Optical waveguides – With optical coupler – Particular coupling structure
Patent
1990-05-10
1991-10-15
Lee, John D.
Optical waveguides
With optical coupler
Particular coupling structure
385 16, 356350, G02B 626, G01B 902
Patent
active
050568850
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to an electrically operated fiber optical switch for circularly polarized light. The switch comprises an input 3-dB fiber optic coupler, a Faraday effect fiber optic phase rotator and an output 3-dB fiber optic coupler, all three providing dual fiber optic paths. The input 3-dB coupler divides the light waves between two oppositely wound optical fibers in the Faraday effect phase rotator. The magnetic fields in the phase rotator are adjusted to produce the desired (e.g. .+-..pi./2 radians) relative phase delays between the divided light waves, the sign of the relative phase being dependent on current direction. When the light waves are recombined in the output 3-dB couplers, cancellation will occur in one or the other output fiber as a function of the direction of the magnetic field. The arrangement provides rapid switch operation by reversing the current direction in a magnetic field producing winding. The optical switching occurs in an all fiber system, avoiding the losses present in transitions to non-fiber wave transmission paths.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4070094 (1978-01-01), Martin
"Optical Fiber Faraday Rotation Current Sensor with Closed-Loop Operations", A. Kersey & A. Dandridge, Elect. Let., vol. 21, No. 11, May 29, 1985, pp. 464-466.
Barns Stephen W.
Checkovich Paul
General Electric Company
Jacob Fred
Lang Richard V.
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