Combine or distribute light from single/multiple ports to multiple/single ports
Keywords
optical, bidirectional
Ports
| Name | Type |
|---|---|
| port 1 | Optical Signal |
| port 2 | Optical Signal |
| port 3 | Optical Signal |
Properties
General Properties
| Name | Default value | Default unit | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
|
name Defines the name of the element. |
Optical Splitter/Coupler | - | - |
|
annotate Defines whether or not to display annotations on the schematic editor. |
true | - | [true, false] |
|
enabled Defines whether or not the element is enabled. |
true | - | [true, false] |
|
type Defines the element unique type (read only). |
Optical Splitter/Coupler | - | - |
|
description A brief description of the elements functionality. |
Combine or distribute light from single/multiple ports to multiple/single ports | - | - |
|
prefix Defines the element name prefix. |
SPLT | - | - |
|
model Defines the element model name. |
- | - | - |
|
library Defines the element location or source in the library (custom or design kit). |
- | - | - |
|
local path Defines the local path or working folder $LOCAL for the element. |
- | - | - |
|
url An optional URL address pointing to the element online help. |
- | - | - |
Standard Properties
| Name | Default value | Default unit | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
|
configuration Defines the bidirectional or unidirectional element configuration. |
bidirectional | - | [bidirectional, splitter, combiner |
|
number of ports Defines the number of output ports for the element. |
2 | - | [1, +∞) |
|
split ratio Determines how the power is split between the output ports. If 'even', the power is split evenly between the output ports; if 'none', all the power will go through each one of the output ports |
even | - | [even, none |
Waveguide Properties
| Name | Default value | Default unit | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
|
modes List of optical mode labels supported by the element. |
TE,TM | - | - |
Diagnostic Properties
| Name | Default value | Default unit | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
|
run diagnostic Enables the frequency response of the designed filter implementation and the ideal frequency response to be generated as results. |
false | - | [true, false] |
|
diagnostic size The number of frequency points used when calculating the filter frequency response. |
1024 | - | [2, +∞) |
Results
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| diagnostic/response #/transmission | The complex transmission vs. frequency corresponding to the ideal and designed filter. |
| diagnostic/response #/gain | The gain vs. frequency corresponding to the ideal and designed filter. |
| diagnostic/response #/error | Mean square error comparing the frequency response of the designed filter implementation with the ideal frequency response. |
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Implementation Details
The Optical Splitter/Coupler (SPLT) element can be used to combine or split optical signals. The “configuration” property determines if the SPLT element splits signals (“splitter” configuration), combines signals (“combiner” configuration), or acts as a combined splitter/coupler (“bidirectional” configuration).
These configurations are described below:
- Splitter: Single input and multiple outputs. The signal from the input is duplicated and sent to each of the outputs. The amount of power sent to each output is determined by the “split ratio” (see below).
- Combiner: Multiple inputs and a single output. The signals from the inputs are combined and sent to the output. The amount of power from each input sent to the output is determined by the “split ratio” (see below).
- Bidirectional: Multiple bidirectional ports. Supports bidirectional propagation. This configuration is essentially a combination of the “combiner” and “splitter” configurations. The ports are grouped on the opposite sides of the element, with “port 1” on one side and all other ports on the other. The SPLT element acts as a splitter for signals input into port 1, with the other ports as the outputs. The SPLT element acts as a combiner for signals input to the other ports, with port 1 as the output.
If the “split ratio” property is set to “even”, the power of the input signals across the entire spectrum is reduced by a factor equal to the “number of ports” property before being sent to the output. Note that this property refers to the number of ports on the edge of the element with multiple ports, which would be the total number of ports minus one. If it is set to “none” then the power of the inputs is not reduced.
In the INTERCONNECT Element library, the “Optical Splitter” element is the SPLT element in the “splitter” configuration, the “Optical Combiner” element is the SPLT element in the “combiner” configuration, and the “Optical Splitter/Coupler” element is the SPLT element in the “bidirectional” configuration. The configuration of these elements can be changed after adding them to the simulation.
Similar Elements
- Optical Mux/Demux: The “Optical Mux/Demux” element can also be used to split or combine optical signals, but it applies bandpass filters centered at different frequencies to the inputs so only individual channels are transmitted to the outputs.
- Optical Add and Drop Multiplexer: The “Optical Add and Drop Multiplexer” element can also be used to split or combine optical signals, but unlike the Optical Mux/Demux element it only adds or drops individual channels from an optical signal.
- Waveguide Y Branch: The “Waveguide Y Branch” element can also be used to split/combine optical signals. However, there can only be three ports, and the signals can be split/combined unevenly.