EP1517462A3

Tunable dispersion compensator

Abstract

A method and apparatus for implementing a colorless polarization independent Mach-Zehnder-interferometer (MZI)-based tunable dispersion compensator (TDC) that has only three MZI stages (two in a reflective MZI-TDC) and two adjustable couplers which are responsive to one control voltage, making it compact, low power, and simple to fabricate, test, and operate. Polarization independence is obtained by using a half-wave plate positioned across the midpoints of the two path lengths of middle stage MZI of the three stage MZI-TDC and by using a quarter-wave plate in front of a reflective facet of the reflective MZI-TDC. A cascaded MZI-TDC arrangement with also only a single control is formed by cascading two MZI-TDC arrangements and driving all adjustable couplers with the same control signal.

EP1517462A3, drawing sheet 1 — Sheet 1 of 1

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Projected expiry passed 7 September 2024, 2 years ago.

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Every citation, both waysCites: the store holds 3 of 4

Citations
Document	Relation	Office	Category	Cited during	Relevant claims
EP1176439A1	Cites	European Patent Office (EPO)	X	Search report	7,8,11,12
EP1460788A1	Cites	European Patent Office (EPO)	E	Search report	9
US2003053174A1	Cites	United States of America	X	Search report	7,8,11,12

13 members in 5 offices

This recordMember, by publication datePriority claim

Priority claims8

Priority claims
Document	Office	Kind	Date
664340	United States of America	–	2003-09-17
66434003	United States of America	A	2003-09-17
760516	United States of America	–	2004-01-20
76051604	United States of America	A	2004-01-20
664340	–	–	–
760516	–	–	–
US20030664340	–	–	–
US20040760516	–	–	–

Members13

Family members, oldest first
Document	Office	Kind
US2005058397A1	United States of America	A1	2005-03-17
US2005058398A1	United States of America	A1	2005-03-17
CN1598632A	China	A	2005-03-23
EP1517462A2	European Patent Office (EPO)	A2	2005-03-23
EP1517462A3This record	European Patent Office (EPO)	A3	2005-04-06
JP2005092217A	Japan	A	2005-04-07
US6941045B2	United States of America	B2	2005-09-06
US6961492B2	United States of America	B2	2005-11-01
EP1517462B1	European Patent Office (EPO)	B1	2007-02-21
DE602004004848D1	Germany	D1	2007-04-05
DE602004004848T2	Germany	T2	2007-11-15
CN100401662C	China	C	2008-07-09
JP4559171B2	Japan	B2	2010-10-06

38 legal events, as 4 offices reported them to INPADOC

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	Event	Code	Office
2021-08-31	Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25	PG25	EP
2021-07-30	Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25	PG25	EP
2021-05-26	Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal feeCeasedGBPC	GBPC	EP
2021-04-01	Application deemed withdrawn, or ip right lapsed, due to non-payment of renewal feeWithdrawnR119	R119	DE
2019-12-31	Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]GrantedPGFP	PGFP	EP
2019-10-31	Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]GrantedPGFP	PGFP	EP
2019-08-30	Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25	PG25	EP
2019-05-09	Change of applicant/patenteeR081	R081	DE
2019-05-09	Change of applicant/patenteeR081	R081	DE
2019-05-07	Change of applicant/patenteeR081	R081	DE
2019-02-27	Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)REGISTERED BETWEEN 20190131 AND 20190206732E	732E	GB
2017-10-31	Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]GrantedPGFP	PGFP	EP
2017-09-28	Fee paymentPLFP	PLFP	FR
2016-09-21	Fee paymentPLFP	PLFP	FR
2015-09-22	Fee paymentPLFP	PLFP	FR
2014-11-21	Lien (pledge) cancelledRG	RG	FR
2014-05-16	Lien (pledge) constitutedGC	GC	FR
2013-12-27	Change of name or company nameCD	CD	FR
2013-12-18	Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)REGISTERED BETWEEN 20131121 AND 20131127732E	732E	GB
2008-01-30	No opposition filedOpposition26N	26N	EP
2007-12-28	No opposition filed within time limitOppositionORIGINAL CODE: 0009261PLBE	PLBE	EP
2007-12-28	Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patentGrantedSTATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMITSTAA	STAA	EP
2007-08-03	Fr: translation filedET	ET	EP
2007-04-05	Corresponds to:REF	REF	EP
2007-02-21	Designated contracting statesAK	AK	EP
2007-02-21	European patent grantedGrantedFG4D	FG4D	GB
2007-01-19	(expected) grantORIGINAL CODE: 0009210GRAA	GRAA	EP
2007-01-17	Grant fee paidORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3GRAS	GRAS	EP
2006-09-07	Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patentORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1GRAP	GRAP	EP
2005-12-28	Designation fees paidAKX	AKX	EP
2005-06-01	First examination report despatched17Q	17Q	EP
2005-04-06	Designated contracting statesAK	AK	EP
2005-04-06	Request for extension of the european patentAX	AX	EP
2005-03-23	Request for examination filed17P	17P	EP
2005-03-23	Designated contracting statesAK	AK	EP
2005-03-23	Request for extension of the european patentAX	AX	EP
2005-02-18	Search report despatchedORIGINAL CODE: 0009013PUAL	PUAL	EP
2005-02-04	Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phaseORIGINAL CODE: 0009012PUAI	PUAI	EP

Tunable dispersion compensator

Abstract

Term

Priority claims8

Members13

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Titles3

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Designated states33