Tunable Three-Port Wavelength Splitter for Arbitrary Group Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical communication networks face challenges in efficiently segregating multiple wavelengths into two arbitrary groups, as two-port tunable optical filters can only select a single wavelength or contiguous band, leading to the discard of unselected wavelengths, which is not suitable for modern reconfigurable optical networks that require arbitrary wavelength selection and routing.
Innovation Solution
A tunable wavelength optical device utilizing a diffraction section and a moving plate with reflective sections, where the diffraction section disperses and refocuses wavelengths, and the plate selectively reflects chosen wavelengths back to one port while passing unselected wavelengths to another port, allowing for arbitrary wavelength selection and routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If two-port tunable optical filters are used to select a single wavelength or contiguous band, then the filter can be simple in structure, but the unselected wavelengths are discarded and additional optical components are required to handle them
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a movable plate with selective reflective sections positioned at specific locations within the focal region. Different regions of the plate have different functions: some regions reflect selected wavelengths while other regions allow unselected wavelengths to pass through. This localized differentiation enables the device to simultaneously handle both selected and unselected wavelengths without requiring additional optical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The three-port wavelength splitter device performs multiple functions simultaneously: it selects specific wavelengths, passes unselected wavelengths, and routes them to appropriate outputs. The single device integrates the functionality of wavelength selection, wavelength passing, and signal routing, eliminating the need for separate optical components required by prior art two-port filters.
2Ease of operation
If two-port tunable optical filters are designed to select a single wavelength or contiguous band, then the selection criteria are simple, but the device cannot select arbitrary sets or groups of wavelengths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable plate that can be dynamically repositioned within the focal region by an actuator. This dynamic capability allows the device to adapt its wavelength selection characteristics in real-time. By moving the plate to different positions, the device can select arbitrary sets or groups of wavelengths rather than being limited to fixed contiguous bands, thereby achieving versatile wavelength selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the positional parameter of the movable plate within the focal region to alter its wavelength selection behavior. By adjusting the plate's position, the device can modify which wavelengths are reflected and which are passed through, enabling arbitrary wavelength group selection. This parameter change approach transforms a simple fixed-selection filter into a versatile reconfigurable device.
3Productivity
If additional optical components such as optical splitters and wavelength blockers are incorporated to handle unselected wavelengths, then all wavelengths can be handled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of wavelength selection and unselected wavelength routing into a single integrated device. The movable plate with selective reflective sections simultaneously performs both functions that would traditionally require separate optical components. By combining these functions, the device reduces overall complexity while maintaining comprehensive wavelength handling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable plate acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the incident wavelengths and the output ports. It selectively interacts with different wavelength components, reflecting some while allowing others to pass through, thereby routing wavelengths to appropriate outputs without requiring additional specialized optical components.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a three-port wavelength splitter is designed to split wavelengths into two arbitrary groups, then functionality is enhanced for ROADM networks, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wavelength spectrum into selected and unselected groups using spatial differentiation in the focal region. By dividing the focal region into different zones with different reflective properties, the device can segment wavelengths into arbitrary groups. This segmentation approach enables arbitrary wavelength routing while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure compared to traditional multi-component solutions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient segregation of wavelengths into two groups, allowing for enhanced functionality in modern optical networks by enabling the selection of any arbitrary subset of wavelengths while passing on unselected wavelengths, thus improving network reconfigurability and reducing optical loss.
Implementation Method 1
The diffraction section is configured such that light of different wavelengths of a coupled beam of light from a first port are diffracted into different wavelength components, focusing the light of the different wavelength components within a focal region
Implementation Method 2
The plate has one or more first reflective sections that reflect light of one of more of the wavelength components coupled to the plate from the first diffraction section towards the first diffraction section, so that light is diffracted a first time and a second time by the first diffraction section in an optical path between the first port and a second port
Data Source
AI summary
A tunable optical device uses a diffraction grating to angularly disperse a collimated beam carrying multiple wavelengths into multiple individually collimated wavelength beams, and then refocuses each of the individual collimated beams to its own focusing point on a moving plate that is located in the region of the focus plane. One or more reflective dots on the moving plate then selectively reflect particular wavelength(s) back to a first output port. The unselected wavelengths are transmitted through the moving plate, where they are then recombined and sent to a second output port. In a typical optical network architecture, the selected wavelength(s) could be viewed as the dropped traffic at a node of the optical network, while the unselected wavelengths could be viewed as the express traffic that is being passed to another node of the network. The device can also be used as a wavelength or beam combiner as well as a splitter.