Fiber-optic circuit element
US4204742A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 18, 1978 |
| Grant date | May 27, 1980 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 18, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3548
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fiber-optic circuit element is provided of the type for coupling signal ght from a first optical fiber to at least one second optical fiber wherein at least one of the optical fibers has a free end which is controllably movable to be in or out of alignment with the other fibers. Movement of the free end of the fiber is achieved by an expansion layer applied to the fiber and acting as a heatable bimetallic element. Heating of the expansion layer can be achieved by absorption of electromagnetic radiation, including an independent source of control light and/or a portion of the signal light itself. Electrical heating mechanisms can also be used. This circuit element can be advantageously used without limit in optical switches, astable multivibrators, bistable multivibrators, optical resonators, and environmental temperature and pressure detectors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.