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WO2002071119A1 - Multiplexeur/demultiplexeur presentant une configuration a quatre f' et lentille hybride - Google Patents

Multiplexeur/demultiplexeur presentant une configuration a quatre f' et lentille hybride Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2002071119A1
WO2002071119A1 PCT/US2002/006754 US0206754W WO02071119A1 WO 2002071119 A1 WO2002071119 A1 WO 2002071119A1 US 0206754 W US0206754 W US 0206754W WO 02071119 A1 WO02071119 A1 WO 02071119A1
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Prior art keywords
optical
grating
collimating
waveguides
optical waveguides
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English (en)
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Andrew D. Sappey
Pei Huang
Gerry Murphy
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Zolo Technologies Inc
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Zolo Technologies Inc
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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
    • G02B6/293—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means
    • G02B6/29304—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means operating by diffraction, e.g. grating
    • G02B6/29305—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means operating by diffraction, e.g. grating as bulk element, i.e. free space arrangement external to a light guide
    • G02B6/2931—Diffractive element operating in reflection
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
    • G02B6/293—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means
    • G02B6/29304—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means operating by diffraction, e.g. grating
    • G02B6/29316—Light guides comprising a diffractive element, e.g. grating in or on the light guide such that diffracted light is confined in the light guide
    • G02B6/29325—Light guides comprising a diffractive element, e.g. grating in or on the light guide such that diffracted light is confined in the light guide of the slab or planar or plate like form, i.e. confinement in a single transverse dimension only
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
    • G02B6/293—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means
    • G02B6/29371—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means operating principle based on material dispersion
    • G02B6/29373—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means operating principle based on material dispersion utilising a bulk dispersive element, e.g. prism
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
    • G02B6/293—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means
    • G02B6/29379—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means characterised by the function or use of the complete device
    • G02B6/2938—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means characterised by the function or use of the complete device for multiplexing or demultiplexing, i.e. combining or separating wavelengths, e.g. 1xN, NxM

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to fiber-optic communications, and more particularly to bulk grating (de)multiplexers having a variable pass band and telecentricity.
  • a bulk echelle grating DWDM device Described below with reference to Figs. 1-6 is a bulk echelle grating DWDM device.
  • One significant advantage of this echelle grating DWDM device is relatively high angular dispersion of the grating, enabling a (de)multip lexer having a compact footprint along the optical axis.
  • this angular dispersion raises other design issues that inhibit efficient coupling of light from a fiber carrying a multichannel signal to an array of single channel fibers.
  • Fig. 16 is a schematic representation of an echelle grating (de)multiplexer 210, which is described in greater detail with reference to Figs. 1-6 below.
  • Fig. 16 includes only seven single channel output waveguides or fibers and these are shown equally spaced for ease of illustration. In fact, there can be forty or more single channel fibers associated with the multichannel fibers and the spacing between fibers may increase slightly from top to bottom.
  • a multi channel input fiber 212 which typically is the first or last fiber in the plane of the single channel fiber array 220
  • a cone or beam of light 214 which is collimated by the lens 216 and directed on the reflective grating 218 which disperses the multichannel signal into its constituent channels according to wavelength.
  • single channel light reflected from the grating 218 is focused by the lens 216 to corresponding single channel output fibers 220.
  • the focused cone of light 224 has an "axis" 226 which is at a significant angle with respect to the face 228 of the distal fiber 222.
  • a telecentric optical imaging system also ensures that the transmission efficiencies are the same in the multiplexing or demultiplexing mode of operation, i.e., a bidirection device.
  • One way to provide telecentricity is to replace the single lens 216 (or a two piece lens described below with reference to Figs. 1-6) with a telecentric triplet lens.
  • this requires the introduction of additional components which increases (de)multiplexer size, weight, complexity and cost.
  • One additional problem with the (de)multiplexer configuration illustrated in Fig. 1 is that the multichannel fiber 212 and the single channel fibers 220 have relatively narrow wavelength pass bands. The pass band is determined by the diameter of the cores of the optical fibers 212 and 220, and the spacing between adjacent fibers in array 220. This makes it difficult to provide for efficient coupling of light to the respective fibers, particularly for high speed data rates.
  • Martin U.S. Patent No. 6,084,695, describes a structure for widening the effective pass band of the fibers.
  • Martin teaches providing a microlens array consisting of a gradient index lens ("GRIN") microlens aligned with each fiber.
  • GRIN gradient index lens
  • Martin requires that the pitch between adjacent microlenses of the array be the same (within ⁇ 0.23 ⁇ m) as the pitch between corresponding adjacent optical fibers.
  • the structure taught by Martin requires that the face of the fibers be precisely at the focal plane of the microlenses of the array.
  • the present invention is directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems discussed above.
  • a first aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for multiplexing or demultiplexing optical signals in an optical communication system.
  • the apparatus includes a plurality of optical waveguides aligned generally along the same optical axis each having a propagating end.
  • a reflective grating is optically coupled to the plurality of optical waveguides along the optical axis and has a surface receiving an optical signal emitted from at least one of the optical waveguides. The surface diffracts the optical signals into at least one other of the optical waveguides.
  • a collimating/focusing optic having a select focal length is optically coupled between the plurality of optical waveguides and the reflective grating along the optical axis.
  • the collimating/focusing optic is positioned relative to the propagating ends of the plurality of optical waveguides and the reflective echelle grating to propagate a telecentric optical beam(s) into the at least one other of the optical waveguides.
  • the collimating/focusing optic is optically coupled to the propagating ends of the waveguide at about the select optical focal length from the collimating/focusing optic and a point on the surface of the reflective echelle grating is spaced the selective focal length from the collimating/focusing optic.
  • the reflective grating may be an echelle grating having a groove spacing of between about 50-300 grooves per millimeter and a blaze angle of between about 51-53 degrees.
  • the reflective grating is an echelle grating having a groove spacing of between about 50-300 grooves per millimeter and a blaze angle providing an angle of dispersion of between about 0.091 and 0.011 degrees per nanometer for a select order of diffraction of between 4-7.
  • the apparatus includes a plurality of optical waveguides aligned generally along the same optical axis, each waveguide having a propagating end.
  • the plurality of optical waveguides include at least one multiplexed waveguide propagating a plurality of multiplexed channels and the others of the optical waveguides are single channel waveguides propagating single channels.
  • a reflective grating is optically coupled to the plurality of optical waveguides along the optical axis and receives an optical signal emitted from at least one of the optical waveguides and diffracts the optical signal(s) into at least one other of the optical waveguides.
  • a collimating/focusing optic having a select focal length is optically coupled between the plurality of optical waveguides along the optical axis.
  • the reflective echelle grating is spaced about the select focal length from the reflective echelle grating.
  • An array of microlenses resides in optical communication between the propagating end of the single channel waveguides and the collimating focusing optic with the array of microlenses being positioned relative to the collimating/focusing optic to propagate a telecentric optical beam(s) into at least one other of the optical waveguides.
  • the array of microlenses is spaced at or near a focal plane spaced the select focal distance from the collimating/focusing optic.
  • the single channel optical waveguides and the array of microlenses may be in a linear array.
  • the reflective grating may be an echelle grating having a groove spacing of between about 50-300 grooves per millimeter and a blaze angle of between about 51-53 degrees.
  • the focal point of at least one microlens may be in a corresponding waveguide.
  • the focal point of at least one microlens may be at the propagating end of a corresponding waveguide.
  • the reflective grating is spaced a distance from the collimating/focusing lens such that a point on the reflective surface of the grating is spaced the select focal length from the collimating/focusing lens.
  • the point on the reflective surface on the grating is preferably at about the center of the reflective surface of the grating.
  • the (de)multiplexer of the present invention having a collimating/focusing optic positioned to propagate a telecentric optical beam into the waveguides provides enhanced efficiency in propagating optical signals.
  • the telecentric properties of the (de)multiplexer also facilitates looser tolerances in the construction and alignment of the (de)multiplexer components.
  • Those embodiments adding an array of microlenses in optical communication with the optical fibers provide for a broader pass band and therefore further facilitate optical coupling of beams to the waveguide.
  • the use of the microlens array diminishes the necessity for extremely tight tolerances in alignment of the components, which greatly assists in the efficient manufacture of the (de)multiplexer.
  • the telecentric (de)multiplexers disclosed herein have greatest advantage with highly dispersive gratings such as echelle gratings described herein. Absent the telecentric properties of the (de)multiplexers coupling efficiency, particularly with the most distal fibers, may be seriously compromised. Those embodiments including the combination of the telecentric (de)multiplexer and the array of microlenses combine all these advantages to result in a highly efficient (de)multiplexer which can be efficiently manufactured with significant cost savings over prior art devices.
  • Fig 1 is a schematic plan view of a multiplexer/demultiplexer using a bulk echelle grating in accordance with the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section of the echelle grating grooves illustrating relevant dimensions
  • Fig. 3 is a graphical representation of possible step widths and riser heights at different orders which may yield a working echelle grating
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of an example of a multiplexer/demultiplexer with a bulk echelle grating in accordance with the present invention
  • Fig. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a pigtail template
  • Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the multiplexer/demultiplexer with bulk echelle grating of Fig. 1 illustrating the potential adjustment of the components
  • Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a first alternate embodiment of the multiplexer/demultiplexer using a bulk echelle grating including a pair of collimating/focusing concave mirrors;
  • Fig. 8 is a second alternate embodiment of the multiplexer/demultiplexer of Fig. 7 further including a prism providing for wavelength dispersion in a horizontal direction;
  • Fig. 9 is a third alternate embodiment of the multiplexer/demultiplexer using a single collimating/focusing mirror
  • Fig. 10 is a fourth alternate embodiment of the multiplexer/demultiplexer in accordance with the present invention using an off-axis parabolic mirror as the collimating/focusing optic with the device arranged in a near-littrow configuration
  • Fig. 11 is a fifth alternate embodiment of the multiplexer/demultiplexer of the present invention using a concave echelle grating
  • Fig. 12 is a schematic representation of an apparatus for dividing a broad bandwidth into bandwidth segments for multiplexing/demultiplexing
  • Fig. 15 is a schematic representation of a multiplexer/demultiplexer having stacked multiplex fibers and a two-dimensional array of single channel fibers;
  • Fig. 16 is a schematic plan view of a prior art bulk optic multiplexer/demultiplexer
  • Fig. 17 is a schematic plan view of a multiplexer/demultiplexer in a "4F" configuration in accordance with the present invention.
  • Fig. 18 is a schematic plan view of a multiplexer/demultiplexer having a "4F" configuration and microlens array in accordance with the present invention.
  • a multiplexer/demultiplexer for use in optical communication systems 10 of the present invention is illustrated schematically in Fig. 1. It includes a pigtail harness 12 consisting of an input waveguide 14, a plurality of output waveguides 16 arranged in a linear array adjacent the input fiber, a collimating/focusing lens 18 and an echelle grating 20, each of which are optically coupled.
  • the (de)multiplexer will be discussed in terms of a demultiplexer. The description applies equally to a multiplexer, only with the function of the input and output waveguides 14, 16 reversed. Also, for the sake of clarity, only seven output waveguides are illustrated (the center output waveguides underlies the input fiber in Fig.
  • the waveguides 14, 16 are preferably single mode optical fibers.
  • 90 or more output waveguides can be associated with a single input waveguide, depending upon the bandwidth channel, separation and a number of other factors.
  • optically coupled or “optically communicates” means any connection, coupling, link or the like, by which optical signals carried by one optical element are imparted to the “coupled” or “communicating” element.
  • Such “optically communicating” devices are not necessarily directly connected to one another, but may be separated by a space through which the optical signals traverse or by intermediate optical components or devices. As illustrated in Fig.
  • the (de)multiplexer 10 is in "near littrow configuration," meaning that the incident beam ⁇ . ranch and the channels diffracted off the surface of the grating ⁇ i, ⁇ 2 , ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ 6 , ⁇ 7 are generally along the same optical axis (that is, they trace a very close path) and the lens both collimates the input beam ⁇ ].
  • the echelle grating 20 uses interference between light wavefronts reflected from various portions of its ruled surface or steps 22 to divide the incident beam consisting of a plurality of channels ⁇ [. n having a select channel spacing within a select wavelength range ⁇ _ admir into separate channels of wavelength beams ⁇ - ⁇ 7 which are angularly dispersed by the grating into output waveguides some distance away.
  • the channel separation of the device (D) which is the product of the focal length of the focusing/collimating optic the angular dispersion and the incremental channel spacing, is equal to the distance S between the center of adjacent output waveguides.
  • the echelle grating 20 is particularly suited to use in optical communication systems because of a unique combination of properties: 1) it provides clear channel separation notwithstanding channels being closely spaced (0.4 nm or less); 2) it provides large spatial separation of channels over relatively short distances; and 3) it is highly efficient in the range of optical communications wavelengths.
  • echelle gratings are a special grating structure having groove density (1/d) of under 300 grooves/mm and a blaze angle ⁇ b of greater than 45° which typically operate at an order of diffraction greater than 1.
  • these features enable a multiplexer/demultiplexer that efficiently separates closely spaced channels over a relatively small focal length (e.g., 5 inches) enabling a small form factor form factor (on the order of 10 inches in length or less).
  • Fig. 2 illustrates the echelle grating geometry and the variables set forth below.
  • ⁇ diffracted angle
  • Constraining Factors / number (f) in range of 4-8 and resolution
  • Constraining Factors Wish to provide a flat response over the bandwidth. Result: The diffraction envelope must have a broad enough maximum so that loss is minimized at the extremes of the wavelength range. This dictates b ⁇ 8.5 ⁇ . An order over 7 spreads the light too much across the diffraction peak, resulting in unacceptably low efficiency. Thus: b ⁇ 8.5 ⁇ and m ⁇ 7.
  • Efficiency is a function of step size.
  • a step size must be selected providing a channel width capturing 90% of the signal at a select order.
  • b > 3 ⁇ yields suitable efficiency.
  • Constraining Factors Limitations on m from 4. and 2. above. Result: 1.5 ⁇ m ⁇ 7.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates that these constraints and results provide a range of values for a and b at a given range of suitable orders (m). Simulations aimed at maximizing efficiency and minimizing polarization dependent loss optimize around blaze angles and groove frequencies that fall in the range of echelle gratings, i.e., 45 ⁇ b ⁇ 78° and d ⁇ 300 grooves/mm. Furthermore, limitations on manufacturing further dictate that only echelle gratings can provide the necessary results within the external and performance constraints. In designing a functioning (de)multiplexer, a number of design parameters were selected that were dictated by many of the external and performance constraints set forth above. An exemplary configuration is illustrated schematically in Fig. 4, with like elements having the same reference number as Fig. 1. The dictating constraints and their effect on the exemplary bulk echelle grating DWDM are as follows: 1. Channel Characteristics
  • optical communications utilize what is know as the "C" band of near infrared wavelengths, a wavelength band ranging from 1528-1565 nanometers (nm). This provides a bandwidth or free spectral range of 37 nm available for channel separation.
  • Known prior art (de)multiplexers require a channel spacing of 0.8 nm or even 1.6 nm, resulting in a possibility of only between 48 and 24 channels. Because echelle gratings provide markedly superior channel dispersion, a much smaller channel spacing of 0.4 nm was chosen, resulting in a possibility of 93 channels over the C band.
  • Standard single mode optical fiber used in optical communications typically have an outer diameter of 125 microns ( ⁇ ) and a core diameter of lO ⁇ .
  • Optical fibers having an outer diameter of 80 ⁇ and core diameter of 8.3 ⁇ are available, model SM-1250 manufactured by Fibercore.
  • both the input fiber 14 and the output fiber 16 are single mode and share the 80 ⁇ outer diameter. Assuming the output fibers 16 are abutted in parallel as illustrated in Fig. 4, this results in the core centers being spaced 80 ⁇ , or a required channel separation D of 80 ⁇ at the select focal length. Because fibers of different outer diameter are available and fibers cladings can be etched away, it is possible that the
  • 80 ⁇ spacing can be reduced, with core spacing of 40 ⁇ or less being foreseeable, which could enable shorter focal lengths or different echelle grating designs having lesser angular dispersion.
  • the spread of the beam emitted from the fiber was 10° at the e-folding distance, although it was later found to be 14° at the 1% point. 3.
  • the design was intended to provide a high channel density in a form factor consistent with or smaller than used in current (de)multiplexer devices.
  • a total length of between 10- 12 inches was the design target.
  • a maximum focal length of 5 inches (127 mm) was chosen.
  • a focal length of 124 was ultimately dictated. 4. Dispersion Limitations
  • the initial .4 nm channel spacing at the echelle grating was required to be about 80 ⁇ of separation at the output fibers (corresponding to the core spacing).
  • the 0.08 nm channel width of OC192 frequencies could not disperse to much greater than the fiber core aperture over the focal length.
  • Fig. 3 is a cross-section showing the principle echelle grating dimensions including: blaze angle ( ⁇ b ), wavelength range and groove density (d).
  • ⁇ b blaze angle
  • d groove density
  • the far field pattern of the diffraction grating is
  • the angular dispersion is: d ⁇ ⁇ m f d ⁇ m or d ⁇ y d cos ⁇ . d ⁇ V fm
  • dispersion must be constrained to contain the .08 nm channel width in a lO ⁇ core, so that m ⁇ 3.34b ⁇ .
  • the echelle grating has a groove density of 171.4 grooves/mm and a blaze angle of 52.6°.
  • the echelle may be formed from one of several known methods. For example, it may be formed from an epoxy layer deposited on a glass substrate into which a master die defining the steps is pressed. The steps are then coated with a highly reflective material such as gold. The steps may also be precision machined directly into a glass or silicon substance and then coated with a reflective material.
  • a further option is the use of photolithographic techniques described in McMahon, U.S. Patent No. 4,736,360, the contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.
  • the lens 18 could be a graded index (GRTN) optic with spherical surfaces or a compound lens with one or more surfaces that might not be spherical (aspheric).
  • GRTN graded index
  • the use of lenses or a single lens to collimate the beam and focus the dispersed light limits spherical aberrations or coma resulting from the use of front surface reflectors that require the optical rays to traverse the system in a off-axis geometry.
  • a first type of potential lens uses a radially graded refractive index to achieve near-diffraction limited imaging of off-axis rays.
  • a second type of lens actually consists of at least two individual pieces cemented together (doublet). Another option uses three individual lens pieces (triplet). These pieces may individually have spherical surfaces, or if required for correction of certain types of aberration, aspheric surfaces can be utilized. In this case, the lens would be referred to as an aspheric doublet or triplet.
  • the lens 18 is an aspheric singlet of a 25.4 mm diameter having a spherical surface 26 with a radius of curvature of 373.94 mm and an aspheric surface 28 with a radius of curvature of 75 mm and a conic constant of -0.875.
  • the average focal length in the 1520-1580 nm wavelength range is 125.01 nm.
  • the distance A from the center of the spheric surface to the emitting end of the input and output fibers 14, 16 is about 125 mm.
  • the average distance between the aspheric surface 28 and the center of the surface of the grating 20 is about 43.2 mm.
  • the input and output fibers terminate in the same plane. This is also the case with the example illustrated in Fig. 4. In some configurations, however, the inlet 14 and outlet fibers 16 are on slightly different axes and do not terminate in the same plane.
  • the fibers 14, 16 of the pigtail are precisely located by being fit into a template 34 illustrated schematically in Fig. 5.
  • the template 34 has a plurality of parallel v-shaped grooves 36.
  • the template and v-shaped grooves are preferably formed by etching the grooves 36 into a silicon substrate. In the example in Fig. 4, the grooves of the template are spaced 80 ⁇ .
  • Fig. 4 The example configuration of Fig. 4 is shown in perspective view in Fig. 6.
  • the pigtail 12, the lens 18 and the grating 20 have limited freedom of movement in multiple directions. Once they are moved into position, they are secured in place by clamps or a suitable bonding agent.
  • the lens 18 is held stationary.
  • the pigtail 12 is movable by translation along the x, y and z axes.
  • the input and output fibers can be moved independently along the x axis.
  • the echelle grating 20 is fixed against translational movement except along the z axis. It can be rotated about each of the x, y and z axes.
  • Fibers SM-1250 (Fibercore) outer diameter • Outer diameter 80 ⁇
  • concave mirrors may be used for collimating and focusing the incident beam.
  • a first alternate embodiment of a concave mirror dense wavelength (de)multiplexer 40 is shown schematically in Fig. 7.
  • Single mode input fiber 42 emits a divergent incident beam 44 consisting of multiplexed channels onto the surface of a collimating/focusing concave mirror 46.
  • the collimated beam 48 is then directed in an off-axis manner to the surface of an echelle grating 50.
  • the echelle grating disperses the channels according to their wavelength in the manner discussed above with respect to Figs.
  • the dispersed channels 52 are reflected off axis off the front surface of the concave collimating/focusing mirror 54.
  • the collimating/focusing mirror 54 then focuses and reflects the various channels to a corresponding fiber of an output fiber array 56.
  • surface reflecting optics such as the collimating mirror 46 and the concave focusing mirror 54 requires that the optical beams traverse the system in an off-axis geometry which creates significant aberrations (spherical aberrations and coma) that significantly limit the performance of the system.
  • front surface reflecting optics has the potential of facilitating a more compact form factor than is possible with littrow configurations using a single optical lens.
  • combinations of front surface reflecting optics and lenses can be used in non-littrow configurations where necessary to balance form factor minimization requirements and optical aberrations.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of an echelle grating (de)multiplexer using a prism in combination with front surface optical mirrors.
  • light from a single mode input fiber 62 is directed off a collimating/focusing mirror 64 and the collimated beam 66 is directed through prism 68.
  • the prism 68 provides for wavelength dispersion in a horizontal direction as indicated by the beams 70.
  • These horizontally dispersed beams 70 are directed off the echelle grating 72 which in turn diffracts the beams 70 in an orthogonal dimension and directs these diffracted beams off the front surface of the concave collimating/focusing mirror 74.
  • a two dimensional output fiber array 76 receives the focused beams from the collimating/focusing mirror 74.
  • the use of the prism 68 in combination with the echelle grating 72 provides a two dimensional array of wavelength dispersion and may therefore facilitate detector arrays of shorter length as may be desirable in certain applications.
  • Fig. 9 is a schematic representation of a third alternate embodiment 80 using a single concave mirror as both a collimating and focusing optic along the optical axis.
  • input fiber 82 directs a beam consisting of multiplexed channels to the surface of the concave mirror 84.
  • a collimated beam 86 is reflected off the echelle grating 88 which diffracts the multiplexed signal in the manner discussed above.
  • the demultiplexed channels are then reflected off the surface of the concave mirror 84 and directed into the array of output fibers 92.
  • Fig. 10 is a fourth alternate embodiment 100 using an off-axis parabolic mirror as the collimating/focusing optic.
  • multiplexed light from the input fiber 102 is directed off the front surface of an off- axis parabolic mirror 104 which in turn directs a collimated beam of light 106 off the surface of an echelle grating 108.
  • the multiplexed light is reflected off the surface of the echelle grating 108 back to the surface of the off-axis parabolic mirror 104 and dispersed to respective output fibers 106.
  • the echelle grating is in near-littrow configuration, thereby directing light back to the output fibers 106.
  • a fifth alternate embodiment illustrated in Fig. 11 uses a concave echelle grating 107 configured to be the optic which collimates and focuses the incoming beam. This embodiment eliminates the need for the collimating/focusing lenses or concave mirrors of alternate embodiments one - four.
  • Fig. 12 illustrates schematically an apparatus 110 for dividing a broad bandwidth for (de)multiplexer.
  • the apparatus 110 consists of an input fiber 112, a high pass thin film filter 114, a first focusing lens 116, a second focusing lens 118, a first echelle grating DWDM device 120 and a second echelle DWDM device 122.
  • the apparatus may likewise function as a multiplexer simply by reversing the direction of light propagation.
  • a multiplexed beam 124 emitted from the input fiber 112 is directed onto the high pass thin film filter 114.
  • the high pass thin film filter has a design cut off wavelength that reflects the lower half of the wavelength range toward the first echelle grating DWDM 120.
  • the upper half of the wavelength range passes through the filter 114 to the second echelle DWDM device 122.
  • the input wavelength is in the range of 1460-1580 nm.
  • the high pass thin film filter is designed to cut the band at 1520 nm.
  • a wavelength range of 1460-1520 nm is directed toward the first echelle grating DWDM and a wavelength band of 1520-1580 nm is directed toward a second echelle grating DWDM device.
  • the signal directed toward the first echelle grating DWDM is optically coupled to the first focusing lens 116 which directs the lower wavelength beam as an input to the first echelle grating DWDM.
  • the upper wavelength beam 128 is optically coupled to the second focusing lens 118 which focuses the upper wavelength beam 128 as an input beam to the second echelle DWDM device 122.
  • the present example contemplates the use of a high pass thin film filter 114.
  • waveband dividing elements could be used instead, including devices using fiber Bragg gratings.
  • the first and second echelle grating DWDM devices 120, 122 of the present invention could have any of the configurations discussed above with regard to Figs. 1-11.
  • echelle DWDM devices for demultiplexing the split wavelength bands provide the many advantages discussed above with regard to the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 1-11.
  • the present invention could be practiced with other DWDM devices such as fiber Bragg grating devices, integrated waveguide arrays or the like.
  • a device for providing a total wavelength range of 120 nm will allow up to 300 channels to be demultiplexed from a single fiber.
  • this system is scalable.
  • FIG. 13 illustrates schematically how an input bandwidth of 1460-1700 nm can be divided using three waveband dividing elements to four 60 nm bandwidth beams each of which can be input into an optimized echelle grating DWDM device.
  • Such a device is capable of accommodating a total waveband of 240 nm and assuming a wavelength spacing of .4 nm, a total channel count of 600.
  • the bulk optic echelle DWDM of the present invention is able to simultaneously demultiplex signals from a number of input fibers.
  • each of the echelle grating DWDM devices illustrated in Figs. 1-7 and 9-11 above light is spatially resolved in only one dimension, vertically in a direction transverse the dispersion direction.
  • input fibers can be vertically stacked in a linear array and a corresponding two dimensional array of output fibers can be provided for receiving demultiplexed signals from the various input fibers.
  • Fig. 14 is an elevation view of a pigtail harness 140 from the direction of the collimating/focusing optic.
  • First, second and third input fibers 142, 144, 146 lying in a vertical linear array are optically coupled to first, second and third horizontal output rows 148, 150, 152, respectively.
  • a one dimensional input array produces a two-dimensional output array. While the present example is limited to three input fibers 142, 144, 146 and only nine output fibers in the output first, second and third output rowsl48, 150, 152, the actual number of output fibers will correspond to the number of input channels and will be a function of the channel separation and input bandwidth, and may easily exceed 90 output fibers per output fiber row.
  • Each output fiber has a core center, and the output fiber core centers are spaced a distance equal to the linear separation of the grating at the device focal length.
  • the number of corresponding input and output arrays may be greater than three and is largely a function of external factors such as the space available for the pigtail harness 140.
  • this configuration allows a single demultiplexer to demultiplex channels from a number of input fibers, thereby minimizing the number of echelle grating DWDM devices required for a multiple input fiber optical system. This further illustrates the flexibility and scalability of the echelle grating DWDM devices in accordance with the invention.
  • Fig. 15 is a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of a stacked input bulk optic echelle DWDM device 160.
  • Input beam from input fiber 142 is directed to the collimating/focusing optic 162 and a collimated beam is then directed off the reflective surface of the reflective echelle grating 164.
  • the diffracted channels ⁇ 1 ], ⁇ ' 2 then return through the collimating/focusing optic 162 and are dispersed to the fibers comprising the first output row 148 as illustrated by ⁇ .
  • the collimating/focusing optic has an optical axis 166 and the input fiber 142 and the output row 148 are equally spaced from the optical axis
  • a multiplexed input beam ⁇ 2 ⁇ . n is emitted from the input fiber 144 and its various channels ⁇ 2 ⁇ , ⁇ 2 2 are diffracted to the second horizontal output row 150.
  • the centers of the optical fibers in the row are each spaced a distance from the centers of adjacent optical fibers in the row equal to the channel separation of the echelle grating 164 at the focal length of the collimating/focusing optic 162.
  • the propagating ends of the output fibers as well as the propagating ends of the input fibers all lie in a plane spaced the focal length of the collimating/focusing optic from the collimating/focusing optic.
  • the echelle grating DWDM devices in accordance with the present invention provide for dense channel spacing (.4 nm) over a given bandwidth, thereby maximizing the number of channels that can be carried by a single fiber for a given bandwidth.
  • the channels maybe multiplexed/demultiplexed at high resolutions and high efficiencies.
  • use of the echelle grating enables a smaller form factor because the angular diffraction allows for shorter focal lengths between the focusing lens and the input/output fibers.
  • the use of bulk optical elements provides a system which is easy to manufacture, highly reliable and scalable.
  • a waveband dividing element such as a thin film high pass filter allows extremely broad bands of signals to be divided and simultaneously multiplexed or demultiplexed in parallel. Because the device disperses light in a single linear dimension, a plurality of input fibers can be stacked so that each bulk optic echelle grating DWDM device can accommodate multiple input fibers.
  • Fig. 17 is a schematic representation of a telecentric (de)multiplexer 230 in accordance with the present invention.
  • the elements of Fig. 17 which are identical to those of Fig. 16 will have the same reference number followed by a prime (e.g. 16').
  • a prime e.g. 16'
  • the grating 18' is situated so that center 231 of its reflective surface is located at the focal distance F of lens 16'.
  • the array of single channel fibers 220' is situated with the faces 228' at or near the focal plane 223 located at the focal length F from the lens 216'.
  • "at or near the focal plane” means located physically at or close enough to the focal plane that any performance degradation resulting from not being at the focal plane is inconsequential. Because the grating 218' is reflective, this configuration produces a 4F configuration as between the microlens array 220', the lens 216' and the grating 218'.
  • Fig. 18 is another embodiment of a (de)multip lexer 240. Elements of Fig. 18 which are identical to those of Fig. 16 have the same reference number followed by a double prime (e.g., 16"). Like Fig. 16, only a few equally spaced single channel fibers are included for simplicity.
  • a microlens array 242 is situated at or near the focal plane 243 of the lens 16".
  • the grating 218" is situated so that the center 244 of its reflective surface is located at the focal distance F of lens 216" opposite the microlens array 242. Because the grating 218" is reflective, this configuration has essentially a 4F configuration as between the microlens array 242, the lens 216" and the grating 218," resulting in a telecentric (de)multiplexer.
  • Each lens 246 of the microlens array has a diameter 'D' which is significantly greater than the diameter 'd' of the core 248 of the single channel fibers.
  • the device size that is, length along the optical axis
  • the microlens array 242 can be reduced significantly because the beam divergence of the input light has greatly decreased by the microlens array 242.
  • free space diffraction grating based (de)multiplexers can be made comparable in physical dimensions to that based on the planar Planaz Lightwave circuits.
  • Each of the microlenses 246 which constitute the microlens array 242 is a conventional plano-convex spherical refractive lens.
  • the input plane of the fiber faces 228" can be situated such that the focal point of the lenses 246 is at the face 228" as illustrated at 254 or within the fiber core some distance as illustrated at 256 and 258.
  • This feature further gives adjustability on pass band broadening.
  • the tunability of the pass-band broadening permits optimizing of the pass band without introducing unacceptable cross talk.
  • the telecentricity of the 4F system further increases the range of tunability.
  • the feature provides for greater tolerances in alignment of the fibers along the optical axis of the (de)multiplexer.
  • the grating 218" is an echelle grating in accordance with the invention described above with reference to Figs. 1-6. Because of the enhanced angular dispersion of the echelle grating, the telecentricity of the configurations illustrated in
  • Figs. 17 and 18 is of enhanced significance. That is, the 4F configuration provides telecentricity which provides an efficient coupling with the fiber cores which cannot be achieved absent telecentricity because of the steep angular dispersion of the echelle gratings, particularly at the extreme ends of the fiber array. As further discussed above, the telecentricity further allows finite differences between the pitch 'P' between adjacent lenses of the microlens array and the pitch 'p' between the optical axis of corresponding adjacent fibers. Thus, the pitch can be intentionally offset and/or the pitches can be set to much greater fabrication tolerances than prior art devices. Furthermore, use of refractive planoconvex spherical lenses 246 in the microlens array of the embodiment of Fig.
  • the specific design parameters such as the focal length and diameter of the imaging lens and the microlenses will be a factor of the size requirements, grating properties, input channel spacing, single channel core diameter and core spacing, and wavelength of the optical signal among other factors known in the art.
  • Representative microlenses used with an echelle grating of the type described with respect to Figs. 1-6 with an optical signal having a wavelength of 1528-1565nm and a 0.8nm channel spacing would be a planoconvex lens having a focal length on the order of 300 microns and a diameter of about 80 microns and a representative imaging lens would be a spherical cemeted doublet with a focal length of about 65mm and a diameter of about 10mm.

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  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)
  • Optical Integrated Circuits (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil (230) destiné à multiplexer ou démultiplexer des signaux optiques d'un système de communication optique et comportant une pluralité de guides d'ondes optiques (212', 220') générallement alignés sur le même axe optique et présentant chacun une extrémité de propagation (228'). Un réseau réfléchissant (218') est couplé optiquement à la pluralité de guides d'ondes optiques le long de l'axe optique et comporte une surface qui reçoit un signal optique émis d'au moins un des guides d'ondes optiques. La surface diffracte les signaux optiques dans au moins un des autres guides d'ondes optiques. Une optique de collimation/focalisation (216') présentant une distance focale choisie (F) est optiquement couplée entre la pluralité de guides d'ondes optiques (212', 220') et le réseau réfléchissant (218') le long de l'axe optique. L'optique de collimation/focalisation (216') est placée par rapport aux extrémités de propagation (228') de la pluralité de guides d'ondes optiques et au réseau échelle réfléchissant (218') de manière à propager un/des faisceau(x) optique(s) télécentrique(s) dans les autres ou au moins un des autres guides d'ondes optiques.
PCT/US2002/006754 2001-03-01 2002-03-01 Multiplexeur/demultiplexeur presentant une configuration a quatre f' et lentille hybride Ceased WO2002071119A1 (fr)

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Cited By (8)

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WO2006097531A1 (fr) * 2005-03-18 2006-09-21 Thales Dispositif optique de multiplexage en longueur d'onde
WO2011112367A1 (fr) * 2010-03-09 2011-09-15 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Combinaison par faisceaux de longueur d'onde bidimensionnelle de lasers utilisant une pile de réseaux de premier ordre
DE102011003142A1 (de) * 2011-01-26 2012-07-26 Trumpf Laser Gmbh + Co. Kg Diodenlaseranordnung mit dichter Wellenlängenkopplung
US8531761B2 (en) 2010-05-27 2013-09-10 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology High peak power optical amplifier
US8531772B2 (en) 2008-11-04 2013-09-10 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology External-cavity one-dimensional multi-wavelength beam combining of two-dimensional laser elements
DE102012207339A1 (de) 2012-03-30 2013-10-02 Trumpf Laser Gmbh + Co. Kg Pumpstrahlungsanordnung und Verfahren zum Pumpen eines laseraktiven Mediums
EP2940501A4 (fr) * 2013-06-21 2016-07-27 Huawei Tech Co Ltd Procédé de traitement de trajet optique et appareil associé
US9620928B2 (en) 2010-07-16 2017-04-11 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Continuous wave or ultrafast lasers

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EP0859249A1 (fr) * 1997-02-14 1998-08-19 Photonetics Multiplexeur et démultiplexeur en longueur d'onde à fibre optique
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Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006097531A1 (fr) * 2005-03-18 2006-09-21 Thales Dispositif optique de multiplexage en longueur d'onde
US8531772B2 (en) 2008-11-04 2013-09-10 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology External-cavity one-dimensional multi-wavelength beam combining of two-dimensional laser elements
US8614853B2 (en) 2010-03-09 2013-12-24 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Two-dimensional wavelength-beam-combining of lasers using first-order grating stack
WO2011112367A1 (fr) * 2010-03-09 2011-09-15 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Combinaison par faisceaux de longueur d'onde bidimensionnelle de lasers utilisant une pile de réseaux de premier ordre
US9575325B2 (en) 2010-03-09 2017-02-21 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Two-dimensional wavelength-beam-combining of lasers using first-order grating stack
US8531761B2 (en) 2010-05-27 2013-09-10 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology High peak power optical amplifier
US9136667B2 (en) 2010-05-27 2015-09-15 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology High peak power optical amplifier
US9620928B2 (en) 2010-07-16 2017-04-11 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Continuous wave or ultrafast lasers
DE102011003142A1 (de) * 2011-01-26 2012-07-26 Trumpf Laser Gmbh + Co. Kg Diodenlaseranordnung mit dichter Wellenlängenkopplung
DE102012207339A1 (de) 2012-03-30 2013-10-02 Trumpf Laser Gmbh + Co. Kg Pumpstrahlungsanordnung und Verfahren zum Pumpen eines laseraktiven Mediums
US9331451B2 (en) 2012-03-30 2016-05-03 Trumpf Laser Gmbh Pump radiation arrangement and method for pumping a laser-active medium
EP2940501A4 (fr) * 2013-06-21 2016-07-27 Huawei Tech Co Ltd Procédé de traitement de trajet optique et appareil associé
US9548810B2 (en) 2013-06-21 2017-01-17 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd Optical path processing method and apparatus
EP3761089A1 (fr) * 2013-06-21 2021-01-06 Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. Procédé et appareil de traitement de chemin optique

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