	US 12,216,312 B2
	Optical input polarization management device and associated methods
Pavan Bhargava, Berkeley, CA (US); Derek Van Orden, San Francisco, CA (US); Mark Wade, Berkeley, CA (US); John Fini, Oakland, CA (US); Chen Sun, Berkeley, CA (US); Milos Popovic, San Francisco, CA (US); and Anatol Khilo, Dublin, CA (US)
Assigned to Ayar Labs, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Ayar Labs, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 19, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/157,055.
Application 18/157,055 is a continuation of application No. 17/353,782, filed on Jun. 21, 2021, granted, now 11,561,347.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/043,774, filed on Jun. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0161106 A1, May 25, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G02B 6/293 (2006.01); G02B 6/27 (2006.01); G02B 6/42 (2006.01); G02B 27/10 (2006.01); H04B 10/60 (2013.01)

CPC G02B 6/29343 (2013.01) [G02B 6/272 (2013.01); G02B 6/2766 (2013.01); G02B 6/2773 (2013.01); G02B 6/2934 (2013.01); G02B 6/4213 (2013.01); G02B 6/4215 (2013.01); G02B 27/1006 (2013.01); H04B 10/60 (2013.01)]

25 Claims

1. A method for optical input polarization management, comprising:

receiving incoming light through an optical input port, a first portion of the incoming light having a first polarization and a second portion of the incoming light having a second polarization;

splitting the first portion of the incoming light from the second portion of the incoming light;

directing the first portion of the incoming light through a first optical waveguide and into a first optical input of a first two-by-two splitter;

rotating the second polarization of the second portion of the incoming light to the first polarization so that the second portion of the incoming light is a polarization-rotated second portion of the incoming light;

directing the polarization-rotated second portion of the incoming light through a second optical waveguide and into a second optical input of the first two-by-two splitter;

operating a first phase shifter interfaced with either the first optical waveguide or the second optical waveguide to apply a controlled amount of shift to a phase of light traveling through either the first optical waveguide or the second optical waveguide to which the phase shifter is interfaced;

directing some of the first portion of the incoming light through a first optical output of the first two-by-two optical splitter and into a third optical waveguide;

directing some of the first portion of the incoming light through a second optical output of the first two-by-two optical splitter and into a fourth optical waveguide;

directing some of the polarization-rotated second portion of the incoming light through the first optical output of the first two-by-two optical splitter and into the third optical waveguide;

directing some of the polarization-rotated second portion of the incoming light through the second optical output of the first two-by-two optical splitter and into the fourth optical waveguide;

operating a second phase shifter interfaced with either the third optical waveguide or the fourth optical waveguide to apply a controlled amount of shift to a phase of light traveling through either the third optical waveguide or the fourth optical waveguide to which the phase shifter is interfaced;

directing said some of the first portion of the incoming light and said some of the polarization-rotated second portion of the incoming light from the third optical waveguide into a first optical input of a second two-by-two splitter;

directing said some of the first portion of the incoming light and said some of the polarization-rotated second portion of the incoming light from the fourth optical waveguide into a second optical input of the second two-by-two splitter; and

directing part of said some of the first portion of the incoming light and part of said some of the polarization-rotated second portion of the incoming light through an optical output of the second two-by-two splitter and into a fifth optical waveguide.