Optical polarization beam combiner/splitter
US6282025A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 2, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 28, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 2, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/2773
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical polarization beam splitter comprises a first optical fiber having an end defining a first optical axis, a second optical fiber having an end defining a second optical axis, and a third optical fiber having an end defining a third optical axis parallel to and spaced apart from the second optical axis. A collimating lens is disposed along the first optical axis positioned to form a collimated optical beam from the first optical fiber. A focussing lens is disposed along a path of the collimated optical beam. A birefringent walk-off crystal has a first face adjacent to the focussing lens and a second face located at a focal plane of the focussing lens and in contact with the ends of the second and third optical fibers. The birefringent crystal is oriented such that and has a thickness between its first and second faces selected such that a first component of the optical beam having a first polarization exits the crystal at its second face and enters the end of the second optical fiber along the second optical axis and a second component of the optical beam having a second polarization orthogonal to the polarization of the first polarization exits the crystal at its second fa…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.