Integrated optical directional coupler
US6920266B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jul 19, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 4, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B2006/12147
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The construction of directional couplers according to the invention with the aid of integrated optical waveguides makes it possible to produce such directional couplers in series very compactly and relatively easily. In this connection, the integrated optical waveguides in the coupling region have a smaller cross section than the cross section outside the coupling region. Consequently, it is possible to keep the spacing of the waveguide segments in the coupling region of a directional coupler according to the invention sufficiently far away from one another to minimize the error tolerance conditions in the manufacturing process. This is particularly advantageous if the difference in the refractive indices between the core of the integrated optical waveguide and its surroundings is very large.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.