| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dynamic polarization controller (DPC) and method which performs dynamic polarization control useful in optical networks. SOLUTION: The DPC of the present invention has a polymetric optical waveguide formed on a substrate, such as a silicon wafer. An intermediate portion of the waveguide is suspended over a cavity, and a deflecting structure, such as an electrode, is provided for controllably exerting a force on the suspended portion of the waveguide. Exerting a deflecting force on the suspended portion of the waveguide induces controllable birefringence in the waveguide core and thereby allows dynamic control over the polarization properties of light passing through the DPC. An array of DPC's of the present invention can be formed on a single substrate and used in an optical network, for example, a WDM system whereby plural light signals travelling through a single optical fiber are demultiplexed for processing. The DPC's of the present invention can operate in millisecond time-frames, thereby providing real time PMD (Polarization Mode Dispersion) compensation. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI |
