Wavelength-flattened 2x2 splitter for single-mode optical waveguides and method of making same
US5119453A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 5, 1991 |
| Grant date | Jun 2, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 5, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/2856
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The optical waveguide coupler device is formed on two laterally adjacent optical fibers for splitting with wavelength-flattened ratios an incident light intensity into the two fibers. Adjacent sections of the two fibers are fused together and first and second concatenated tapered portions are formed. These two tapered portions are separated by a central optical waveguide portion including two parallel branches of slightly different lengths, each capable of propagating a light signal from either tapered portion to the other. The first and second tapered portions define optical waveguide couplers presenting coupling ratios varying with optical wavelength in accordance with different curves. The different lengths of the two parallel branches of the central portion cause a shift .phi. between the phases of the optical signals propagating through these two branches. The coupling ratios of the tapered portions and the phase shift .phi. are selected to wavelength-flatten the coupling ratios of the coupler device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.