EP0204493A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fibre optic coupler
Assignee: The General Electric Company PLC
•
Filing: 1986-05-27
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2006-05-27
Abstract
Abstract A fibre-optic coupler has the claddings of two or more optical fibres partially fused together over a coupling region, and a body of light-transmissive material, having a variable refractive index, contacts the claddings at the coupling region, such that by varying the refractive index of said body light transmitted along one fibre is split between the fibres in a varying ratio.
Inventors
- 👤 George Antony Georgiou
- 👤 Anthony Christos Boucouvalas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:35
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2821; G02B6/2835; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/29; G02F1/31; G02F1/313; G02F1/3131; G02F1/01; G02F1/0128; G02F1/0131; G02F1/0147; G02F1/11; G02F1/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A fibre-optic coupler of the type comprising at least two optic fibres each having a central core surrounded by a cladding of lower refractive index and in which the claddings of the optic fibres are fused together over part of their length to define a coupling region such that light injected along one of the fibres into the coupling region is split between the fibres, wherein a body of light-transmissive material is disposed in contact with the fused claddings at the coupling region, the refractive index of the body being variable so as to vary the splitting ratio at the coupling region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A fibre-optic coupler of the type comprising at least two optic fibres each having a central core surrounded by a cladding of lower refractive index and in which the claddings of the optic fibres are fused together over part of their length to define a coupling region such that light injected along one of the fibres into the coupling region is split between the fibres, wherein a body of light-transmissive material is disposed in contact with the fused claddings at the coupling region, the refractive index of the body being variable so as to vary the splitting ratio at the coupling region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A coupler according to Claim 1 in combination with controllable means for selectively varying the refractive index of the body of light-transmissive material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A coupler according to Claim 1 wherein the refractive index of the body of light-transmissive material is variable in response to changes in temperature or changes in the strength of an applied electric field.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A coupler according to Claim 1 wherein the body of light-transmissive material is a liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A coupler according to Claim 1 in which the fibre claddings are fused together at only a small portion of their circumferences so that the cross-section of the fibres at the coupling region is of a figure of eight shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A coupler according to Claim 1 wherein the fibres are monomode optic fibres.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A coupler according to Claim 1 in combination with means for injecting light along one of the fibres into the coupling region, and means for comparing the output from the fibres to determine the splitting ratio at the coupling region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A combination according to Claim 7 in which the refractive index of the body of light-transmissive material is variable in response to changes in an electric field, which combination includes means for applying a variable electric field to the material either in response to an external variable or as a control signal to control the splitting ratio of the coupler.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A combination according to Claim 7 ip which the refractive index of the body of light-transmissive material is variable in response to changes in pressure, the combination incorporating a piezoelectric transducer in contact with the material arranged to modulate the refractive index of the material by generating high frequency pressure waves within it.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.