Integrable fiberoptic coupler and resulting devices and systems
US6198858A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 6, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S372/703
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fiberoptic coupler capable of many functions is presented. The basic fiberoptic coupler has a first sleeve, a second sleeve, a first collimating GRIN or conventional lens, and a second collimating GRIN or conventional lens. The first sleeve holds end sections of two or more input optical fibers along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. The second sleeve holds an end section of at least one output optical fiber. The end face of the second sleeve faces the first sleeve end face. The first collimating GRIN or conventional lens in front of the first sleeve end face collimates light signals from the input optical fibers and the second collimating GRIN or conventional lens in front of the second sleeve end face focusses light signals from at least one of the input optical fibers into the single output fiber, or at least one of the output optical fibers. With only one output fiber the coupler operates as a combiner. If more than one output fiber is held by the second sleeve, the input and output fibers can be arranged so that a light signal from one input fiber is sent to one output fiber. For added functionality, optical elements, such as isolators and wavelength-dependent filters, ca…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.