Modifying birefringence in optical fibers
US6782148B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 15, 2002 |
| Grant date | Aug 24, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 2, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2202/32
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention include an optical fiber device such as a tunable birefringent optical fiber having a core region, a cladding layer therearound, and a controllable active material disposed in, e.g., selective capillaries or pockets formed in the cladding layer. The active materials include, e.g., electro-optic material, magneto-optic material, photorefractive material, thermo-optic material and/or materials such as laser dyes that provide tunable gain or loss. The application of, e.g., temperature, light or an electric or magnetic field varies optical properties of the active material, which, in turn, varies or affects the propagation properties of optical signals in the device. The optical device can include a tapered region or long period grating that causes the core mode to spread or couple into the cladding region and, simultaneously, allows the active material to be relatively close to the propagated modes, thus allowing interaction between the active material and the propagating modes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.