U.S. patents available from 1976 to present.
U.S. patent applications available from 2005 to present.

Focal length dispersion compensation for field curvature

Patent 6766081 Issued on July 20, 2004. Estimated Expiration Date: Icon_subject February 13, 2021. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Patent References

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Inventors

Assignee

Application

No. 09782882 filed on 02/13/2001

US Classes:

385/39, Particular coupling structure385/33, Lens398/81, Dispersion compensation398/88Lens

Examiners

Primary: Ullah, Akm E.
Assistant: Rahll, Jerry T

Attorney, Agent or Firm

International Classes

G02B 632
H04J 1402

Abstract

An optical arrangement and method are provided for receiving a light beam having a plurality of spectral bands and directing subsets of the spectral bands along optical paths to respective optical elements. The light beam is received at an input port. The optical elements which route the spectral bands are configured as a substantially planar array. A dispersive element is configured to angularly spread the light beam, after it has been collimated, into a plurality of angularly separated beams that correspond to the plurality of spectral bands. A first focusing element is disposed with respect to the dispersive element and with respect to the array of optical elements such that variation of focal length with wavelength of the separated beams is compensated by the field curvature of the optical system, and the final image surface is flattened.

Other References

  • U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/442,061, Weverka, filed Nov. 16, 1999.
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  • Rallison, R.D., “Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) and the Dickson Grating,” White Paper, Jan. 6, 2001.
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