Fraunhofer-gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.v.

Other

Heinrich Hertz Institut Fuer Nachrichtentechnik Berlin Gmbh.

Huihai Yao

Norbert Keil

Crispin Zawadzki

Monika Bauer

Christian Dreyer

Martin Schell

J&ouml;rg Bauer

Hans-Peter Nolting

J&uuml;rgen Schneider

The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for compensating the polarization-dependent shift of the center frequency in an optical filter comprising an interferometer by way of compensating the birefringence in at least one waveguide of the interferometer, wherein at least one half-wave plate is arranged into the optical path of the interferometer and at least a section of the waveguide () on the right and on the left of the half-wave plate () is brought to a pre-selectable temperature, and wherein at least one section on the right of the half-wave plate () is brought to a first temperature T, and at least one section on the left of the half-wave plate () is brought to a second temperature T.

Method and apparatus for compensating polarization-dependent frequency shifts in optical waveguides

The present invention relates in general to optical waveguide devices, which preferably are planar, e.g., optical arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs), multiplexers/demultiplexers, optical add/drop multiplexers and the like. More particularly, the present invention provides integrated optical waveguide devices having central wavelengths (or channel wavelengths) which are temperature insensitive in that they do not or do almost not shift upon temperature variations in the environment. Such devices are also called athermalized or athermal devices. Preferably, most or all parts of such devices including waveguides, cladding material and the substrate itself consist of organic polymeric materials. The devices of the invention substantially remedy the problems encountered with the limitations and disadvantages of common devices as known in the prior art.

Temperature insensitive optical waveguide device

A digital optical switch with two input terminals and two output terminals to satisfy the extensive uses of optical switches. The conditions for adiabatic mode evolution can be flexibly adjusted depending on the planned use for said switch, the technological production thereof still being simple. In the digital optical switch according to the invention, the first incoming waveguide, with regard to the second incoming waveguide in the input section and the third outgoing waveguide with regard to the fourth outgoing waveguide in the output section are symmetrical with each other in cross-section, index of refraction and arrangement in relation to the direction in which the light spreads. Structural electrodes have a tapering effect on the wave guides and are adjusted thereto, and an electrode arranged in the output section is electrically driven.

Digital optical switch

For reducing power consumption and cross-talk in the transmission of broadband optical signals without prior conversion into electrical signals there are provided in a thermo-optical switch two waveguides (WL,and WL,) extending closely adjacent each other over their interactive length the width of which is at least partially covered by one or two pairs of lamellate electrode arms of a heating electrode (E), the arms of each pair being interconnected by a common web (G) and being of similar geometric shape as the waveguides (WL,and WL,) positioned below them. Furthermore, means is provided for changing and/or setting the thermal and/or geometric symmetry/asymmetry of the refractive indices in the two waveguides.

Thermo-optical switch

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Berlin, Germany

Huihai Yao