Lixin Wang

US Patent:

20220334416, Oct 20, 2022

Filed:

Apr 20, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/235168

Inventors:

- Wilmington DE, US
Helen Chen - Cupertino CA, US
Haiji J. Yuan - Cupertino CA, US
Lixin Wang - Fremont CA, US
WenYi Cao - Shanghai, CN
Xuewen Lu - San Jose CA, US
Qingyu Li - Cupertino CA, US
Yimin Ji - Irvine CA, US

Assignee:

II-VI Delaware, Inc. - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

G02F 1/01
G02F 1/133

Abstract:

A reconfigurable polarization rotator is formed of an array of very small liquid crystal (LC) cells (e.g., cells of less than 10 μm in width, termed “microcells”), referred to hereinafter as “microcells”. Each LC microcell is addressable by a separate electrical voltage input that independently controls the polarization rotation performed by the associated LC microcell. By defining a set of adjacent microcells to be held at the same voltage level, that group may be used to form a polarization rotator window of a proper size for a first fiber array configuration. When a fiber array of a different configuration (say, an array with twice the pitch) is used, a different-sized group of adjacent LC microcells is held at a common voltage level so as to form a reconfigured “window” of a new dimension.

US Patent:

20220252793, Aug 11, 2022

Filed:

Apr 29, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/244296

Inventors:

- Wilmington DE, US
Helen CHEN - Cupertino CA, US
Xuewen LU - San Jose CA, US
Lixin WANG - Fremont CA, US
Qingyu LI - Cupertino CA, US
Haiji Jimmy YUAN - Cupertino CA, US
Yimin JI - Irvine CA, US
WenYi CAO - Shanghai, CN

International Classification:

G02B 6/35
H04B 10/2513

Abstract:

A module handles beams having multiple channels in an optical network. The module has a dispersion element, a liquid crystal (LC) based switching assembly, and photodetectors. The dispersion element is arranged in optical communication with the beams from inputs and is configured to disperse the beams into the channels across a dispersion direction. The switching assembly is arranged in optical communication with the channels from the dispersion element and is configured to selectively reflect the channels using electrically switchable cells of one or more LC-based switching engines. The photodetectors are arranged in optical communication with the dispersion element, and each are configured to receive selectively reflected channels for optical channel monitoring. Outputs can be arranged in optical communication with the dispersion element and can be configured to receive selectively reflected channels for wavelength selective switching.

US Patent:

20230061448, Mar 2, 2023

Filed:

Oct 20, 2022

Appl. No.:

18/048139

Inventors:

- Wilmington DE, US
Helen CHEN - Cupertino CA, US
Xuewen LU - San Jose CA, US
Lixin WANG - Fremont CA, US
Qingyu LI - Cupertino CA, US
Haiji YUAN - Cupertino CA, US
Yimin JI - Irvine CA, US
Wenyi CAO - Shanghai, CN

International Classification:

G02B 6/35
H04B 10/2513

Abstract:

A module handles beams having multiple channels in an optical network. The module has a dispersion element, a liquid crystal (LC) based switching assembly, and photodetectors. The dispersion element is arranged in optical communication with the beams from inputs and is configured to disperse the beams into the channels across a dispersion direction. The switching assembly is arranged in optical communication with the channels from the dispersion element and is configured to selectively reflect the channels using electrically switchable cells of one or more LC-based switching engines. The photodetectors are arranged in optical communication with the dispersion element, and each are configured to receive selectively reflected channels for optical channel monitoring. Outputs can be arranged in optical communication with the dispersion element and can be configured to receive selectively reflected channels for wavelength selective switching.