Optical fiber connector structure including three ferrules and a

Details Optical fiber connector structure including three ferrules and a Optical fiber connector structure including three ferrules and a

1992-08-11

1994-05-24

Healy, Brian

Optical waveguides

With disengagable mechanical connector

Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector

385 33, 385 92, 385 29, 385 76, 385 78, 385 84, G02B 626, G02B 632

Patent

active

053156803

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to optical devices and in particular though not exclusively to optical devices housed in optical fibre connectors.
II. Related Art and Other Considerations
Optical devices housed in optical fibre connectors are frequently used in optical communications applications which require relatively inexpensive devices which in addition can be easily connected to and disconnected from an optical fibre transmission line.
The coupling efficiencies of such devices are usually rather low so that, for example, a laser having an optical output of 10 mW may couple only 50 .mu.W into the associated optical fibre. These low coupling efficiencies do not usually in themselves present a problem since in many applications even 50 .mu.W of coupled power provides ample optical power.
A problem does however arise in respect of safety, since disconnecting the fibre and its associated ferrule from the device can lead to several milliwatts of power being emitted into the environment through the fibre receptacle of the connector.
In many cases optical communications links are operated at wavelengths of 1.3 and 1.5 micrometers which presents added risks because radiation at these wavelengths is invisible.
The present invention aims to improve the safety of such optical devices incorporating optical sources having a relatively high intensity or high power output.


SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present invention an optical device comprises an optical source and means for connecting the source to an optical transmission waveguide, an optical baffle.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an optical transmitter device comprises an optical source and means for connecting the source to an optical transmission waveguide, wherein the connecting means comprise an optical baffle.
Preferably, the optical baffle comprises an optical waveguide, the baffle waveguide is conveniently mode matched to the optical transmission waveguide.
Preferably, the baffle waveguide comprises an optical fibre waveguide.
In a preferred form of the present invention, the optical device is housed in an optical fibre connector having an optical fibre receptacle arranged such that the optical fibre, when inserted, abuts against the baffle waveguide.
The optical transmission waveguide is typically an optical fibre waveguide, and the baffle waveguide is preferably arranged for optical energy to be coupled primarily into the core region of the optical transmission fibre. In addition, the baffle waveguide may be arranged to provide absorption of optical energy propagating as "cladding modes". This may be achieved by securing the baffle waveguide with index matched adhesive arranged to strip cladding modes from the waveguide.
The optical source is preferably housed in a separate enclosure which is provided with a window through which the optical radiation is coupled into the baffle waveguide. The window may be a planar window or comprise a graded index or other lens arrangement.
The optical source will usually be a laser, but similar problems arise and may be overcome by adopting the present invention where the source comprises a high power LEDs (light emitting diode) or optical amplifiers.
In order to reduce back reflections through the window into the enclosure, several measure may be taken singly or in combination:
The window may have a small aperture, the end face of the baffle waveguide and/or the end face of a support member for the baffle waveguide facing the source may be shaped or positioned or inclined so as to reduce reflections back through the window of the enclosure. In addition, any surfaces exposed to reflections may be coated with a radiation-absorbing coating.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of an optical device according to the present invention, and
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of part of a mod

REFERENCES:
patent: 4169656 (1979-10-01), Hodge
patent: 4199222 (1980-04-01), Ikushima et al.
patent: 4919505 (1990-04-01), Bartosiak et al.
patent: 5210815 (1993-05-01), Alexander et al.
patent: 5216730 (1993-06-01), Demeritt et al.
patent: 5222170 (1993-06-01), Bargar et al.
patent: 5239605 (1993-08-01), Shimada

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