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US4784453A
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Backward-flow ladder architecture and method
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1987-02-02
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Granted: 1988-11-15
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Expires: 2007-02-02
Abstract
Abstract A ladder architecture comprises an input optical fiber bus and an output optical fiber bus. A plurality of input optical couplers couple light between the input bus and a plurality of branching fibers. A plurality of output couplers couple light from the branching fibers to the output bus. The input bus and the branch fibers may be single mode optical fibers while the output bus a multimode optical fiber. The input couplers may be symmetrical, single mode devices, and the output couplers may be asymmetrical and single mode to multimode devices. The input bus may also be a multimode fiber, and the input couplers may also be multimode to single mode devices. The asymmetrical coupling reduces the amount of signal lost at fiber ends.
Inventors
- 👤 H. John Shaw
- 👤 Behzad M. R. Moslehi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:26
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/26; G01D5/32; G01D5/34; G01D5/353; G01D5/35383
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A fiber optic ladder array comprising: a transmit optical fiber bus; a plurality of branch single mode optical fibers; optical coupling means connected between the transmit bus and the branch single mode optical fibers to couple optical signals from the transmit bus into each of the branch single mode optical fibers; an output optical fiber bus that includes an output end; and asymmetric optical coupling means for coupling light from the branch single mode optical fibers into the output optical fiber bus to reduce the amount of optical signla intensity lost when output signals propagate in the output optical fiber bus toward the output end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A fiber optic ladder array comprising: a transmit optical fiber bus; a plurality of branch single mode optical fibers; optical coupling means connected between the transmit bus and the branch single mode optical fibers to couple optical signals from the transmit bus into each of the branch single mode optical fibers; an output optical fiber bus that includes an output end; and asymmetric optical coupling means for coupling light from the branch single mode optical fibers into the output optical fiber bus to reduce the amount of optical signla intensity lost when output signals propagate in the output optical fiber bus toward the output end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fiber optic ladder array in claim 1 wherein the transmit optical fiber bus comprises a single mode optical fiber and the output optical fiber bus comprises a multimode optical fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The fiber optic ladder array of claim 2 wherein the optical coupling means connected between the transmit optical fiber bus and the branch single mode optical fibers comprises a plurality of symmetrical optical couplers for coupling light between the transmit optical fiber bus and each of the branch optical fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
The fiber optic ladder array of claim 3 wherein the asymmetrical coupling means comprises a plurality of asymmetrical optical couplers for coupling light between each of the branch fibers and the output optical fiber bus, each asymmetrical optical coupler being formed to have a greater coupling efficiency for coupling light from the branch fibers into the output optical fiber bus than for coupling light from the output optical fiber bus into the branch fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
The fiber optic ladder array of claim 1 wherein the optical coupling means connected between the transmit optical fiber bus and the branch optical fibers comprises a plurality of symmetrical optical couplers for coupling light between the transmit optical fiber bus and each of the branch optical fibers and wherein the asymmetrical coupling means comprises a plurality of asymmetrical optical couplers for coupling light between each of the branch fibers and the output optical fiber bus, each asymmetrical optical coupler being formed to have a greater coupling efficiency for coupling light from the branch fibers into the output optical fiber bus than for coupling light from the output optical fiber bus into the branch fibers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The fiber optic ladder array of claim 1 wherein the transmit optical fiber bus comprises a multimode optical fiber, each branch optical fiber comprises a single mode optical fiber, and the output optical fiber bus comprises a multimode optical fiber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The fiber optic ladder array of claim 6 wherein the optical coupling means connected between the transmit optical fiber bus and the branch single mode optical fibers comprises a plurality of asymmetrical optical couplers for coupling light between the transmit optical fiber bus and each of the branch optical fibers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The fiber optic ladder array of claim 7 comprising a plurality of asymmetrical optical couplers for coupling light between each of the branch fibers and the output optical fiber bus, each asymmetrical optical coupler being formed to have a greater coupling efficiency for coupling light from the branch fibers into the output optical fiber bus than for coupling light from the output optical fiber bus into the branch fibers.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for forming a fiber optic ladder array, comprising the steps of: forming a transmit optical fiber bus; forming a plurality of branch single mode optical fibers; coupling optical signals between the transmit bus and the branch single mode optical fibers with optical coupling means connected between the transmit optical fiber bus and the branch optical fibers; forming an output optical fiber bus; and forming a plurality of asymmetrical optical couplers for coupling light from the branch single mode optical fibers into the output optical fiber bus to reduce the amount of optical signal intensity lost when output signals propagate in the output optical fiber bus.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for forming a fiber optic ladder array, comprising the steps of: forming a transmit optical fiber bus; forming a plurality of branch single mode optical fibers; coupling optical signals between the transmit bus and the branch single mode optical fibers with optical coupling means connected between the transmit optical fiber bus and the branch optical fibers; forming an output optical fiber bus; and forming a plurality of asymmetrical optical couplers for coupling light from the branch single mode optical fibers into the output optical fiber bus to reduce the amount of optical signal intensity lost when output signals propagate in the output optical fiber bus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 9, further including the steps of: forming the transmit optical fiber bus to comprise a single mode optical fiber; and forming the output optical fiber bus to comprise a multimode optical fiber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 10, further including the step of forming the optical coupling means connected between the transmit optical fiber bus and the branch single mode optical fibers to comprise a plurality of symmetrical optical couplers for coupling light between the transmit optical fiber bus and each of the branch optical fibers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 11, further including the step of: forming each asymmetrical optical coupler to have a greater coupling efficiency for coupling light from the branch fibers into the output optical fiber bus than for coupling light from the output optical fiber bus into the branch fibers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method of claim 9, further including the steps of: forming the optical coupling means connected between the transmit optical fiber bus and the branch single mode optical fibers to comprise a plurality of symmetrical optical couplers for coupling light between the transmit optical fiber bus and each of the branch single mode optical fibers; and forming each asymmetrical optical coupler to have a greater coupling efficiency for coupling light from the branch single mode fibers into the output optical fiber bus than for coupling light from the output optical fiber bus into the branch single mode fibers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 9, further including the steps of: forming the transmit optical fiber bus to comprise a multimode optical fiber; forming each branch optical fiber to comprise a single mode optical fiber; and forming the optical fiber output bus to comprise a multimode optical fiber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 14, further including the steps of: forming the coupling means to comprise a plurality of asymmetrical optical couplers for coupling light between each of the branch fibers and the output optical fiber bus; and forming each asymmetrical optical coupler to have a greater coupling efficiency for coupling light from the branch fibers into the output optical fiber bus than for coupling light from the output optical fiber bus into the branch fibers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 15, further including the steps of; coupling light between each of the branch fibers and the output optical fiber bus with a plurality of asymmetrical optical couplers; and forming each asymmetrical optical coupler to have a greater coupling efficiency for coupling light from the branch fibers into the output optical fiber bus than for coupling light from the output optical fiber bus into the branch fibers.
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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) | 1991-11-15 | 1992-05-16 | 1992-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-15 | 1996-05-16 | 1996-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-15 | 2000-05-16 | 2000-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |