Optical waveguides – With optical coupler – Plural
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-18
2004-06-01
Kim, Robert H. (Department: 2882)
Optical waveguides
With optical coupler
Plural
C385S040000, C385S042000, C385S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06744946
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One of the biggest problems in installing fiber-optics systems, wherein data is communicated in fiber-optic cables, is the necessity for providing one cable for a number of homes or businesses, tapping into the one cable for each location, in a manner similar to the current style of telephone cable installation. Unfortunately, fiber-optic systems don't lend themselves easily to such an approach, and typically what is required is to have either one dedicated cable run to each home or business, or to make a complete splicing of a common cable for each home. Both of these options are prohibitively expensive, and in some cases, inserting full taps reduces reliability dramatically.
What is needed is a method and a system that allows creation of junctions at different positions along a fiber-optic cable inexpensively and quickly, and without compromising reliability, to allow inexpensive upgrading to fiber-optic cabling in homes, businesses, and so on.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention an apparatus for interfacing optical signals to an optical fiber is provided, comprising a layered interface element comprising a first electrically conductive layer defining a first surface, a photoactive material layer in intimate contact with the first layer on a second surface opposite the first surface, a second electrically conductive layer in intimate contact with the photoactive material layer, confining the photoactive material layer between the first and second electrically conductive layers, and a third surface angularly disposed to the first surface and intersecting the photoactive material layer; and a pressure element having a contact surface translatable toward the first surface of the interface element, to urge an optical fiber positioned across the interface element into the first surface, and by local deformation of the optical fiber also into the third surface, creating thereby an intimate contact region between an edge of the photoactive layer intersecting the third surface and the optical fiber.
In some cases the photoactive material is a photosensitive material, and light intercepted by the photosensitive layer is converted to a voltage between the first and second conductive layers. Also in preferred embodiments there are electrodes implemented on the two electrically conductive layers, the electrodes connected to electrical circuitry for forming an electrical signal in response to the light intercepted by the photosensitive material. In still other cases there are electrodes implemented on the two conductive layers to apply voltage signals to the photoactive material layer, and the photoactive material is a material that emits light in response to the electrical signals applied, and the light emitted is edge-emitted into the optical fiber at the intimate contact region.
In some embodiments of the invention the pressure element has a resilient covering on the contact surface to avoid damage to the optical fiber placed under pressure. There may also be a plurality of separate interface elements extending from a common layered structure, the separate interface elements spaced apart by a distance related to the wave-length of light to be transmitted in an optical fiber to be interfaced to the apparatus. Still further, there is, in some embodiments, an optically-occluding covering upon each of the plurality of interface elements on a side opposite the side of the third surface. The interface element and the pressure element are preferably joined by a translation mechanism allowing translation of the pressure element toward the interface element, which may be a hinge connected to each of the interface element and the pressure element.
In another aspect of the invention a method for non-invasive interfacing of signals to an optical fiber is provided, comprising the steps of (a) forming a layered interface element comprising a first electrically conductive layer defining a first surface, a photoactive material layer in intimate contact with the first layer on a second surface opposite the first surface, a second electrically conductive layer in intimate contact with the photoactive material layer, confining the photoactive material layer between the first and second electrically conductive layers, and a third surface angularly disposed to the first surface and intersecting the photoactive material layer; and (b) urging an optical fiber positioned across the interface element into the first surface, and by local deformation of the fiber into the third surface, by a pressure element having a contact surface translatable toward the first surface of the interface element, creating thereby an intimate contact region between an edge of the photoactive layer intersecting the third surface and the optical fiber.
In some embodiments of the method the photoactive material is a photosensitive material, and light intercepted by the photosensitive layer is converted to a voltage between the first and second conductive layers. In this embodiment electrodes are implemented on the two electrically conductive layers, the electrodes connected to electrical circuitry for forming an electrical signal in response to the light intercepted by the photosensitive material.
In other embodiments the electrodes are implemented on the two conductive layers to apply voltage signals to the photoactive material layer, the photoactive material is a material that emits light in response to the electrical signals applied, and the light emitted is edge-emitted into the optical fiber at the intimate contact region.
In some cases the pressure element has a resilient covering on the contact surface to avoid damage to the optical fiber placed under pressure. There may also be a plurality of separate interface elements extending from a common layered structure, the separate interface elements spaced apart by a distance related to the wave-length of light to be transmitted in an optical fiber to be interfaced to the apparatus. In some cases as well there is an optically occluding covering upon each of the plurality of interface elements on a side opposite the side of the third surface.
In preferred embodiments the interface element and the pressure element are joined by a translation mechanism allowing translation of the pressure element toward the interface element, and the interface element may be a hinge connected to each of the interface element and the pressure element.
In another aspect of the invention an optical fiber constructed to interface to a non-invasive signal transformation apparatus is provided, the fiber comprising a substantially constant diameter along a longitudinal axis of the fiber; and indentions implemented at repeated distances along the fiber to interface the fiber to one or more layered interface elements, the interface elements each comprising a first electrically conductive layer defining a first surface, a photoactive material layer in intimate contact with the first layer on a second surface opposite the first surface, a second electrically conductive layer in intimate contact with the photoactive material layer, confining the photoactive material layer between the first and second electrically conductive layers, and a third surface angularly disposed to the first surface and intersecting the photoactive material layer. The indentions are shaped to engage the interface elements in a manner that brings an edge of the photoactive material layer into intimate contact with a region of the fiber at an angle other than at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the fiber. In some cases individual ones of said indentions are formed on opposite sides of a diameter of the fiber.
In still another aspect of the invention a method for interfacing an optical fiber to a non-invasive layered interface element comprising a first electrically conductive layer defining a first surface, a photoactive material layer in intimate contact with the first layer on a second surface opposite the first surface, a second electrically conductive la
Boys Donald R.
Central Coast Patent Agency Inc.
Kim Richard
Kim Robert H.
Lextron Systems, Inc.
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