Adjustable directional coupler for light waveguides
US4302071A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 23, 1979 |
| Grant date | Nov 24, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 23, 1999 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/2826
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A coupler for coupling a light signal traveling in a light conducting core of one light waveguide into the light conducting core of a second waveguide with an adjustable ratio of the amount of coupling therebetween characterized by a pair of support members for mounting the waveguides in a fixed position along a coupling segment with the waveguides substantially parallel and being embedded in a medium with an index of refraction which is lower in comparison to the index of refraction of the cores, each of the support members being mounted for relative movement to each other from a first position with the waveguides in alignment with each other to a second position with the waveguides separated and displaced from each other and a device for moving the support members between the positions in the prescribed amounts to change the ratio of the light signal coupled from one waveguide to the other waveguide. Preferably the waveguides, which may be either optical fibers or strip waveguides, are disposed adjacent flat planar surfaces of the support and the device for moving may be a piezoelectric device that either shifts the support members between the first and second positions in a dire…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.