Method of fabricating fused and tapered couplers from optical fibers having photosensitive cladding regions
US6445855B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 19, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 3, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 19, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/2835
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention is a fused/taper fiber optic coupler and related methodologies for a fuse/taper fiber optic coupler with an FBG that does not excite cladding modes and maintains the coupling regions of the fibers in the proper relationship to one another without a complex and expensive process. Aspects of the fused/taper fiber optic coupler include the use of optical fibers with a three layer structure. The optical fibers include a photosensitive core layer, a photosensitive inner cladding layer, and a photo-insensitive outer cladding layer. Coupling regions are formed in each optical fiber by removing the outer cladding layer and the coupling regions in each optical fiber are then helically intertwined. The intertwined coupling regions are then heated and drawn forming a tapered area in which an FBG may be written.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.