US4285571A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Branching device
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1979-08-20
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Granted: 1981-08-25
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Expires: 1999-08-20
Abstract
Abstract A branching device for optical waveguides by which a component of light is coupled out of the main light path which is formed by a first and second waveguide into a subsidiary third waveguide comprises a simplified construction which reduces material costs as well as assembly costs. For this purpose, the invention provides that between two coaxially aligned optical waveguides there is arranged only one beam divider reflector which is in the form of a coating or layer and that in the region of the group of light beams which is emitted from the end surface of one of the waveguides and is reflected by the beam divider reflector there is a gradient lens which focuses the end surface of the one waveguide onto the end surface of a third waveguide.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerhard Winzer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:59
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2817
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
A branching device for branching a light component out of an optical waveguide, said device comprising first, second and third optical waveguides; means for positioning the first and second optical waveguides as a pair of waveguides with the axis of the first and second waveguides being on a common waveguide axis and a gap between the end surfaces thereof; a beam divider means being disposed in the gap and including a layer extending obliquely to the common waveguide axis for reflecting out a portion of the light transmitted by one of said pair of waveguides as a light component; focusing means including a focusing lens being positioned to receive said light component and focusing the light component in real terms at a point; and means for supporting the third optical waveguide with an end surface arranged at said point, said means for positioning including a carrier for supporting said first and second waveguide, said carrier including a support member and a pair of cylindrical carrier members, said support member being a sleeve member having a wall provided with an aperture at a position to enable the reflected light component to pass from the sleeve member, each of said carrier members receiving one of said waveguides with the axis of the waveguide being parallel to the axis of the carrier member, each of said carrier members consisting of a transparent material at least at the end adjacent to the end surface of the waveguide, and said sleeve member receiving said cylindrical carrier member with their axes aligned.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
A branching device for branching a light component out of an optical waveguide, said device comprising first, second and third optical waveguides; means for positioning the first and second optical waveguides as a pair of waveguides with the axis of the first and second waveguides being on a common waveguide axis and a gap between the end surfaces thereof; a beam divider means being disposed in the gap and including a layer extending obliquely to the common waveguide axis for reflecting out a portion of the light transmitted by one of said pair of waveguides as a light component; focusing means including a focusing lens being positioned to receive said light component and focusing the light component in real terms at a point; and means for supporting the third optical waveguide with an end surface arranged at said point, said means for positioning including a carrier for supporting said first and second waveguide, said carrier including a support member and a pair of cylindrical carrier members, said support member being a sleeve member having a wall provided with an aperture at a position to enable the reflected light component to pass from the sleeve member, each of said carrier members receiving one of said waveguides with the axis of the waveguide being parallel to the axis of the carrier member, each of said carrier members consisting of a transparent material at least at the end adjacent to the end surface of the waveguide, and said sleeve member receiving said cylindrical carrier member with their axes aligned.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A branching device according to claim 1, wherein the layer of the beam divider means is inclined at an angle of 45° to the common waveguide axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A branching device according to claim 1, wherein the focusing lens of the focusing means has an optical axis which is parallel to a reflected light beam which is created by the beam divider means reflecting a light beam traveling in said one waveguide along the common axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A branching device according to claim 3, wherein the optical axis of the focusing lens coincides with said reflected light beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A branching device according to claim 1, wherein the focusing lens is a gradient lens.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
A branching device according to claim 5, wherein the gradient lens is arranged and dimensioned in such a manner that the real image of the end surface of the one waveguide of the pair of waveguides is focused on a light outlet surface of the gradient lens which is said point and the support means places the end surface of the third waveguide in contact with said outlet surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A branching device according to claim 1, wherein the focusing lens is mounted on said carrier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A branching device according to claim 1, wherein the third optical waveguide is firmly connected to said carrier by means for supporting.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A branching device according to claim 1, wherein the layer of the beam divider means extends over the cross-sectional end surface of one of said cylindrical carrier members and its waveguide support therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A branching device according to claim 9, wherein the cylindrical carrier members are arranged in the sleeve member with the other cylindrical carrier member having a surface abutting against the layer of the beam divider means disposed on the one cylindrical carrier member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A branching device according to claim 1, wherein each of the cylindrical carrier members consist of a glass capillary tube with a bore receiving the waveguide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
A branching device according to claim 1, wherein each of the cylindrical carrier members consist of a silicon body and a cover member, said silicon body having a cylindrical surface interrupted by a flat surface with a guide groove disposed therein, said waveguide being received in the guide groove and said cover member composed of transparent material being secured to the flat surface to cover the waveguide received in the groove and complete the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical carrier member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A branching device according to claim 12, wherein the groove is an anisotropic etching groove.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
A branching device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier members have end surfaces engaging said layer, each of said carrier members having a cylindrical surface with a portion being removed and replaced with a flat surface portion adjacent the layer so that said light component reflected by said layer passes through a flat surface portion of said member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A branching device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve member consists of metal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A branching device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve member at its ends is provided with means forming half of a plug connection for linking each of the pair of optical waveguides of the device to other optical waveguides.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A branching device according to claim 16, wherein said half of the plug connection comprises a metallic guide sleeve being fixed by an adhesive on the sleeve member and being coaxially adjusted with the common axis of the waveguides.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A branching device according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the sleeve member has a flat portion surrounding the aperture therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A branching device according to claim 18, wherein the sleeve member adjacent the aperture has a thickened portion to increase the wall thickness, said flat surface being formed in said thickened portion surrounding said opening.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A branching device according to claim 1, wherein the focusing lens of the focusing means is mounted directly on said sleeve member at said aperture.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A branching device according to claim 20, wherein the focusing lens is a gradient lens, a light inlet surface for said gradient lens being disposed on the sleeve member and secured thereto.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A branching device according to claim 21, wherein the means for supporting the third waveguide includes a further support member, said further support member being connected to said sleeve member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A branching device according to claim 22, wherein said further support member comprises a cylindrical body having a bore receiving the third optical waveguide.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A branching device according to claim 23, wherein said cylindrical body of the further support member consists of a glass capillary tube.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
A branching device according to claim 23, wherein said means for supporting further includes an outer sleeve telescopically receiving said cylindrical body having a bore which receives the third waveguide, said outer sleeve being secured directly to the sleeve member to surround the opening in said support member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
A branching device according to claim 25, wherein said outer sleeve consists of metal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
A branching device according to claim 25, wherein the outer sleeve opposite to the end connected to the support member includes means forming a portion of a plug connection for connecting the third waveguide to another waveguide.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
A branching device according to claim 27, wherein said means forming a portion of a plug connection includes a guide sleeve secured on the outer sleeve and said guide sleeve being axially adjusted to the axis of the third optical waveguide.
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) | 1984-08-24 | 1985-02-23 | 1985-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-08-24 | 1989-02-23 | 1989-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-08-24 | 1993-02-23 | 1993-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |