초록 ▼

A waveguide optical monitor is disclosed. The device has an optical input port coupled through a switch to a plurality of input waveguides. A dispersive element disperses light within the input optical waveguides toward a plurality of output waveguides. There are a plurality of photodetectors each o

A waveguide optical monitor is disclosed. The device has an optical input port coupled through a switch to a plurality of input waveguides. A dispersive element disperses light within the input optical waveguides toward a plurality of output waveguides. There are a plurality of photodetectors each optically coupled to an output waveguide. The photodectors are for sensing an intensity of light within the waveguide with which it is optically coupled. An optical switch in optical communication with the optical input port and for switching light received at the optical input port to one of the plurality of input waveguides. Also, an angular dispersive element is present for receiving light from any one of the waveguides and for dispersing the light toward a plurality of output waveguides in dependence upon the input waveguide position and a wavelength of the light such that light directed from the first of the plurality of input waveguides toward the plurality of output waveguides has a first centre wavelength within each of the output waveguides and light directed from the second of the plurality of input waveguides toward the plurality of output waveguides has a second different centre wavelength within each of the output waveguides, the second different centre wavelength different form any first centre wavelength.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A waveguide optical monitor comprising:a plurality of dispersive element input ports;a plurality of photodetectors for sensing an intensity of light incident thereon; anda dispersive element integrated on a single substrate, the dispersive element for receiving light from any one of the dispersiv

1. A waveguide optical monitor comprising:a plurality of dispersive element input ports;a plurality of photodetectors for sensing an intensity of light incident thereon; anda dispersive element integrated on a single substrate, the dispersive element for receiving light from any one of the dispersive element input ports and for dispersing the light toward the plurality of photodetectors in dependence upon a position of said dispersive element input port and a wavelength of the light such that light directed from a first of the plurality of dispersive element input ports toward the plurality photodetectors has associated first centre wavelengths and light directed from the second of the plurality of dispersive element input ports toward the plurality of photodetectors has associated second centre wavelengths, the second centre wavelengths each substantially different from all of the first centre wavelengths. 2. A waveguide optical monitor according to claim 1, comprising:a plurality of input waveguides optically coupled with the dispersive element input ports for guiding light to the dispersive element input ports. 3. A waveguide optical monitor according to claim 1, comprising:a plurality of output waveguides optically coupled between the dispersive element and the plurality of photodetectors. 4. A waveguide optical monitor according to claim 1, comprising:a monitor input part for receiving an optical signal to be monitored;an optical switch in optical communication with the monitor input part and for selectably switching an optical signal received at the monitor input port to any one of the plurality of dispersive element input ports. 5. A waveguide optical monitor according to claim 4, wherein directed from a first of the plurality of dispersive element input ports toward the plurality photodetectors has associated a first set of wavelength channels, the first set of wavelength channels having a characteristic channel spacing and, the first and second centre wavelengths differ by a fraction of the characteristic channel spacing. 6. A waveguide optical monitor according to claim 5, wherein the fraction is one half and wherein the plurality of dispersive element input ports consists of two dispersive element input ports. 7. A waveguide optical monitor according to claim 5, wherein the fraction is one third and wherein the plurality of dispersive element input ports consists of three dispersive element input ports. 8. A waveguide optical monitor according to claim 5, wherein the fraction is one quarter and wherein the plurality of dispersive element input ports consists of four dispersive element input ports. 9. A waveguide optical monitor according to claim 4, wherein the waveguide optical monitor is integrated on a single substrate. 10. A waveguide optical monitor according to claim 1, wherein the waveguide optical monitor is integrated on a single substrate. 11. A waveguide optical monitor comprising:an optical input port;a plurality of dispersive element input ports;an optical switch in optical communication with the optical input port and for switching light received at the optical input port to one of the plurality of dispersive element input ports;a plurality of photodetectors for sensing an intensity of light incident thereon;a dispersive element integrated on a single substrate the dispersive element for receiving light from any one of the dispersive element input ports and for dispersing the light toward the plurality of photodetectors in dependence upon a position of said dispersive element input port and a wavelength of the light such that light directed from a first of the plurality of dispersive element input ports toward the plurality of photodetectors has associated first centre wavelengths and light directed from the second of the plurality of dispersive element input ports toward the plurality of photodetectors has associated second centre wavelengths, the second centre wavelengths forming a set different fro m a set formed by the first centre wavelengths. 12. A waveguide optical monitor according to claim 11, comprising:a plurality of input waveguides optically coupled with the dispersive element input ports for guiding light to the dispersive element input ports. 13. A waveguide optical monitor according to claim 11, comprising:a plurality of output waveguides optically coupled between the dispersive element and the plurality of photodetectors. 14. A waveguide optical monitor according to claim 11, wherein light directed from a first of the plurality of dispersive element input ports toward the plurality photodetectors has associated a first of wavelength channels, the first set of wavelength channels having a characteristic channel spacing and, the first and second centre wavelengths differ by a fraction of a the characteristic channel spacing. 15. A waveguide optical monitor according to claim 14, wherein the fraction is one half and wherein the plurality of dispersive element input ports consists of two dispersive element input ports. 16. A waveguide optical monitor according to claim 14, wherein the fraction is one third and wherein the plurality of dispersive element input ports consists of three dispersive element input ports. 17. A waveguide optical monitor according to claim 11, wherein the waveguide optical monitor is integrated on a single substrate. 18. A method of monitoring a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal comprising the steps of:providing an optical signal to a switch;selecting a switch mode for selectably providing the optical signal via one of a plurality of input ports to a dispersive element;propagating the optical signal from the switch to a dispersive optical element via an optical waveguide:dispersing the optical signal in dependence upon the location of the selected input port and in dependence upon a wavelength of the optical signal and directing the dispersed optical signal toward a plurality of monitoring elements,wherein selecting different switching modes results in light within a different wavelength range being incident upon a same detector. 19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the wavelength range and the different wavelength range are within a range of a single wavelength channel.