Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for directing an optical signal from an input fiber to an output fiber within a high index host

US7231106B2 · kind B2 · utility

40Cited by
5References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 30, 2005
Grant dateJun 12, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 30, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/356
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The invention includes an apparatus for receiving an optical signal from an optical input means and directing the optical signal to one of a plurality of optical output means. The apparatus includes a solid signal propagating material having a refractive index greater than the refractive index of air. The solid signal propagating material includes a first transparent surface optically cooperating with the optical input and output means, a second transparent surface optically cooperating with a first light directing mechanism, and a reflective surface optically cooperating with the first light directing mechanism. A first reflecting component of the light directing mechanism directs a received optical signal to a second reflecting component of the light directing mechanism via the reflective surface of the signal propagating material. The second reflecting component of the light directing mechanism directs the respective incident optical signal to the selected one of the plurality of optical output means.

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