Metallized coupler for optical waveguide light source

Claim 2

An optical communication system comprising light transmitting means including at least one optical waveguide for propagating optical wave energy, a light coupler having a tapered core of transparent material and a layer of transparent cladding material disposed upon at least a portion of the surface of said core, the refractive index n1 of said core material being greater than the refractive index n2 of said transparent cladding material, and a reflecting metallic layer surrounding at least that portion of said core which is adjacent to the small diameter end of said coupler, said metallic layer forming a smooth interface that is reflective to most of said optical wave energy that is incident thereon, means for supporting the large diameter end of said core adjacent to an end of said light transmitting means so that said core is aligned with the light transmitting area of said light transmitting means, and electro-optic energy conversion means disposed adjacent to the small diameter end of said core.

Claim 3

An optical communication system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transparent cladding layer is disposed upon the entire surface of said tapered core and said metallic layer is disposed upon the surface of said cladding layer.

Claim 4

An optical communication system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said metallic layer is disposed directly upon that portion of the surface of said core extending from the small diameter end of said coupler an axial distance C which is determined by the equation

Claim 5

An optical communication system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said light coupler is disposed at the input end of said transmitting means, said electro-optic energy conversion means comprising light source means for dIrecting light into the small diameter end of said core.

Claim 6

An optical communication system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said light transmitting means comprises a bundle of optical waveguides disposed in side-by-side relation.

Claim 7

An optical communication system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said light transmitting means comprises a single optical waveguide, the core of which is substantially aligned with the large diameter end of said tapered core.

Claim 8

An optical communication system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the refractive index of said tapered core varies throughout the length thereof, the refractive index at the large diameter end of said tapered core being less than that at the small diameter end thereof.

Claim 9

An optical communication system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the refractive index of said tapered core varies gradually.

Claim 10

An optical communication system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said tapered core consists of a plurality of segments, each having a refractive index different from the adjacent segment.

Claim 11

An optical communication system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coupler is disposed at the output end of said light transmitting means, said electro-optic energy conversion means comprising means for detecting light radiating from the small diameter end of said coupler.

Claim 12

In an optical communication system of the type wherein optical wave energy is propagated through light transmitting means including at least one optical waveguide, a light coupler comprising a tapered core of transparent material and a layer of transparent cladding material disposed upon a portion of the surface of said core extending from the large diameter end thereof, the refractive index of said core material being greater than that of said transparent cladding material, a reflecting metallic layer disposed upon the exposed portion of said core, the junction between said metallic layer and said transparent cladding layer being located an axial distance C from the small diameter end of said core, C being given by the equation

Claim 13

In an optical communication system of the type wherein optical wave energy is propagated through light transmitting means including at least one optical waveguide, a light coupler comprising a tapered core of transparent material and a layer of transparent cladding material disposed upon a portion of the surface of said core extending from the large diameter end thereof, the refractive index of said core material being greater than that of said transparent cladding material, a reflecting metallic layer disposed upon the exposed portion of said core, the junction between said metallic layer and said transparent cladding layer being located an axial distance C from the small diameter end of said core, C being given by the equation

Claim 14

An optical communication system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said light coupler is disposed at the input end of said light transmitting means, said electro-optic energy conversion means comprising light source means for directing light into the small diameter end of said core.

Claim 15

An optical communication system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said coupler is disposed at the output end of said light transmitting means, said electro-optic energy conversion means comprising means for detecting light radiating from the small diameter end of said coupler.

Claim 16

In an optical communication system of the type comprising light transmitting means including at least one optical waveguide, a source of optical wave energy, and a light coupler having an input end for receiving light from said source and an output end for emitting light into said at least one waveguide, said coupler being characterized in that it comprises a tapered core of transparent material, said tapered core having a small diameter end at the input end of said coupler which is adapted to receive light from said source, and a large diameter end at the output end of said coupler, a layer of transparent cladding material disposed upon the surface of said core, the refractive index of said tapered core material being greater than that of said transparent cladding mateRial, a reflecting metallic layer disposed upon the surface of said transparent cladding layer and forming therewith a smooth interface that is reflective to most of said optical wave energy, and means for supporting the large diameter end of said tapered core adjacent to an end of said light transmitting means so that said tapered core is aligned with the light transmitting area of said light transmitting means and light radiating from said coupler initiates the propagation of light waves in said light transmitting means.

Claim 17

In an optical communication system of the type comprising light transmitting means including at least one optical waveguide, a source of optical wave energy, and a light coupler having an input end for receiving light from said source and an output end for emitting light into said at least one waveguide, said coupler being characterized in that it comprises a tapered core of transparent material, said tapered core having a small diameter end at the input end of said coupler which is adapted to receive light from said source, and a large diameter end at the output end of said coupler, a layer of transparent cladding material disposed upon the surface of said core, the refractive index of said tapered core material being greater than that of said transparent cladding mateRial, a reflecting metallic layer disposed upon the surface of said transparent cladding layer and forming therewith a smooth interface that is reflective to most of said optical wave energy, and means for supporting the large diameter end of said tapered core adjacent to an end of said light transmitting means so that said tapered core is aligned with the light transmitting area of said light transmitting means and light radiating from said coupler initiates the propagation of light waves in said light transmitting means.

Claim 18

An optical communication system in accordance with claim 14 wherein the refractive index of said tapered core varies throughout the length thereof, the refractive index at the large diameter of said tapered core being less than that at the small diameter end thereof.

Claim 19

An optical communication system in accordance with claim 15 wherein the refractive index of said tapered core varies gradually.

Claim 20

An optical communication system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said tapered core consists of a plurality of segments, each having a refractive index different from the adjacent segment.

Claim 21

An optical communication system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the reflection efficiency of said interface is about 90 percent.

Claim 22

An optical communication system in accordance with claim 14 wherein the reflection efficiency of said interface is about 90 percent.