Supergratings - Improved Detection and Processing of Optical Signals (Case 1466)
Principal Investigator:
Jingming Xu, PhD, Professor
School of Engineering
Brown University
Providence, RI
Brief Description:
Gratings are optical devices used to achieve wavelength-dependent characteristics by means of optical interference effects. These wavelength-dependent optical characteristics can serve to reflect light of a specific wavelength while transmitting or refracting light at all other wavelengths. Such characteristics are useful in a wide range of situations including the extraction of individual wavelength-channels in wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical communication systems, or providing wavelength-specific feedback for tunable or multi-wavelength semiconductor lasers.
Gratings are broadly categorized as multi-wavelength grating or single-wavelength periodic grating; both have multiple subtypes, but each has major limitations and drawbacks in varying applications. For example, gratings require a considerable amount of space in terms of current integration standards and miniaturized devices; if multiple single-wavelength gratings are required, a significant loss of space occurs. Hence, it is desirable to have a single device capable of processing several wavelengths in a space-efficient manner. In optical transmission, optical networks must correct for dispersion, which can directly impede operation. Some forms of dispersion can be corrected for with single-wavelength gratings, while others cannot.
Information:
US patent 7,356,224 is issued (3/9/2006)
US patent 7,496,257 is issued (2/24/2009)
US patent 7,373,045 is issued (5/13/2008)
Corresponding foreign applications are issued/pending
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