Patent ID: 7184665

Claim:
A chromatic dispersion compensator comprising: a) an input port for inputting an input optical signal, b) a first dispersive means optically coupled for spatially separating the input optical signal into spatially spaced frequency components, c) at least one phase shifter optically coupled for imparting a phase shift to a range of the spatially spaced frequency components, d) a second dispersive means optically coupled for recombining the spatially spaced frequency components into a first output signal, e) a retroreflecting means coupled to redirect the first output signal back to the second dispersive means to undergo a second pass to the at least one phase shifter and a second pass to the first dispersive means to produce a second output signal, and f) an output port for outputting the second output signal, wherein an input signal is directed to the first dispersive means, the spaced frequency components are directed to the at least one phase shifter, the phase-shifted components are directed to the second dispersive means to produce a first output signal which is redirected by the retroreflecting means for a second pass to the second dispersive means, the phase shifter, the first dispersive means and to the output port.