US 12,455,488 B2
Optical coupling device with adjustable coupling coefficient
Johannes Feldmann, Oxfordshire (GB); and Vayshnavee Kewada, Oxfordshire (GB)
Assigned to SALIENCE LABS LTD, Thame (GB)
Filed by SALIENCE LABS LTD, Thame (GB)
Filed on Jan. 2, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/402,660.
Claims priority of application No. 2301018 (GB), filed on Jan. 24, 2023; and application No. 2310547 (GB), filed on Jul. 10, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0248367 A1, Jul. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. G02F 1/313 (2006.01); G02F 1/31 (2006.01)
CPC G02F 1/311 (2021.01) [G02F 1/3132 (2013.01); G02F 1/3136 (2013.01); G02F 1/3137 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical coupling device comprising
a plurality of input channels;
a plurality of output channels;
a plurality of input coupling arrangements and a plurality of output coupling arrangements;
wherein each input coupling arrangement comprises a coupling channel, the input coupling arrangement being configured to couple an optical signal propagating through a corresponding input channel into the coupling channel with an adjustable coupling coefficient;
wherein each output coupling arrangement comprises a coupling channel, the output coupling arrangement being configured to couple an optical signal propagating through the coupling channel into a corresponding output channel with an adjustable coupling coefficient;
wherein each input channel and/or each output channel is provided with an amplitude adjuster comprising an attenuator followed by an optical amplifier; and
wherein the input coupling arrangements and the output coupling arrangements comprise a phase shift element,
wherein the input coupling arrangements and the output coupling arrangements are implemented as interferometers; and
a controller configured to control the operation of the phase shift elements to set the adjustable coupling coefficients, so as to control an amount of optical signal propagating through the input channel, and to control an amount of optical signal propagating through the output channel.