US4846543A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Star coupler for optical fibers
Assignee: Kaptron Inc
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Filing: 1987-12-18
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Granted: 1989-07-11
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Expires: 2007-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A star coupler/monitor comprises a beam splitter (25) and at least one imaging element (30) oriented relative to first, second, and third spatially discrete regions (35a-c) as follows. A minor portion of the light emanating from any given point in the first region (35a) is imaged at a corresponding point in the second region (35b). A major portion of the light emanating from the given point is imaged at a corresponding point in the third region (35c). The ends of N input fibers in an input bundle (12) are registered in an array in the first region (35a). The ends of N monitor fibers in a monitor bundle (15) are registered fiber-by-fiber at optically conjugate locations in the second region (35b) so that a minor portion of the light emanating from any one of the input fibers is imaged at the corresponding monitor fiber end. An integrating element (17) such as a rod is disposed in the third region (35c). The method achieves registration simply and virtually automatically by forming both bundles in the first instance from a single bundle. The method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of fibers (76), reducing the cladding thickness over corresponding intermediate portions (77) of the fibers, bonding the intermediate portions of the fibers into a tight assembly (79), severing the assembly at an intermediate point to define two bundles, and locating the two bundles so formed at optically conjugate locations.
Inventors
- 👤 Narinder S. Kapany
- 👤 Fred C. Unterleitner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:18
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2817; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4286; G02B6/4287; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
An integrating element for a fiber optic star coupler comprising a transparent rod having first and second ends, said first end having a reflective coating and said second end defining an entrance portion and an exit portion, said rod being formed in a serpentine configuration defining a total amount of angular deviation of at least 270°, said angular deviation being provided on a round trip from said second end to said first end and back, whereby the integrating element is suitable for use in a reflective star coupler.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
An integrating element for a fiber optic star coupler comprising a transparent rod having first and second ends, said first end having a reflective coating and said second end defining an entrance portion and an exit portion, said rod being formed in a serpentine configuration defining a total amount of angular deviation of at least 270°, said angular deviation being provided on a round trip from said second end to said first end and back, whereby the integrating element is suitable for use in a reflective star coupler.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The integrating element of claim 1 wherein said serpentine configuration defines a minimum radius of curvature of about 20-30 times the diameter of said rod.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
155 words
In a method of constructing an interface device for coupling the outputs from respective ones of a first bundle of N fibers to corresponding ones of a second bundle of N fibers in a device including imaging and an even number of reflections, each fiber having a cylindrical core region and a surrounding cladding having a thickness that is small compared to the core diameter over at least an intermediate portion of each of the fibers, the improvement comprising the steps of: aligning the intermediate portions of the fibers so that they are closely packed; bonding the intermediate regions of the fibers to provide a rigid assembly with the fiber cores rigidly aligned relative to one another; severing the assembly at a point in the intermediate region over which the fibers are bonded, thereby defining the first and second bundles; and registering the first and second bundles in optically conjugate regions within the interface device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
155 words
In a method of constructing an interface device for coupling the outputs from respective ones of a first bundle of N fibers to corresponding ones of a second bundle of N fibers in a device including imaging and an even number of reflections, each fiber having a cylindrical core region and a surrounding cladding having a thickness that is small compared to the core diameter over at least an intermediate portion of each of the fibers, the improvement comprising the steps of: aligning the intermediate portions of the fibers so that they are closely packed; bonding the intermediate regions of the fibers to provide a rigid assembly with the fiber cores rigidly aligned relative to one another; severing the assembly at a point in the intermediate region over which the fibers are bonded, thereby defining the first and second bundles; and registering the first and second bundles in optically conjugate regions within the interface device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein said bonding step comprises the step of cementing the intermediate fiber portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein said bonding step comprises the step of fusing the cladding of the intermediate fiber portions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein said step of severing includes the substeps of cleaving said rigid assembly and polishing the cleaved ends resulting therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
169 words
In a method of constructing an interface device for coupling the outputs from respective ones of a first bundle of N fibers to corresponding ones of a second bundle of N fibers in a device including imaging and an even number of reflections, each fiber having a cylindrical core region and a surrounding cladding, the improvement comprising the steps of: removing a portion of the cladding over an intermediate portion of each of the fibers to reduce the thickness of the cladding to a thickness that is small compared to the core diameter; aligning the intermediate portions of the fibers so that they are substantially parallel and closely packed; bonding the intermediate regions of the fibers to provide a rigid assembly with the fiber cores rigidly aligned relative to one another; severing the assembly at a point in the intermediate region over which the fibers are bonded, thereby defining the first and second bundles; and registering the first and second bundles in optically conjugate regions within the interface device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
169 words
In a method of constructing an interface device for coupling the outputs from respective ones of a first bundle of N fibers to corresponding ones of a second bundle of N fibers in a device including imaging and an even number of reflections, each fiber having a cylindrical core region and a surrounding cladding, the improvement comprising the steps of: removing a portion of the cladding over an intermediate portion of each of the fibers to reduce the thickness of the cladding to a thickness that is small compared to the core diameter; aligning the intermediate portions of the fibers so that they are substantially parallel and closely packed; bonding the intermediate regions of the fibers to provide a rigid assembly with the fiber cores rigidly aligned relative to one another; severing the assembly at a point in the intermediate region over which the fibers are bonded, thereby defining the first and second bundles; and registering the first and second bundles in optically conjugate regions within the interface device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 7 wherein said bonding step comprises the step of cementing the fiber portions of reduced cladding thickness.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement of claim 7 wherein said bonding step comprises the step of fusing the cladding of the fiber portions of reduced cladding thickness.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 7 wherein said step of severing includes the substeps of cleaving said rigid assembly and polishing the cleaved ends resulting therefrom.
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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) | 1992-07-10 | 1993-01-09 | 1993-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-10 | 1997-01-09 | 1997-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-10 | 2001-01-09 | 2001-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |