Nippon Telegraph and Telephone has been granted a patent for an optical signal processing apparatus. The apparatus includes an input/output, a wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer, and a spatial light modulator. The wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer is configured by a metasurface, and the spatial light modulator reflects each of the signal lights in a set direction. The apparatus aims to perform demultiplexing and multiplexing of signal lights with different wavelengths. GlobalData’s report on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, Cloud gaming was a key innovation area identified from patents. Nippon Telegraph and Telephone's grant share as of September 2023 was 25%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Patent granted for an optical signal processing apparatus
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11777632B2) describes an optical signal processing apparatus and method. The apparatus includes an input/output that consists of a slab optical waveguide and an array optical waveguide. The multiplex light with multiple wavelengths enters the slab optical waveguide and is optically connected to the array optical waveguide, which comprises multiple optical waveguides of equal optical path length. The apparatus also includes a polarization processor that separates the multiplex light into TE polarization and TM polarization, and a half-wave plate that gives a phase difference of 180º to the separated polarizations.
Furthermore, the apparatus includes a wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer that performs demultiplexing by spatially separating the multiplex light into light of each wavelength and performs multiplexing for the spatially demultiplexed signal lights. The wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer utilizes a metasurface. A spatial light modulator, which consists of a Liquid Crystal On Silicon element, reflects the demultiplexed signal lights in a set direction. A mirror is used to change the optical paths of the signal lights, and a second optical system collects the changed signal lights to the spatial light modulator. A second spacer is arranged between the wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer and the second optical system to transmit light.
The method described in the patent involves forming the input/output of the optical signal processing apparatus. This includes forming the slab optical waveguide, the array optical waveguide, the polarization processor, the half-wave plate, the wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer, the spatial light modulator, the mirror, the second optical system, and the second spacer. The wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer utilizes a metasurface, and the spatial light modulator consists of a Liquid Crystal On Silicon element. Additionally, a circulative filter can be included on the incident side of the input/output.
Overall, this patent presents an optical signal processing apparatus and method that utilize various components and techniques to separate, manipulate, and combine multiplexed light signals with different wavelengths. The use of a metasurface in the wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer and a Liquid Crystal On Silicon element in the spatial light modulator are notable features of this invention.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
