Compact, low crosstalk, three-port optical circulator
US6026202A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 25, 1997 |
| Grant date | Feb 15, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 25, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3839
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A miniature three-port optical circulator that comprises a first input/output (I/O) port, a second I/O port complementary to the first I/O port, and a second walk-off crystal located between the first I/O port and the second I/O port. The first I/O port includes a light coupling assembly, a first walk-off crystal and a split polarization rotator arranged in order along the optical axis. The light coupling assembly comprises a capillary and two optical fibers. The optical fibers are secured side-by-side in the bore of the capillary. The optical fibers each have a diameter of one half of the diameter of the bore. The cores of the optical fibers are separated from one another in a separation direction by a separation distance. The first walk-off crystal is located to receive the light beams and has a first walk-off direction perpendicular to the separation direction. The split polarization rotator is mounted adjacent the first walk-off crystal and has a positive half and a negative half. The split polarization rotator is located so that the polarization components of the light beams that are deviated by the first walk-off crystal pass through one of the positive half and the negative …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.