Lumen Intellectual Property Services
Optical interleaver
 An optical interleaver having a deflection plate disposed along an optical path between two input/output ports. The interleaver generally comprises a first birefringent element optically coupled to at least two of the input/output ports, first and second polarization rotators, a wavelength filter, and a second birefringent element. The interleaver may be configured to operate as a multiplexer, a de-multiplexer, or a router. The interleaver may further comprise a collimator that couples two or more different optical signals to one of two or more optical fibers. A preferred embodiment includes a reflector that reflector reflects an optical signal back through the elements of the interleaver in reverse order to the input/output ports. This configuration reduces the number of components required for the interleaver and allows the use of shorter birefringent elements. 
Oplink Communications, Inc.
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Wei-Zhong
Li