Marconi Communications Gmbh

Marconi UK Intellectual Property Limited

Ruth Hibberson

William James Stewart

Rosemary Cush

The present invention provides a wavelength selective optical filter device ( ) for receiving input radiation and outputting corresponding filtered output radiation, characterized in that the filter device ( ) includes a plurality of at least partially mutually coupled Fabry-Perot optical resonators ( ) for filtering the input radiation to generate the output radiation, the filter device ( ) being tunable from a first radiation wavelength to a second radiation wavelength by mutually detuning the resonators in a period where the resonators are being retuned from the first wavelength (&lgr; ) to the second wavelength (&lgr; ) so that the filter device ( ) is substantially in a non-responsive state during the period. The resonators incorporate freely suspended mirrors ( ) which are electrostatically actuated to affect tuning of the resonators ( ). The filter device ( ) is thereby capable of tuning between different wavelengths without tuning through wavelengths therebetween. The filter device ( ) can be included into an add-drop filter ( ) for providing channel add and drop functions when the filter ( ) is incorporated in a multichannel WDM communication system ( ).

Wavelength selective optical filter

The present invention provides a wavelength selective optical filter device ( ) for receiving input radiation and outputting corresponding filtered output radiation, characterised in that the filter device ( ) includes a plurality of at least partially mutually coupled Fabry-Perot optical resonators ( ) for filtering the input radiation to generate the output radiation, the filter device ( ) being tunable from a first radiation wavelength to a second radiation wavelength by mutually detuning the resonators in a period where the resonators are being returned from the first wavelength (&lgr; ) to the second wavelength (&lgr; ) so that the filter device ( ) is substantially in a non-responsive state during the period. The resonators incorporate freely suspended mirrors ( ) which are electrostatically actuated to affect tuning of the resonators ( ). The filter device ( ) is thereby capable of tuning between different wavelengths without tuning through wavelengths therebetween. The filter device ( ) can be included into an add-drop filter ( ) for providing channel add and drop functions when the filter ( ) is incorporated in a multichannel WDM communication system ( ).

Growing community of inventors

Northampton, United Kingdom

Ruth Hibberson