1. An optical communication device comprising:
a) an optical signal input operable to receive an optical communication signal comprising a first plurality of optical communications channels;
b) a channel separation optical component positioned to receive the optical communications signal from the optical signal input and to impart a spatial separation between at least two channels of the first plurality of channels;
c) a spatial light modulator positioned to receive the at least two channels of the first plurality of channels and to separately switch the at least two channels to travel along a first or a second path and to transmit at least a second plurality of channels along the first path and a third plurality of channels along the second path, wherein each of the at least two channels are transmitted within one of the second and third plurality of channels; and
d) a channel combination optical component positioned to receive the second plurality of channels transmitted by the spatial light modulator along the first path and to spatially combine the second plurality of channels.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the channel combination optical component comprises a grating and a lens.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein the grating and the lens are spatially separated from each other and positioned along an optical signal path in the optical communication device.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the third plurality of channels is sent to an optical dump.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein the third plurality of channels is transmitted as a drop-channel optical communication signal.
6. The device of claim 1 and further comprising an optical signal output connected to the channel combination optical signal component and operable to output the second plurality of channels.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein the channel combination optical component is the same component as the channel separation optical component.
8. The device of claim 7 and further comprising a circulator interposed between the channel separation and combination optical component and the optical signal output, wherein the circulator is operable to route the first plurality of channels to the channel separation optical component and to route the second plurality of channels to the optical signal output.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least two channels of the first plurality of channels approaches the surface of the spatial light modulator along the first path, whereby the incident angle of the first path strikes the surface of the spatial light modulator at the Littrow angle.
10. An optical add-drop multiplexer comprising:
a) an input port in communication with an input optical signal having incoming and outgoing signal components;
b) an express port in communication with an output optical signal having incoming and outgoing signal components;
c) an add port in communication with an add-channel optical signal having incoming and outgoing signal components;
d) a drop port in communication with a drop-channel optical signal having incoming and outgoing signal components;
e) a first collimator optically connected to the input port, the first collimator operable to collimate the incoming signal component of the input optical signal;
f) a second collimator optically connected to the express port, the second collimator operable to collimate the incoming signal component of the output optical signal;
g) a third collimator optically connected to the add port, the third collimator operable to collimate the incoming signal component of the add-channel optical signal;
h) a fourth collimator optically connected to the drop port, the fourth collimator operable to collimate the incoming signal component of the drop-channel optical signal;
i) a dispersion element operable to disperse multiple wavelength channels comprised within the input optical signal, output optical signal, add-channel optical signal, and drop-channel optical signal; and
j) a spatial light modulator operable:
i) to receive the dispersed multiple wavelength channels from the dispersion element;
ii) to switch selected ones of the channels of the incoming signal component of the add-channel optical signal to the outgoing signal component of the output optical signal;
iii) to switch selected ones of the channels of the incoming signal component of the input optical signal to the outgoing signal component of the output optical signal or the outgoing signal component of the drop-channel optical signal;
iv) to switch selected ones of the channels of the incoming signal component of the output optical signal to the outgoing signal component of the input optical signal or the outgoing signal component of the add-channel optical signal; and
v) to switch selected ones of the channels of the incoming signal component of the drop-channel optical signal to the outgoing signal component of the input optical signal.
11. The add-drop multiplexer of claim 10 and further comprising a first circulator, and further wherein the first and second collimators are a single, main-signal collimator that receives the incoming signal components of both of the input optical signal and the output optical signal from an output of the first circulator.
12. The add-drop multiplexer of claim 11 and further comprising a second circulator, and further wherein the first and second collimators are a single, add-drop-signal collimator that receives the incoming signal components of both of the add-channel optical signal and the drop-channel optical signal from an output of the second circulator.
13. The add-drop multiplexer of claim 11 wherein the dispersion element receives the output signal of the single, main-signal collimator and directs that output signal to multiple channel spots on the surface of the spatial light modulator.
14. The add-drop multiplexer of claim 13 wherein the output signal is directed onto at least certain areas of the spatial light modulator at the Littrow angle for those areas.
15. The add-drop multiplexer of claim 14 and further comprising a lens interposed between the dispersion element and the surface of the spatial light modulator.
16. The add-drop multiplexer of claim 15 wherein the lens further comprises reflective elements on its back face whereby the selected ones of the channels of the incoming signal components of the optical signals are reflected from the back face of the lens to selected ones of the channels of the outgoing signal components of the optical signals.
17-26. (canceled)
27. An optical multiplexer for multiplexing channels of optical signals comprising:
a) a circulator for receiving a first and a second optical signal on two separate ports and for spatially combining the first and the second optical signal so they travel over the same path;
b) a dispersion element for imparting spatial separation between multiple channels of at least a first and a second optical signal;
c) a spatial light modulator for selectively reflecting individual channels of the multiple channels of the first and second optical signals;
d) a lens element for focusing the individual channels of the first optical signal onto a first area of the spatial light modulator, whereby the spatial light modulator is operable to reflect the individual channels of the first and second optical signal over a first path or a second path, wherein the first path is the path over which the first and second optical signals impinge upon the spatial light modulator;
e) a reflective element that reflects the individual channels of the first and second optical signal that are reflected over a second path back toward a second area of the spatial light modulator, whereby the spatial light modulator is operable to reflect selected ones of individual channels that were reflected over a second path onto a third path or a fourth path, wherein the third path is also a path over which multiple incoming channels from a third optical signal are received.
28. The multiplexer of claim 27 wherein the first and second optical signals are input optical signals and output optical signals and wherein the third optical signal is an add-channel optical signal.
29. The optical multiplexer of claim 28 wherein the first path carries channels from the first optical signal that are to be passed out of the multiplexer through an express port.
30. The optical multiplexer of claim 28 wherein the second path carries channels from the first optical signal that are to be dropped from that signal.
31. The optical multiplexer of claim 28 wherein the third path carries channels from the third optical signal that are to be joined with channels from the first optical signal to be passed out of the multiplexer through an express port.
32. The optical multiplexer of claim 28 wherein the fourth path carries channels from the third optical signal that are to be ignored.
33. The optical multiplexer of claim 28 wherein the ignored channels are carried by the fourth path to an optical dump.
34. The optical communication device of claim 1 wherein the optical communication device is a three-port optical multiplexer.
35. The optical communication device of claim 1 wherein the optical communication device is a four-port optical multiplexer.
36. An optical device comprising:
an array of micromirrors;
an optical element; and
a plurality of reflective members positioned on the optical element and positioned to reflect an optical signal from a first micromirror to a second micromirror.
37. The optical device of claim 36, wherein the plurality of reflective members comprises at least three reflective strips.
38. The optical device of claim 36, wherein the array of micromirrors comprises an array of digital micromirrors.
39. The optical device of claim 36, wherein the optical element is a lens.
40. The optical device of claim 36, wherein the optical element is a window.
41. The optical device of claim 36, wherein the optical element is a window on a package enclosing the micromirror.
42. The optical device of claim 36, wherein at least one of the reflective members is positioned on a side of the optical element closest to the micromirror array.
43. The optical device of claim 36, wherein at least one of the reflective members is positioned on a side of the optical element furthest from the micromirror array.
44. The optical device of claim 36, wherein at least one reflective member is a mirror.
45. The optical device of claim 36, wherein at least one reflective member is a mirrored strip on the optical element.
46. The optical device of claim 36, wherein at least one reflective member is a strip on the optical element with a long dimension oriented diagonal to rows and columns of the micromirror elements forming the micromirror array.
47. The optical device of claim 36, wherein the reflective members comprise reflective strips positioned to allow an optical signal to pass through gaps between the reflective strips an to be reflected by a first region of the micromirror array to a first reflective strip, and from the first reflective strip to a second region of the micromirror array.
48. The optical device of claim 36, wherein the reflective members comprise reflective strips positioned to allow an optical signal to pass through gaps between the reflective strips an to be reflected by a first region of the micromirror array to a first reflective strip, and from the first reflective strip to a second region of the micromirror array, and from the second region of the micromirror array to pass through a gap between the first reflective strip and a second reflective strip.
49. The optical device of claim 36, wherein the reflective members comprise reflective strips positioned to allow an optical signal to pass through gaps between the reflective strips an to be reflected by a first region of the micromirror array to either a first reflective strip or a second reflective strip.
50. The optical device of claim 36, wherein at least one reflective member is a strip on a surface of the optical element closest the micromirror array, with a long dimension oriented diagonal to rows and columns of the micromirror elements forming the micromirror array.
51. The optical device of claim 36, wherein the reflective members comprise reflective strips on a surface of the optical element closest the micromirror array, the reflective strips positioned to allow an optical signal to pass through gaps between the reflective strips an to be reflected by a first region of the micromirror array to a first reflective strip, and from the first reflective strip to a second region of the micromirror array.
52. The optical device of claim 36, wherein the reflective members comprise reflective strips on a surface of the optical element closest the micromirror array, the reflective strips positioned to allow an optical signal to pass through gaps between the reflective strips an to be reflected by a first region of the micromirror array to a first reflective strip, and from the first reflective strip to a second region of the micromirror array, and from the second region of the micromirror array to pass through a gap between the first reflective strip and a second reflective strip.
53. The optical device of claim 36, wherein the reflective members comprise reflective strips on a surface of the optical element closest the micromirror array, the reflective strips positioned to allow an optical signal to pass through gaps between the reflective strips an to be reflected by a first region of the micromirror array to either a first reflective strip or a second reflective strip.
54. The optical device of claim 36, wherein at least one reflective member is a strip on a surface of a package window closest the micromirror array, with a long dimension oriented diagonal to rows and columns of the micromirror elements forming the micromirror array.
55. The optical device of claim 36, wherein the reflective members comprise reflective strips on a surface of a package window closest the micromirror array, the reflective strips positioned to allow an optical signal to pass through gaps between the reflective strips an to be reflected by a first region of the micromirror array to a first reflective strip, and from the first reflective strip to a second region of the micromirror array.
56. The optical device of claim 36, wherein the reflective members comprise reflective strips on a surface of a package window closest the micromirror array, the reflective strips positioned to allow an optical signal to pass through gaps between the reflective strips an to be reflected by a first region of the micromirror array to a first reflective strip, and from the first reflective strip to a second region of the micromirror array, and from the second region of the micromirror array to pass through a gap between the first reflective strip and a second reflective strip.
57. The optical device of claim 36, wherein the reflective members comprise reflective strips on a surface of a package window closest the micromirror array, the reflective strips positioned to allow an optical signal to pass through gaps between the reflective strips an to be reflected by a first region of the micromirror array to either a first reflective strip or a second reflective strip.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for the delivery of treatment for a patient with asthma, comprising:
a blower with an inlet to supply breathable gas to a patient interface,
a transducer to generate a flow signal representative of flow of the patient,
a transducer to generate a pressure signal representative of pressure supported by the blower,
a processor to receive data from said flow signal and said pressure signal with programmed instructions for controlling said blower and to detect an asthma symptom from an analysis of said data, and
a filter to substantially remove allergen particulates from the breathable gas flow.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said filter is a high efficiency particulate arresting filter.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said filter includes activated carbon.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said patient interface is a porous mask to insure CO2 washout at low pressures that covers the patients nose openings and has a sealing membrane thickness in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said processor is further programmed with instructions to assess filter status and to generate a warning when said assessment indicates that the filter should be changed.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said processor controls said blower so as to vary said flow of breathable gas in response to the patient’s respiration to maintain a relatively constant pressure at the patient interface.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a controlled means for delivering a therapeutic substance to supplement said flow of breathable gas to the patient.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said processor is further programmed with instructions for controlling a delivery of the therapeutic substance by said controlled means in response to a detection of a symptom of asthma.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said therapeutic substance is a bronchodilator.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said therapeutic substance is a gas.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said gas is oxygen.
12. A method for treating a patient with asthma, comprising the steps of:
delivering a controlled supply of breathable air to a patient,
providing a patient interface that substantially limits the patient’s breathable air to the controlled supply of breathable air when it is being supplied through the interface,
cleaning said breathable air in conjunction with the delivery of said breathable air to the patient to substantially remove allergen particulates from said air before said patient inhales said allergen particulates,
monitoring air flow of the patient, and
analyzing said air flow to detect a symptom of asthma.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein said patient interface is a porous mask to insure CO2 washout at low pressures that is adapted to cover the patient’s nose openings.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein said patient interface permits a breathable flow of ambient air when said controlled supply of breathable air ceases.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein said controlled supply of breathable air varies in response to the patient’s respiration to maintain a relatively constant pressure at the patient interface.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein said controlled supply of breathable air is varied in a range of pressure from 1.75 to 2.5 cm H2O at the mask.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein said filter is a high efficiency particulate arresting filter.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein said filter includes activated carbon.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein said therapeutic substance is a broncho-dilator.
20. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of assessing the condition of the filter to determine whether the filter should be changed.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein said step of assessing involves calculating the impedance of the filter.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein said impedance is a function of the blower’s power consumption.
23. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of analyzing said air flow to detect a symptom of asthma includes the sub-steps of:
calculating a shape index from data representing a portion of said air flow; and
comparing said index to a predetermined threshold.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein said shape index is an indicator of the flatness of an inspiratory portion of patient flow.
25. The method of claim 23 wherein said shape index is an indicator of the roundness of an inspiratory portion of patient flow.
26. The method of claim 23 wherein said shape index is an indicator of the flatness of an expiratory portion of patient flow.
27. The method of claim 23 wherein said shape index is an indicator of the roundness of an expiratory portion of patient flow.
28. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of administering a therapeutic substance to the patient through the patient interface in response to said detection of a symptom of asthma.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein said therapeutic substance is a gas.
30. The method of claim 29 wherein said gas is oxygen.