Inline optical circulators
US6377720B1 · kind B1 · utility
13Cited by
8References
14Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 12, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 23, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 12, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/31
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Inline optical circulators utilizing birefringent displacers to split an incoming beam into two orthogonally polarized beams and thereafter to recombine the beams. The birefringent displacers are used in combination with non reciprocal devices (Faraday rotators), reflectors and waveplates and serve to route a signal serially to the next port. Specific embodiments utilize birefringent wedges which provide circulators with reduced component counts and simplified alignment of the components. Circulators which do not utilize waveplates, and thus are relatively wavelength insensitive, are also described.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.