Optical distributor
US5165080A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 13, 1991 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 13, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/2817
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical distributor comprises an optical input (Il), and 2.sup.n optical outputs (01-08) , where n is an integer greater than 1, one or more plane mirror surfaces (8) and transflective means (2, 4, 6). The plane mirror surface or surfaces (8) and the transflective means (2, 4, 6) are arranged to provide one optical path between the input (Il) and each of the outputs (01-08), each path making n transitions only at the transflective means. In a preferred embodiment the transflective means comprise n separate beam splitter stages, the effective lengths of the n separate splitter stages (2, 4, 6) being substantially in the ratio 1.2 2.sup.n. The beam splitters may be formed by transflective coatings on glass substrates.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.