Optical coupler constructed using optical fiber ferrules
US5675683A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 15, 1995 |
| Grant date | Oct 7, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 15, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/32
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical coupler is formed comprising a pair of optical fiber ferrules having four optical fibers fastened within a throughhole in the ferrule, a pair of contiguous graded index rod lenses, and a thin film between the graded index rod lenses which partially transmits incident light and reflects the remainder. One ferrule is attached to one graded index rod lens and another ferrule is attached to the other graded index rod lens. The central axes of the ferrules are aligned to the optical axes of the graded index rod lenses. The optical axis of each optical fiber in one ferrule is aligned to the optical axis of a corresponding optical fiber in the other ferrule by rotating the former ferrule around its optical axis so that the four optical fibers of the ferrule are symmetrically arranged with respect to the optical axis of the graded index rod lens to which the ferrule is attached. The ferrules, graded index rods lenses and thin film are fastened together.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.