Optical fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer employing miniature bends
US6563971B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 23, 2000 |
| Grant date | May 13, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 5, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/2821
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical fiber Mach Zehnder Interferometer includes a first and second elongate optical fiber having a core and a cladding, first and second couplers wherein the cladding of the first optical fiber is coupled to the cladding of the second optical fiber. The first optical fiber includes a first elongate interfering arm where the first optical fiber extends between the first and second couplers. The first interfering arm includes a miniature bend formed therein. The second optical fiber includes a second elongate interfering arm extending between the first and second couplers and may also include a miniature bend formed therein. The miniature bends are contemplated to be either packed or unpackaged. The fibers may exhibit different coefficients of thermal expansion to maintain the path length differences of the interfering arms.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.