US3874779A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable ratio light coupler
Assignee: Corning Glass Works
•
Filing: 1973-07-05
•
Granted: 1975-04-01
•
Expires: 1993-07-05
Abstract
Abstract A coupler disposed between two sections of optical signal transmission line for extracting from one of the sections a fraction of the energy transmitted thereby. The coupler comprises first and second 45* right prisms which are so disposed that the large area planar surfaces thereof are slightly spaced and are parallel. Disposed between the prisms is a sheet of transparent material having a refractive index lower than the refractive indices of the prisms. The transparent sheet is slidably disposed between the two prisms so that it can easily be replaced by another sheet having a different refractive index. Input light from one of the sections of transmission line is coupled to one of the prisms and impinges upon the prism-sheet interface at such an angle that a fraction of the input light reflects from the interface and is thus extracted from the optical signal transmission line. The remainder of the input light passes through the sheet of transparent material into the second prism, and after propagating therethrough, is coupled to the second section of optical signal transmission line.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank L Thiel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:03
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2817; G02B26/00; G02B26/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
283 words
A variable ratio light coupler for use in an optical communication system including first and second sections of optical signal transmission line, said coupler comprising a first transparent member having first and second opposed, nonparallel planar surfaces and a third planar surface intersecting said second planar surface and making an acute angle therewith, a second transparent member having first and second opposed nonparallel planar surfaces and a third planar surface intersecting said second planar surface and making an acute angle therewith, said second surface of said second member being parallel to and slightly spaced from said second surface of said first member, a layer of transparent material disposed between said first and second members, the refractive index of said layer being less than that of said first and second members, first coupling means disposed adjacent to said first surface of said first member, said first coupling means being adapted to couple light from said first section of optical signal transmission line into said first member, the longitudinal axis of said first section of transmission line making an angle other than 90* with said second surface of said first member, output means for receiving that light which reflects from the interface between said first member and said layer, second coupling means disposed adjacent to said third surface of said first member for coupling light between said first member and said output means, third coupling means disposed adjacent to said first surface of said second member for coupling light from said second member into said second section of optical signal transmission line, and means for changing the material of said layer, thereby changing the refractive index of the medium between said first and second members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
283 words
A variable ratio light coupler for use in an optical communication system including first and second sections of optical signal transmission line, said coupler comprising a first transparent member having first and second opposed, nonparallel planar surfaces and a third planar surface intersecting said second planar surface and making an acute angle therewith, a second transparent member having first and second opposed nonparallel planar surfaces and a third planar surface intersecting said second planar surface and making an acute angle therewith, said second surface of said second member being parallel to and slightly spaced from said second surface of said first member, a layer of transparent material disposed between said first and second members, the refractive index of said layer being less than that of said first and second members, first coupling means disposed adjacent to said first surface of said first member, said first coupling means being adapted to couple light from said first section of optical signal transmission line into said first member, the longitudinal axis of said first section of transmission line making an angle other than 90* with said second surface of said first member, output means for receiving that light which reflects from the interface between said first member and said layer, second coupling means disposed adjacent to said third surface of said first member for coupling light between said first member and said output means, third coupling means disposed adjacent to said first surface of said second member for coupling light from said second member into said second section of optical signal transmission line, and means for changing the material of said layer, thereby changing the refractive index of the medium between said first and second members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A light coupler in accordance with claim 1 wherein said output means comprises an auxiliary optical signal transmission line having one end disposed adjacent to said second coupling means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A light coupler in accordance with claim 1 wherein said layer of transparent material comprises a sheet of material that is slidably disposed between said first and second members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A light coupler in accordance with claim 3 wherein said sheet comprises a plurality of sections each having a different refractive index.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A light coupler in accordance with claim 1 where said layer of transparent material comprises a liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A light coupler in accordance with claim 1 wherein the refractive index of said first member is equal to the refractive index of said second member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A light coupler in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second members are first and second right prisms, respectively, said second surfaces of said first and second members constituting the large area faces of said prisms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A light coupler in accordance with claim 7 wherein said prisms are 45* right prisms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A light coupler in accordance with claim 8 wherein the first surface of said first and second members are perpendicular to the axes of said first and second transmission lines, respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
251 words
A variable ratio light coupler comprising first and second right prisms of transparent material, each of said prisms having first and third planar surfaces of substantially equal area and a second planar surface of greater area than said first and third surfaces, the second surface of said second prism being parallel to and slightly spaced from the second surface of said first prism, a layer of transparent material disposed between said first and second prisms, the refractive index of said layer being less than that of said first and second prisms, means for changinG the material of said layer, thereby changing the refractive index of the medium between said first and second right prisms, and first, second and third elongated rods of transparent material, each of said rods terminating in first and second planar endfaces that are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, said first endface of said first rod being disposed adjacent to said first surface of said first prism, the axis of said first rod being substantially perpendicular to said first surface of said first prism, said first endface of said second rod being disposed adjacent to said third surface of said first prism, the longitudinal axis of said second rod being substantially perpendicular to said third surface of said first prism, said first endface of said third rod being disposed adjacent to the first surface of said second prism, the longitudinal axis of said third rod being substantially perpendicular to said first surface of said second prism.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
251 words
A variable ratio light coupler comprising first and second right prisms of transparent material, each of said prisms having first and third planar surfaces of substantially equal area and a second planar surface of greater area than said first and third surfaces, the second surface of said second prism being parallel to and slightly spaced from the second surface of said first prism, a layer of transparent material disposed between said first and second prisms, the refractive index of said layer being less than that of said first and second prisms, means for changinG the material of said layer, thereby changing the refractive index of the medium between said first and second right prisms, and first, second and third elongated rods of transparent material, each of said rods terminating in first and second planar endfaces that are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, said first endface of said first rod being disposed adjacent to said first surface of said first prism, the axis of said first rod being substantially perpendicular to said first surface of said first prism, said first endface of said second rod being disposed adjacent to said third surface of said first prism, the longitudinal axis of said second rod being substantially perpendicular to said third surface of said first prism, said first endface of said third rod being disposed adjacent to the first surface of said second prism, the longitudinal axis of said third rod being substantially perpendicular to said first surface of said second prism.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A light coupler in accordance with claim 10 wherein said layer comprises a sheet of transparent material slidably disposed between said first and second members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A light coupler in accordance with claim 11 wherein said sheet comprises a plurality of sections each having a different refractive index.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A light coupler in accordance with claim 11 wherein said second and third rods are tapered, the first endfaces of said second and third rods being larger than the second endfaces thereof,
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A light coupler in accordance with claim 11 wherein said rods are provided with a layer of transparent cladding material disposed on the surface thereof, the refractive index of said cladding material being lower than that of said rods.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
A light coupler in accordance with claim 11 further comprising a fourth elongated rod of transparent material having a first planar endface disposed adjacent to said third surface of said second prism, the longitudinal axis of said fourth rod being substantially perpendicular to said third surface of said second prism.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A light coupler in accordance with claim 11 wherein the refractive index of said first prism is equal to that of second prism.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A light coupler in accordance with claim 11 wherein said prisms are 45* right prisms.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
A light coupler in accordance with claim 11 further comprising first, second and third means for connecting an optical signal transmission line to said second endfaces of said first, second and third rods, respectively.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |