Polarization independent optical taps
US6807004B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 19, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 26, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/02085
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A unique reflective surface is employed to compensate polarization dependence of optical taps. Specifically, the reflective surface compensates optical tap induced polarization by employing the intrinsic properties of metals rather than complex thin film stacks. To this end, a reflective thin metal film or a polished reflective metal surface may be employed. In a particular embodiment of the invention, a reflective surface that is coated with a single dielectric thin film can also be employed. In one example, the metal is preferably tungsten because it exhibits a large difference in the spread of reflectance between the s and p polarization states.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.