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:
Jan. 14, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 20, 2001
Pavel G. Polynkin, Fremont, CA (US);
Jeffrey P. Wilde, Morgan Hill, CA (US);
Capella Photonics, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
This invention provides a novel method and apparatus which use a wavelength-dispersing means such as a diffraction grating to spatially separate a multi-wavelength optical signal along with a reference signal by wavelength into multiple spectral channels and a reference spectral component in a spectral array with a predetermined relative alignment. By aligning the reference spectral component at a predetermined location, the spectral channels simultaneously impinge onto designated locations, e.g., on an array of beam-receiving elements positioned in accordance with the spectral array. The reference spectral component may be further maintained at the predetermined location by way of servo-control, thereby ensuring that the spectral channels stay aligned at the designated locations. The present invention can be used to construct a new line of servo-based optical systems, including spectral power monitors and optical multiplexers/demultiplexers, for WDM optical networking applications.