The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 09, 1991
Filed:
May. 31, 1990
Terence G Hodgkinson, Woodbridge, GB;
David W Smith, Woodbridge, GB;
Abstract
The invention provides methods and devices for processing an optical signal. In one embodiment, an optical device (101) for scrambling an input optical signal comprises an optical switch (10) which switches the optical signal between two intermediate optical paths (13,14) under control of a scrambling signal from a control circuit (12). The polarization of the signal in one of the intermediate optical paths (13) is rotated by a TE-TM converter (15). The polarization of the two intermediate signals are thereby made mutually orthogonal. These mutually orthogonal signals are then recombined by a directional coupler (16) to provide a combined output optical signal with a scrambled polarization alternating between orthogonal states according to the frequency of the scrambling signal. The invention may be applied to improve signal reception, for example, in coherent optical transmission systems.