| 摘要 |
Modularized interleaver/deinterleavers are described. Interleaver/deinterleaver apparatuses for combining/separating optical channels are described. An interleaver/de- interleaver apparatus is described as folded when an optical signal follows an optical path that passes through a birefringent assembly multiple times. When operating as a deinter-leaver, the interleaver/deinterleaver separates an optical signal (e.g., WDM signal) int o subsets of optical signals (e.g., channels). In one embodiment, deinterleaving optical signals separates an optical signal into even and odd International Telecommunications Union (ITU) channels. When operating as an interleaver, the interleaver/deinterleaver mixes subsets of optical signals (e.g., channels) into a multiplexed (e.g., WDM) optical signal. The interleaver/deinterleaver apparatus can be used to increase the bandwidth of an optical network. For example, th e interleaver/deinterleaver can be used to interface components designed for a first channel spacing (e.g., 100 GHz) to components designed for a second channel spacing (e.g., 2 00 GHz). In one embodiment, interleaving combines even and odd ITU channels into a single optical signal. In one embodiment, an interleaver/deinterleaver includes multiple birefringent cells made of one or more birefringent crystals. The birefringent cells are placed together with one or more half wave plates and/or walk-off crystals in a package. The individual birefringent cells can be angle tuned or tuned with tuning plates made of, for example, quartz. The interleaver/deinterleaver can also be tuned with a tuning plate.
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