Method of making polarization retaining optical fiber coupler
US4932740A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 5, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jun 12, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 5, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC03B2203/30
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of making a polarization retaining single-mode (PRSM) optical fiber coupler. A section of coating is stripped from the central portion of two PRSM optical fibers. The fibers extend through the bore of a glass tube, the stripped portions being centered in the tube, and the coating portions extending into the ends of the bore. In one embodiment, each fiber is provided with a rectangularly shaped coating, and the two larger flattened sides of the coating are specifically oriented with respect to the major and minor axes of the PRSM fiber therein. The fiber coating can be disposed in only one orientation in the rectangularly-shaped tube bore, thereby properly orienting the two PRSM fibers with respect to each other. In another embodiment, the PRSM fibers are disposed within a single coating, the azimuthal inhomogenity of one fiber being aligned in the coating with respect to that of the remaining fibers. In both embodiments, the fiber coating material is utilized to facilitate the alignment of the major axes of the fibers. The fibers are held taut, and the tube midregion is heated, collapsed about the fibers, and drawn to reduce the diameter thereof.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.