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.

Date of Patent:
Sep. 12, 2006

Filed:

Oct. 21, 2005
Applicants:

Rene Helbing, Palo Alto, CA (US);

Charles D. Hoke, Menlo Park, CA (US);

Ken Nishimura, Fremont, CA (US);

Inventors:

Rene Helbing, Palo Alto, CA (US);

Charles D. Hoke, Menlo Park, CA (US);

Ken Nishimura, Fremont, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B 5/18 (2006.01); G02B 27/44 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

A wavelength selective switching device and method for selectively transmitting optical signals based on wavelength utilizes diffraction to spatially separate the optical signals of different wavelengths such that the optical signal of a selected wavelength can be selectively transmitted. The wavelength selective switching device selectively rotates the polarization components of the optical signals such that the polarization states of the polarization components are the same in both incoming and outgoing directions at the diffraction grating. Thus, a diffraction grating with a high grating line frequency (e.g. greater than 900 grating lines per mm for signals in the 1550 nm wavelength range) can be used for diffracting the polarization components of the optical signals in both the incoming and outgoing directions.


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