TUNABLE OPTICAL WEDGE FOR REDUCING CROSSTALK IN WAVELENGTH SELECTIVE SWITCH

    公开(公告)号:US20230393445A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-12-07

    申请号:US17805342

    申请日:2022-06-03

    Abstract: In a wavelength selective switch, an input port transmits an input beam, and diffraction grating disperses the input beam into optical channels. A liquid-crystal-on-silicon (LCoS) switch assembly has a phase grating profile and has addressable pixels, which are liquid crystal based. The LCoS switch assembly can selectively direct first-order diffracted beams of the optical channels for output to selected output ports. A tunable optical wedge adjacent the LCoS switch assembly can direct higher-order diffraction beams in the space between the output ports to reduce crosstalk. The wedge is a liquid crystal cell having spaced-apart resistive layers and having liquid crystal material disposed between the layers. In the wedge, the liquid crystal material can produce a phase profile in response to bias voltages applied to the resistive layers, and a beam steering angle of the phase profile can direct at least the second-order diffracted beams towards the port spacing between the ports.

    Tunable Optical Wedge For Beam Steering

    公开(公告)号:US20220357630A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-11-10

    申请号:US17847712

    申请日:2022-06-23

    Abstract: A voltage-controlled optical wedge is formed by creating an adjustable voltage gradient along the length of a relatively large-sized LC cell. A pair of bias voltages (AC voltages) are applied at the opposing side terminations of the LC cell, their RMS values selected to create a continuous phase variation along the length of the cell, where a defined phase variation is associated with a specific beam steering angle. Adjustments in the applied bias voltages (specifically, changes in the RMS values of the bias voltages) result in changing the beam steering angle, providing for active, controllable beam steering as a function of time. The LC cell may be configured to provide either a linear or nonlinear continuous phase variation, as preferred for different beam steering applications.

    Tunable optical wedge for beam steering

    公开(公告)号:US11422429B1

    公开(公告)日:2022-08-23

    申请号:US17236009

    申请日:2021-04-21

    Abstract: A voltage-controlled optical wedge is formed by creating an adjustable voltage gradient along the length of a relatively large-sized LC cell. A pair of bias voltages (AC voltages) are applied at the opposing side terminations of the LC cell, their RMS values selected to create a continuous phase variation along the length of the cell, where a defined phase variation is associated with a specific beam steering angle. Adjustments in the applied bias voltages (specifically, changes in the RMS values of the bias voltages) result in changing the beam steering angle, providing for active, controllable beam steering as a function of time. The LC cell may be configured to provide either a linear or nonlinear continuous phase variation, as preferred for different beam steering applications.

    Tunable optical wedge for beam steering

    公开(公告)号:US11789331B2

    公开(公告)日:2023-10-17

    申请号:US17847712

    申请日:2022-06-23

    CPC classification number: G02F1/29 G01S7/4817

    Abstract: A voltage-controlled optical wedge is formed by creating an adjustable voltage gradient along the length of a relatively large-sized LC cell. A pair of bias voltages (AC voltages) are applied at the opposing side terminations of the LC cell, their RMS values selected to create a continuous phase variation along the length of the cell, where a defined phase variation is associated with a specific beam steering angle. Adjustments in the applied bias voltages (specifically, changes in the RMS values of the bias voltages) result in changing the beam steering angle, providing for active, controllable beam steering as a function of time. The LC cell may be configured to provide either a linear or nonlinear continuous phase variation, as preferred for different beam steering applications.

    Reconfigurable port arrays for wavelength selectable switch

    公开(公告)号:US11906823B2

    公开(公告)日:2024-02-20

    申请号:US17235168

    申请日:2021-04-20

    CPC classification number: G02F1/0136 G02F1/13306 G02F2201/18 G02F2203/055

    Abstract: A reconfigurable polarization rotator is formed of an array of very small liquid crystal (LC) cells (e.g., cells of less than 10 μm in width, termed “microcells”), referred to hereinafter as “microcells”. Each LC microcell is addressable by a separate electrical voltage input that independently controls the polarization rotation performed by the associated LC microcell. By defining a set of adjacent microcells to be held at the same voltage level, that group may be used to form a polarization rotator window of a proper size for a first fiber array configuration. When a fiber array of a different configuration (say, an array with twice the pitch) is used, a different-sized group of adjacent LC microcells is held at a common voltage level so as to form a reconfigured “window” of a new dimension.

    Reconfigurable Port Arrays For Wavelength Selectable Switch

    公开(公告)号:US20220334416A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-10-20

    申请号:US17235168

    申请日:2021-04-20

    Abstract: A reconfigurable polarization rotator is formed of an array of very small liquid crystal (LC) cells (e.g., cells of less than 10 μm in width, termed “microcells”), referred to hereinafter as “microcells”. Each LC microcell is addressable by a separate electrical voltage input that independently controls the polarization rotation performed by the associated LC microcell. By defining a set of adjacent microcells to be held at the same voltage level, that group may be used to form a polarization rotator window of a proper size for a first fiber array configuration. When a fiber array of a different configuration (say, an array with twice the pitch) is used, a different-sized group of adjacent LC microcells is held at a common voltage level so as to form a reconfigured “window” of a new dimension.

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