Tunable optical filters with multiple ports

摘要

Described are tunable multiport optical filters that filter systems with many optical channels in a convenient and cost-effective manner. The tunable multiport optical filters of the invention are simple in design and have few optical components. The basic elements are a dispersion element and a rotating reflector. With properly arranged arrays of input and output optical fibers, individual wavelength components from a selected input beam are spatially separated and steered by the rotating reflector to selected output locations. The optical properties from the selected components may be measured by one or more photodetectors. The filters are also useful for selecting and routing optical signals.

主权项

1. An optical channel monitoring device comprising:
one or more input ports; an array of light detectors; a light dispersion element positioned in optical paths of light transmitted to the light detectors and from the input ports; and a light reflecting element for reflecting light components from the light dispersion element and back to the light dispersion element, the light reflecting element being configured to rotate about a first axis to select at least one of the light components for output, and about a second axis to select one of the light detectors for the at least one selected light component and to direct the at least one selected light component to the selected light detector.