and e-ray exit the birefringent crystal  315  with an angle of θ, in positive and negative directions, respectively, with respect to an ideal collimated beam  365 , which could be coupled to the input fiber  301 . Thus, both the o-ray and the e-ray are barely coupled to the input fiber  301 . This depicts how the back reflected light experiences high loss as it is transmitted back toward the original light source end. 
         [0027]    As stated above, in the discussion of  FIG. 3A , the o-ray and e-ray exit the second birefringent crystal  316  with a small spatial separation s, which will cause polarization dependent loss when the two rays are coupled to a single output fiber  321 .  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  show another embodiment of the prior art (adapted from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/403,405, filed Mar. 14, 1995, where they are  FIGS. 1 and 2  and more detail is provided) that uses an optical path compensator  415  to unite the o-ray  403  and the e-ray  404  into a single ray, as indicated by  416 , that is then coupled to the output fiber  420 . For example, the optical path compensator can also made of birefringent crystal, oriented with an optical axis that is oriented at 90 degrees with respect to the OA of the second birefringent crystal of the isolator, as discussed further in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/403,405. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5A  illustrates an embodiment with an optical configuration that integrates an isolator with an optical tunable filter to reduce package size, material, and cost.  FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of  FIG. 5A . A Faraday rotator  520  is interposed between a diffraction grating  511  and a rotating mirror  512 , which can again be rotated by an actuator by adjusting a voltage from a voltage control circuit. The two birefringent crystals  505  and  506  are located on the same side of the Faraday rotator  520 . 
         [0029]    An input signal carrying multiple wavelengths inside the input fiber  501  in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  is collimated by a first lens  502  and then enters a first birefringent crystal  506  with its OA in the X-Y plane, at an angle α, with respect to the X-axis (as shown in more detail in  FIG. 5C ). The light is thereafter split into o-ray  551  and e-ray  552 , as shown in  FIG. 5B . Each of the two rays, o-ray  551  and e-ray  552 , can carry multiple wavelengths, as is the case with the input signal in the input fiber  501 . The multiple wavelengths in each ray are then angularly dispersed by the diffraction grating  511  (this angular dispersion is not graphically shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , for simplicity). Both dispersed rays, o-ray and e-ray (labeled together as item  555 ), then enter the Faraday rotator  520  a first time, and are rotated in the clockwise direction by 22.5 degrees. The dispersed o-ray and e-ray are then reflected by a rotating mirror  512  and re-enter the Faraday rotator a second time, such that their polarization is rotated by an additional 22.5 degrees in the clockwise direction. Thus, the dispersed o-ray and e-ray  556 , after passing the Faraday rotor  520  twice, have had their polarizations rotated by a total of 45 degrees. A ring-shaped magnet  518  surrounding around the Faraday rotator  520  provides the necessary magnetic field, in order to achieve this 45 degree rotation. The return signal light  556  then passes through the diffraction grating  511  a second time (shown by o-ray  561  and e-ray  562 ) and is then refracted a second time by a second birefringent crystal  505 , which has its OA in the X-Y plane and at an angle β with respect to the X-axis. In order to obtain maximum isolation, β is chosen to be equal to α+45 degrees. The o-ray and e-ray exit the second birefringent crystal  505  in parallel and are then coupled to an output fiber  504  via a second lens  503 . 
         [0030]    For light that is reflected from the output back towards the input port, the optical path for the back reflected light will traverse the isolation elements of the birefringent crystal  505 , the Faraday rotator  520  (twice), and the birefringent crystal  506 . By passing through the Faraday rotator twice on the return trip, the back reflected light is again rotated by a total of 45 degrees. Consequently, as described above with respect to  FIG. 3C , both the o-ray and the e-ray are barely coupled to the input fiber  501  and the back reflected light experiences high loss as it is transmitted back towards the input port. 
         [0031]    By taking the angle α for the first crystal  506  to be −22.5 degrees with respect to the X-axis, the angle β for the second crystal is then +22.5 degrees with respect to the X-axis. This allows for the same type of crystal element to be used for both elements  506  and  505 , the first crystal being simply flipped over for the second crystal, which simplifies the production of the device. Although an angle combination where the second angle is 45 degrees greater than the first angle, and where the Faraday rotator provides a corresponding 45 degrees of rotation is optimal, a few degrees of tolerance is generally acceptable, although the deviation will reduce the amount of isolation. Consequently, the preferable angle is substantially of 45 degrees for both the difference in alignment between the birefringent elements and the amount of rotation from the Faraday rotator. 
         [0032]    In another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 6A , the Faraday rotator  520  is interposed instead between the grating  511  and the pair of birefringent crystals,  505  and  506 . This configuration functions the same as the embodiment in  FIGS. 5A through 5C . However, if the Faraday rotator  520  is closely adjacent to the birefringent crystal pair  505  and  506 , they may be combined together to form a crystal core assembly, as indicated by item  603  in  FIG. 6B . The core assembly  603  can be assembled as a separate sub-assembly, and allowing it to be dropped into the optical path between the diffraction grating  511  and the pair of focusing/collimating lenses  502  and  503 . 
         [0033]    Furthermore, it is not necessary to utilize two individual lenses  502  and  503  for the collimation and focusing function. If a lens has a large enough diameter, then both input fiber  501  and output fiber  504  can share it for collimation, and still have individual optical paths that are being spatially coupled to the birefringent crystals  506  and  505 , respectively. 
         [0034]    As was illustrated by the use of an optical path concentrator  415 , as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the embodiment that is shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  utilizes an optical path compensator  703 . As before, the purpose of the optical compensator  703  is to unite the o-ray and e-ray into a single ray, before they are focused by lens  503  and coupled to the output fiber  504  to reduce polarization dependent loss. This optical path compensator can be dropped into either the forward optical path (i.e., from the input fiber  501  toward the rotating mirror  512 ), or in the reverse optical path (i.e., from the mirror  512  toward the output fiber  504 ). The location of the optical path compensator  703  is quite flexible, as it may be located somewhere between one of the birefringent crystals (either  505  or  506 ) and its corresponding lens, or alternatively between one of the birefringent crystals and the grating  511  (as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B ), or even between the mirror  512  and the grating  511 . Additionally, the optical path compensator can be implemented as multiple compensator elements along the optical path that cumulatively provide the desired amount of compensation. 
         [0035]    A number of other variations can also be implemented, depending on the embodiment. For example, the embodiments presented so far have all included a single grating, but other embodiments can include multiple gratings in the optical path, similar to the arrangements described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,899,330 or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/139,694, filed on Apr. 27, 2016. With respect to Faraday rotator, a number of additional variations are possible. In  FIGS. 5-7 , a single Faraday rotator is traversed twice, with each pass providing half of the desired rotation. Alternately, the Faraday rotator can be arranged so that the optical path only traverses it once, in which case the single pass would provide the full rotation. In this single rotator, single pass arrangement, the Faraday rotator  520  can be various placed on either side of the grating  511  along the optical path between the birefringent crystals  506  and  505 , either before or after reflecting from the reflector  512 , as long as it is traversed a single time for both the direct path from the input port to the output port and for light reflected from the output port back toward the input port. Conversely, multiple Faraday rotators can be placed in the optical path between the birefringent crystals  506  and  505 , as long as the combined rotation for all of the passes through all of the rotators corresponds to the desired rotation: for example, the Faraday rotator  520  in  FIGS. 6A-6C  could be implemented split along the Y-axis as two separate rotators, with one before reflection and on after reflection, whose cumulative (and not necessarily equal) rotations combine to the desired amount. The embodiments in which a single Faraday rotator is traversed twice provide multiple advantages, including simplified optical alignment, as well as cost and size advantages. Since the amount of polarization rotation is only 22.5 degrees in these embodiments, the length (or thickness) of the Faraday rotator element is minimized. These embodiments take advantage of the “additive”, non-reciprocal polarization rotation provided by a Faraday rotator, in which the direction of rotation is a function of the magnetic field. 
         [0036]    The foregoing detailed description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles involved and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.