Patent EP0184432A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0184432A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical coupler
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1985-12-03
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2005-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A coupler for coupling light between optical fibers (11, 16) having substantially different numerical apertures and core diameters is disclosed. The coupler comprises a pair of abutting graded-index-of-refraction lenses (14, 15) with each lens having a numerical aperture which is different from the other. This arrangement can be advantageously utilized for coupling light between multimode and monomode optical fibers.
Inventors
- 👤 Josef Ocenasek
- 👤 Carl Ragnar Sandahl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:10
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/262; G02B6/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
An optical coupler characterised by a first optical fiber having a first numerical aperture, a second optical fiber having a substantially different second numdrical aperture, and first and second abutting graded-index-of-refraction lenses disposed between said first and second optical fibers so as to couple light therebetween and said lenses having numerical apertures which are substantially different from one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
An optical coupler characterised by a first optical fiber having a first numerical aperture, a second optical fiber having a substantially different second numdrical aperture, and first and second abutting graded-index-of-refraction lenses disposed between said first and second optical fibers so as to couple light therebetween and said lenses having numerical apertures which are substantially different from one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The coupler of claim 1, characterised in that said lenses have a combined longitudinal length equal to a one-half wavelength of the period of the sinusoidal path followed by an optical signal propagating through said lehses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The coupler of claim 1, characterised in that said first and second optical fibers are respectively multimode and monomode optical fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The coupler of claim 3, characterised in that said first lens is adjacent to said first fiber and has a third numerical aperture which is greater than said first numerical aperture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The coupler of claim 4, characterised in that said second lens is adjacent to said second fiber and has a fourth numerical aperture which is less than said second numerical aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The coupler of claim 1, characterised in that said first and second lenses are substantially in contact with said first and second fibers, respectively.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.