Low cost one by eight singlemode optical fiber coupler
US5166994A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 5, 1991 |
| Grant date | Nov 24, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 5, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/2856
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A means of fabricating wideband 1.times.8 singlemode fiber optic couplers is disclosed. It has been found that a 1.times.7 fiber optic coupler can be fused by twisting six fibers around a central seventh fiber, heating the region on contact among the seven fibers, and drawing until the desired distribution of optical power is achieved among the seven fibers. Both 1.times.6 and 1.times.7 couplers can be made this way depending upon the extent of drawing. Using such a coupler in combination with conventional 1.times.2 and wideband 1.times.2 couplers allows fabrication of 1.times.8 couplers using only two or three separate couplers compared to seven couplers required in coupler tree structures. Further, by taking advantage of selected wavelength response behaviors characteristic of each coupler in the combination, the combination of 1.times.2 and 1.times.7 or 1.times.6 couplers is done in a manner to provide relatively improved coupling uniformity over a bandwidth of .+-. 50 nm around the operating wavelengths of the 1.times.8 coupler.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.