Star coupler for optical fibers

Details Star coupler for optical fibers Star coupler for optical fibers

1987-12-18

1989-07-11

Sikes, William L.

350 9615, G02B 628, G02B 642, G02B 634

Patent

active

048465437

ABSTRACT:
A star coupler/monitor comprises a beam splitter (25) and at least one imaging element (30) oriented relative to first, second, and third spatially discrete regions (35a-c) as follows. A minor portion of the light emanating from any given point in the first region (35a) is imaged at a corresponding point in the second region (35b). A major portion of the light emanating from the given point is imaged at a corresponding point in the third region (35c). The ends of N input fibers in an input bundle (12) are registered in an array in the first region (35a). The ends of N monitor fibers in a monitor bundle (15) are registered fiber-by-fiber at optically conjugate locations in the second region (35b) so that a minor portion of the light emanating from any one of the input fibers is imaged at the corresponding monitor fiber end. An integrating element (17) such as a rod is disposed in the third region (35c). The method achieves registration simply and virtually automatically by forming both bundles in the first instance from a single bundle. The method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of fibers (76), reducing the cladding thickness over corresponding intermediate portions (77) of the fibers, bonding the intermediate portions of the fibers into a tight assembly (79), severing the assembly at an intermediate point to define two bundles, and locating the two bundles so formed at optically conjugate locations.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4102559 (1978-07-01), Hunzinger
patent: 4213670 (1980-07-01), Milton et al.
patent: 4329017 (1982-05-01), Kapany et al.
patent: 4519673 (1985-05-01), Hamilton
patent: 4615582 (1986-10-01), Lefevre et al.
patent: 4618258 (1986-10-01), Hicks, Jr.
patent: 4676584 (1987-06-01), Perlin
patent: 4720160 (1988-01-01), Hicks, Jr.

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