US4607912A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
In-line optical fiber polarizer
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1983-12-07
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Granted: 1986-08-26
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Expires: 2003-12-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and means for forming an in-line integrated optical fiber polarizer comprising the steps of providing a length of highly birefringent optical fiber, and thermal tapering one or more separated but approximately adjacent small sections of that optical fiber in order to reduce the core diameter at those sections. This core diameter reduction adjusts the V-value for the fiber so that polarization-dependent transmission effects become evident at the wavelength of operation.
Inventors
- 👤 William K. Burns
- 👤 Carl A. Villarruel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:28
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/105; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
An in-line integrated optical fiber polarizer comprising: a length of polarization holding optical fiber; and a first small portion on the order of 1 cm or less of said length of polarization-holding optical fiber having a thermally-tapered reduced core diameter for effecting polarization of light signals propagating within said length of optical fiber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
An in-line integrated optical fiber polarizer comprising: a length of polarization holding optical fiber; and a first small portion on the order of 1 cm or less of said length of polarization-holding optical fiber having a thermally-tapered reduced core diameter for effecting polarization of light signals propagating within said length of optical fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An integrated fiber polarizer as defined in claim 1, further comprising a protective jacket disposed around said small portion of polarization-holding optical fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An integrated fiber polarizer as defined in claim 2, wherein a second small portion of said length of polarization-holding optical fiber has a thermally-tapered reduced core diameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
An in-line integrated optical fiber polarizer comprising: a single length of polarization-holding optical fiber; a plurality of small portions of said length of polarization-holding optical fiber, each of said small portions having a thermally-tapered reduced core diameter for effecting polarization of light signals propagating within said length of optical fiber, said small portions being separated from each other but approximately adjacent to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
An in-line integrated optical fiber polarizer comprising: a single length of polarization-holding optical fiber; a plurality of small portions of said length of polarization-holding optical fiber, each of said small portions having a thermally-tapered reduced core diameter for effecting polarization of light signals propagating within said length of optical fiber, said small portions being separated from each other but approximately adjacent to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An integrated polarizer as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said small portions is on the order of 1 cm or less in length.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
51 words
A method for forming an in-line integrated optical fiber polarizer comprising the steps of: providing a length of high-birefringence optical fiber; thermal tapering a plurality of separated but approximately adjacent small portions of said length of optical fiber in order to reduce the core diameter of these small portions of fiber.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
51 words
A method for forming an in-line integrated optical fiber polarizer comprising the steps of: providing a length of high-birefringence optical fiber; thermal tapering a plurality of separated but approximately adjacent small portions of said length of optical fiber in order to reduce the core diameter of these small portions of fiber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said thermal tapering step comprises the step of thermal tapering to form each of said small portions to be on the order of 1 cm or less in length.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
43 words
A method for forming an in-line integrated optical fiber polarizer comprising the steps of: providing a single length of polarization-holding optical fiber including a core; and reducing by thermal tapering the core diameter of a discrete portion of the length of polarization-holding fiber.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
43 words
A method for forming an in-line integrated optical fiber polarizer comprising the steps of: providing a single length of polarization-holding optical fiber including a core; and reducing by thermal tapering the core diameter of a discrete portion of the length of polarization-holding fiber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as defined in claim 8, wherein said core diameter reducing step comprises the step of thermal tapering said discrete portion of the length of said polarization holding fiber to obtain polarization-dependent transmission effects at an optical wavelength of interest to obtain polarization at this wavelength.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as defined in claim 9, wherein said thermal tapering step comprises the step of thermal tapering a small portion on the order of 1 centimeter or less of the length of said polarization holding fiber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as defined in claim 10, wherein said thermal tapering step comprises the step of thermal tapering said small portion of the length of polarization-holding fiber to reduce the core diameter of the fiber by a factor of approximately two.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as defined in claim 10, wherein said polarization-holding fiber providing step comprises the step of providing a highly birefringent optical fiber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as defined in claim 12, wherein said thermal tapering step includes the steps of: removing the jacket from a small section of the length of optical fiber; heating this jacketless small section of optical fiber; and stretching the fiber while stationary along its axial direction to obtain said small portion of the length of optical fiber of reduced core diameter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in claim 13, further comprising the step of disposing a protective jacket around said small portion of reduced core diameter fiber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 13, comprising the step of disposing a glass tube around said small portion of reduced-core diameter fiber and epoxying said fiber within said glass tube.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-08-25 | 1990-02-24 | 1990-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-25 | 1994-02-24 | 1994-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-25 | 1998-02-24 | 1998-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |