Aliases: None
Technical Challenge: To provide an all-fiber means for passing one or more selected optical wavelength bands while blocking all others. This filter can be turned on/off, is tunable over a desired optical bandwidth, and has low insertion loss.
Description: This all-fiber tunable bandpass filter is a novel acousto-optic filter fabricated from standard SMF-28 optical fiber. It has a tunability range of about 100 nm and requires less than 5 mW of electronic power. The filter has an insertion loss of < .1 dB and an out-of band transmission loss of 35 dB. Additionally, the transmission power of the selected band is tunable and the back reflection < 60 dB. The band-pass filter can also be reconfigured to operate as a band-stop filter, whereby the transmission of selected optical channels can be reduced or eliminated.
Demonstration Capability: The technology can be easily demonstrated.
Component(s) Available for Transfer: The filter can be custom made to meet customer requirements and delivered for trial testing. The only operating requirement is a tunable RF frequency generator that will provide sinusoidal frequencies from 1-40 MHz.
Potential Commercial Application(s): High performance fiber-optic systems requiring switching, equalization, and tuning; Telecommunication Networks; Integrated Circuit Component Devices.
(Updated) Patent Status: Issued: United States Patent Numbers 6580841 and 6647159
Reference Number: 1215-1; 1215-2
If you are interested in exploring this technology further, please call 443-445-7159 or express your interest in writing to the National Security Agency, Domestic Technology Transfer Program, 9800 Savage Road, Suite 6541, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 20755-6541.