1. Ground 1: Claims 18 and 19 are rendered obvious by the
`combination of Parker Thesis and Warr Thesis
`
`
`
`‘683 Claim Language
`Followed by corresponding features in the reference, with emphasis added.
`[18pre.] An optical device with an array of phase-modulating elements,
`Parker Thesis discloses a space-wavelength switch that includes an array of
`phase-modulating elements.
`
`
`
`Parker Thesis at 96.
`
`“The currently unused extra dimension of the SLM can also be used to add
`functionality to the switch, such as to make it into a space-wavelength
`switch. This would serve a very important function in dynamic wavelength-
`routed optical networks as an add-drop node. Figure (6.1) shows an
`‘exploded’ concept for a polarisation-insensitive, optically transparent,
`compact, low-loss space-wavelength switch, utilising all the ideas developed
`in chapters 2 and 4. The switch acts as a 3 x 3 fibre cross-connect, but can
`also perfectly shuffle wavelengths between the various fibres.” Parker
`Thesis at 97.
`
`Warr Thesis also teaches an optical routing module having an array of
`phase-modulating elements.
`
`“This is achieved by the use of programmable computer-generated
`holograms (CGHs) displayed on a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) spatial
`light modulator (SLM). The SLM provides fast 2-dimensional binary
`
`
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`1
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`FINISAR 1016
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`modulation of coherent light and acts as a dynamically reconfigurable
`diffraction pattern.” Warr Thesis at viii.
`
`
`
`“SLMs typically consist of an array of individually controllable
`pixels…Ferroelectric liquid crystal SLMs…can also be readily configured as
`phase- or as intensity-modulators.” Warr Thesis at 7. “To obtain maximum
`light efficiency, the SLM pixels should only modulate the phase of the
`incident Gaussian beam and not the intensity.” Warr Thesis at 13.
`“Because each pixel now acts as a perfect (0, π) binary phase modulator,
`the input polariser may also be removed.” Warr Thesis at 25.
`
`See Hall Decl. at ¶¶ 56-57.
`[18a.] the device having an input arranged to receive a multiplex of
`optical signals at different wavelengths in a common beam,
`Parker Thesis discloses receiving from an input a multiplex of optical signals
`at different wavelengths in a common beam.
`
`
`“The principle of operation of the tunable holographic wavelength filter is
`based on the wavelength-dispersive nature of gratings. Polychromatic light
`is angularly dispersed by a grating, since the different wavelengths are
`diffracted through different angles.” Parker Thesis at 47.
`
`See Hall Decl. at ¶¶ 58-59.
`[18b.] the array of phase modulating elements being arranged to receive
`the optical signals of the multiplex from the device input, to separate the
`optical signals into at least two groups, and to process at least one of the
`groups of optical signals,
`Parker Thesis discloses receiving optical signals of a multiplex from an
`input, separating the multiplex of optical signals into at least two groups, and
`processing at least one of the groups.
`“The principle of operation of the tunable holographic wavelength filter is
`based on the wavelength-dispersive nature of gratings. Polychromatic light
`is angularly dispersed by a grating, since the different wavelengths are
`diffracted through different angles.” Parker Thesis at 47.
`
`The use of a grating disperses the light into its component frequencies,
`providing separation of the channels and allowing a different set of pixels to
`operate on each channel.
`
`
`
`2
`
`

`

`
`Parker Thesis at 96. “The currently unused extra dimension of the SLM can
`also be used to add functionality to the switch, such as to make it into a
`space-wavelength switch. This would serve a very important function in
`dynamic wavelength-routed optical networks as an add-drop node. Figure
`(6.1) shows an ‘exploded’ concept for a polarisation-insensitive, optically
`transparent, compact, low-loss space-wavelength switch, utilising all the
`ideas developed in chapters 2 and 4. The switch acts as a 3 x 3 fibre cross-
`connect, but can also perfectly shuffle wavelengths between the various
`fibres.” Parker Thesis at 97.
`
` A
`
` PHOSITA would understand that the device disclosed in Parker is
`configured such that the SLM and the blazed grating’s positions are
`interchangeable, rendering a device with the SLM first obvious, so that the
`multiplex of optical signals is directly on the pixelated FLC SLM. See Hall
`Decl. at ¶ 60.
`
`Warr Thesis discusses the use of separate groups of pixels having separate
`light beams incident thereon.
`
`“The collimation array in plane P2 is arranged exactly one focal distance in
`front of the fibre ends so that the Gaussian signal beams are individually
`collimated through the FLC-SLM. The SLM display area is then divided
`into distinct sub-holograms, such that every input source is deflected by a
`different CGH.” Warr Thesis at 89.
`
`
`
`3
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`

`
`Warr Thesis at 89. “Each of the four beams was deflected by a separate
`80x80 pixel region of the 2DX320IR SLM. This transmissive FLC device
`has 80μm pixels, a 28° FLC switching angle, and exhibits a peak response
`around  = l.lμm wavelength.” Warr Thesis at 103.
`
`
`
`Warr Thesis at 103.
`
` A
`
` PHOSITA would understand that this device could be configured using a
`reflective FLC-SLM instead of a reflective FLC-SLM. See Hall Decl. at ¶¶
`60, 62.
`
`See Hall Decl. at ¶¶ 60-61.
`[18c.] wherein the array of phase-modulating elements is provided by a
`reflective LCOS SLM.
`
`Parker Thesis describes a reflective SLM.
`
`“Folded 2f architecture employing either i) a transmissive SLM and
`reflective fixed grating, in a Littrow configuration ii) a reflective SLM ( e.g.
`silicon backplane or phase-doubled) and transmissive fixed grating.” Parker
`thesis at 64.
`
`
`
`4
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`

`
`Figure 4.20 is an especially clear depiction of the use of silicon-backed
`SLMs.
`
`Parker Thesis at 69.
`
`
`
`
`
`Parker Thesis at 96. This figure shows an SLM. A PHOSITA would also
`recognize that this device is reflective because of the inclusion of a mirror
`and the arrows indicating the directions of the input and output light beams.
`See Hall Decl. at ¶ 60.
`
`Parker Thesis also discloses a packaged device that a PHOSITA would also
`recognize as having a reflective SLM:
`
`
`
`5
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`

`
`
`Parker Thesis at 97, Hall Decl. at ¶ 62.
`
`Likewise, the devices in Warr Thesis similarly describe an LCOS SLM. “A
`promising innovation in the development of miniature FLC devices is to
`construct SLMs directly on the top of CMOS VLSI silicon chips [15].
`These devices operate in reflection and each pixel is addressed by a signal
`applied to an aluminium pad which doubles as the pixel mirror, figure 2.6.”
`Warr Thesis at 17.
`
`See Hall Decl. at ¶¶ 62-63.
`[19] The optical device of claim 18, wherein the reflective LCOS SLM
`providing the array of phase-modulating elements comprises a two-
`dimensional array of pixels.
`Claim 19 depends from claim 18, which is rendered obvious for the reasons
`discussed above. Having a reflective LCOS SLM providing an array of
`phase-modulating elements is rendered obvious for the reasons discussed in
`claim [18c] above. See Hall Decl. at ¶¶ 62-63, 65.
`
`Parker Thesis describes the use of a two-dimensional array of pixels.
`
`
`Figure 4.20 is an especially clear depiction of the use of silicon-backed
`SLMs.
`
`
`
`6
`
`

`

`Parker Thesis at 69.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Parker Thesis at 96.
`
`Likewise, the Warr Thesis discusses the use of a two-dimensional array of
`pixels. “The collimation array in plane P2 is arranged exactly one focal
`distance in front of the fibre ends so that the Gaussian signal beams are
`individually collimated through the FLC-SLM. The SLM display area is
`then divided into distinct sub-holograms, such that every input source is
`deflected by a different CGH.” Warr Thesis at 89.
`
`
`
`7
`
`

`

`Warr Thesis at 89.
`
`“Each of the four beams was deflected by a separate 80x80 pixel region of
`the 2DX320IR SLM. This transmissive FLC device has 80μm pixels, a 28°
`FLC switching angle, and exhibits a peak response around  = l.lμm
`wavelength.” Warr Thesis at 103.
`
`
`
`
`
`Warr Thesis at 103.
`
` A
`
` PHOSITA would understand that this device could be configured using a
`reflective FLC-SLM instead of a transmissive FLC-SLM. See Hall Decl. at
`¶ 66.
`
`See Hall Decl. at ¶¶ 65-67.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`8
`
`