Patent · US Expired

Tap couplers for fiber optic arrays

US6856735B2 · kind B2 · utility

18Cited by
12References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 6, 2001
Grant dateFeb 15, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 9, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/3652
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A tap coupler device for an optical array is formed either in a waveguide structure or in a V block in which a fiber array may be mounted. The tap coupler device may include a substrate with main and tap waveguides formed therein, and waveguide tap couplers formed in the substrate for diverting a portion of the optical signal from the main waveguides to corresponding tap waveguides. Another variation includes a substrate including waveguides, with the surface of the substrate where the waveguides end inclined to reflect a portion of the signals in the waveguides toward the top surface of the substrate. Yet another variation includes an input V block having input fibers. The surface of the V block where the input fibers terminate is inclined to reflect a portion of light signals from the input fibers toward the top surface of the V block.

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