All-fiber optical beam switch
US10670872B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 2018 |
| Grant date | Jun 2, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3574
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An all-fiber optical beam switch mechanism includes a first length of fiber through which an incident optical beam having beam characteristics propagates along a first propagation path and which has a first refractive index profile (RIP). The first RIP enables, in response to an applied perturbation, modification of the optical beam to form an adjusted optical beam that is movable to propagate along a second propagation path. A second length of fiber is coupled to the first length of fiber and formed with multiple spaced-apart, non-coaxial confinement cores. A selected state of applied perturbation moves the second propagation path of the adjusted optical beam to a position of a selected corresponding one of the multiple confinement cores to confine and thereby direct the adjusted optical beam to a corresponding beam output location at the output of the second length of fiber.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.