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:
Mar. 20, 2007
Filed:
Jun. 30, 2000
Robert J. Deri, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Rajesh R. Patel, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Steven W. Bond, Livermore, CA (US);
Cory V. Bennett, Livermore, CA (US);
Robert J. Deri, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Rajesh R. Patel, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Steven W. Bond, Livermore, CA (US);
Cory V. Bennett, Livermore, CA (US);
The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US);
Abstract
A wavelength router to be used for fiber optical networking router is based on a diffraction grating which utilizes only N wavelengths to interconnect N inputs to N outputs. The basic approach is to augment the grating with additional couplers or wavelength selective elements so than N−1 of the 2N−1 outputs are combined with other N outputs (leaving only N outputs). One embodiment uses directional couplers as combiners. Another embodiment uses wavelength-selective couplers. Another embodiment uses a pair of diffraction gratings to maintain parallel propagation of all optical beams. Also, beam combining can be implemented either by using retroflection back through the grating pair or by using couplers.