Optical assembly and method based on TEC fibres
US5930418A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 15, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jul 27, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 15, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3839
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical assembly, particularly for use as an optical circulator or optical isolator, includes utilizing an array of parallel thermally expanded core (TEC) fibers for transmitting light signals into and receiving light signals from an array of optical elements that is both polarization-dependent and non-reciprocal with respect to displacement of light propagating in opposite directions. In the preferred embodiment, the TEC fibers are precisely aligned using silicon V-groove techniques. Also in the preferred embodiment, focusing is used to improve the performance of the optical assembly. A microlens array reconverges the light energy of a polarization component that is propagating through the optical assembly separately from its associated polarization component. The array of microlenses may be formed into the glass substrate by diffusing ions through a photolithographic mask. Further in conformance with the preferred embodiment, each polarization component is converged by a particular microlens, is reflected by a mirror, and converged a second time by passage through the same microlens.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.