Patent ID: 11764872

Abstract:
An Optical Dispersion Compensator (ODC) is disclosed, the ODC being suitable for managing chromatic dispersion of an optical signal for transmission over an optical fiber. The ODC comprises a first ODC unit (202) arranged on a first optical bus (206), a second ODC unit (204) arranged on a second optical bus (208), parallel to the first optical bus (206), and a switching element (210) interconnecting the first and second optical buses (206, 208) between the first and second ODC units (202, 204). The first and second ODC units (202, 204) are operable to provide a delay to the optical signal that varies with frequency. The switching element (210) is configured, in a first state, to switch an optical signal received on one of the first or second optical buses (206, 208) to the other of the first or second optical buses (208, 206) and, in a second state, to maintain an optical signal received on one of the first or second optical buses (206, 208) on the optical bus on which it was received (206, 208). Reflective elements (710) may be included in the ODC, providing bidirectional propagation through one of more ODC units.