EP0164212A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Single-mode fiber optic saturable absorber
Assignee: Leland Stanford Junior University
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Filing: 1985-04-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-04-29
Abstract
Abstract A fiber optic saturable absorber for processing optical signals is characterized by an optical fiber (20) from which a portion (40) of the cladding (36) is removed to form a facing surface (28). A light-absorbing substance (30) having non- linear light-absorbing characteristics is applied to the facing surface (28) such that a portion of the optical signal energy is transferred from the fiber (20) to the substance (30) where it is absorbed. The device selectively attenuates the optical signal and noise, and can be used to reduce pulse waveform distortion caused by pulse broadening and by amplification of system noise.
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne V. Soren
- 👤 Robert C. Youngquist
- 👤 Cassius C. Cutler
- 👤 Herbert John Shaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:01
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/264; G02B6/266; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2821; G02B6/2826; G02B6/2861; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/35; G02F1/3523
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A fiber optic saturable absorber, for processing an optical signal, characterized by: an optical fiber (20) having a core (34) and a cladding (36) and further having a portion (40) of the cladding (36) removed therefrom to form a facing surface (28) on the fiber (20) for exposing the evanescent field (38) of an optical signal propagating through said optical fiber (20); and a light-absorbing substance (30) applied to the facing surface (28) for exposure to said evanescent field (38) of said optical signal, said light-absorbing substance (30) having non-linear light absorbing characteristics selected to cause selective attenuation of said optical signal propagating within said optical fiber (20), such that the percentage of absorption of said optical signal by said light-absorbing substance (30) decreases as the intensity of said optical signal increases.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A fiber optic saturable absorber, for processing an optical signal, characterized by: an optical fiber (20) having a core (34) and a cladding (36) and further having a portion (40) of the cladding (36) removed therefrom to form a facing surface (28) on the fiber (20) for exposing the evanescent field (38) of an optical signal propagating through said optical fiber (20); and a light-absorbing substance (30) applied to the facing surface (28) for exposure to said evanescent field (38) of said optical signal, said light-absorbing substance (30) having non-linear light absorbing characteristics selected to cause selective attenuation of said optical signal propagating within said optical fiber (20), such that the percentage of absorption of said optical signal by said light-absorbing substance (30) decreases as the intensity of said optical signal increases.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The fiber optic saturable absorber as defined in Claim 1 characterized in that the light-absorbing substance (30) is a solution of an index-matching material and a saturable light-absorbing dye.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The fiber optic saturable absorber as defined in any of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the light-absorbing substance (30) has characteristics such that the percentage of the optical signal absorbed is substantially constant below a threshold signal intensity, and wherein the percentage of optical signal absorbed decreases as the signal intensity increases above the threshold level.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of processing an optical signal, characterized by the steps of: propagating said signal through a single, continuous, 'uninterrupted length of optical fiber (20); and selectively attenuating the intensity of said signal at a selected location (28) along said single, continuous, uninterrupted length of optical fiber (20).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of processing an optical signal, characterized by the steps of: propagating said signal through a single, continuous, 'uninterrupted length of optical fiber (20); and selectively attenuating the intensity of said signal at a selected location (28) along said single, continuous, uninterrupted length of optical fiber (20).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of processing an optical signal as defined in Claim 4 characterized in that said step of selectively attenuating the intensity of said signal comprises the step of removing a percentage of the intensity of said signal from said optical fiber (20), said percentage decreasing as the intensity of the signal increases.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of processing an optical signal as defined in Claim 5 further characterized in that said percentage decreases non-linearly as the intensity of the signal increases.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
41 words
The method of processing an optical signal as defined in any of Claims 5 or 6, further characterized in that said removing step comprises applying a light-absorbing substance (30) to said selected location. (28) to absorb said percentage of said signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of processing an optical signal as defined in Claim 7 further characterized by the steps of: circulating said light absorbing substance (30) across a facing surface (28); and controlling the temperature of said light absorbing substance (30) to maintain a substantially constant temperature.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of manufacturing a selective attenuator for an optical fiber data system, characterized by the steps of: removing a portion (40) of the cladding (36) from an optical fiber (20) to form a facing surface (28) on the optical fiber (20) to expose the evanescent field (38) of an optical signal propagating therethrough at said facing surface (28); and applying a light-absorbing substance (30) to the facing surface (28) to cause absorption of a portion of the optical energy from said evanescent field (38).
Claim 12
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of manufacturing a selective attenuator for an optical fiber data system, characterized by the steps of: removing a portion (40) of the cladding (36) from an optical fiber (20) to form a facing surface (28) on the optical fiber (20) to expose the evanescent field (38) of an optical signal propagating therethrough at said facing surface (28); and applying a light-absorbing substance (30) to the facing surface (28) to cause absorption of a portion of the optical energy from said evanescent field (38).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of manufacturing a selective attenuator as defined in Claim 9 further characterized by the step of combining an index-matching material with a light-absorbing dye to form the light-absorbing substance (30).
Claim 14
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of conditioning an optical signal having first and second signal levels, said first signal level lower than said second signal level, said method restoring the shape of said optical signal, and characterized by the step of absorbing a relatively greater percentage of the optical energy of said first signal level than of said second signal level, said relatively greater percentage varying non-linearly with respect to the difference in the first and second signal levels.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of conditioning an optical signal having first and second signal levels, said first signal level lower than said second signal level, said method restoring the shape of said optical signal, and characterized by the step of absorbing a relatively greater percentage of the optical energy of said first signal level than of said second signal level, said relatively greater percentage varying non-linearly with respect to the difference in the first and second signal levels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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