Patent · US Expired

Free space optical system with multiple function detectors

US6832859B1 · kind B1 · utility

5Cited by
8References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 7, 2002
Grant dateDec 21, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 6, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04B10/1141
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An optical fiber assembly includes an optical fiber and ferrule. The ferrule's face is partitioned into several regions. Optical elements can be formed on the regions to diffract light incident on the ferrule. Alternatively, the ferrule's face may have several reflective facets. Light incident on the end of the optical fiber propagates to a communications detector. Light incident on the ferrule's face is redirected to tracking detectors, each arranged to receive the redirected light from a preselected region of the ferrule. The output signals of the tracking detectors are used to adjust the alignment between the incident light and the assembly. Alternatively, tracking fibers or a quadrant cell may be used to directly receive light that would otherwise be incident on the ferrule's face.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.