Polarization beam splitter or combiner
US6711311B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 18, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 23, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 26, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B27/283
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
This invention relates to elements such as birefringent crystals, which are used to separate a non-collimated input beam into two orthogonally polarized sub-beams or to combine two orthogonally polarized beams into a single beam. The optical device lessens or obviates the optical path length difference encountered in prior art devices and provides a polarization beam splitter/combiner that has substantially same optical path lengths for two split or combined beams propagating therethrough. Alternatively, the device is designed to provide a selected path length difference to compensate for polarization mode dispersion in other optical devices. The polarization beam splitter/combiner in accordance with the invention has a first uniaxial crystal having an o-ray path and an e-ray path and having the first port disposed at an end face thereof; a second uniaxial crystal having an o-ray path and an e-ray path, the e-ray path of the second uniaxial crystal being optically coupled with the o-ray path of the first uniaxial crystal and the o-ray path of the second uniaxial crystal being optically coupled with the e-ray path of the first uniaxial crystal. Alternatively, the axis of the second …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.