Tapered fiber gratings and applications
US6445851B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 15, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 3, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 15, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/29383
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Optical filter devices in accordance with the invention are based on tapered optical fibers having transversely distributed refractive index variations in a small diameter waist region where waves are propagated in combined cladding/air-guided modes. The grating has a periodicity selected for reflection of a selected center wavelength and the waist diameter and grating pattern split the wavelengths of the lossy cladding modes from the backreflected signals by more than 10 nm. Such wavelength selective optical fiber devices have a variety of applications. In one application, a tapered fiber grating with optical circulators is used to add or drop optical signals for communication via a common transmission path. In another application, the tapered fiber grating is used with grating assisted mode couplers and circulators to form an add/drop multiplexer. In another application, these components are used with optical switches to produce programmable add/drop filters and crossconnects.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.