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US5037180A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical filter on optical fiber end face

Assignee: Furukawa Electric North America Inc
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Filing: 1990-07-19
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Granted: 1991-08-06
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Expires: 2010-07-19
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Abstract

Abstract In this invention there is disclosed an optical filter disposed on an optical fiber. More specifically, a filter comprised of a multilayer thin-film stack of low and high index of refraction material is deposited onto the end of an optical fiber. The filter can be, for example, a long-pass filter, a Fabry-Perot Etalon, a Double-Cavity Filter, and the like. Filters deposited on perpendicular facets of single-mode fibers reflect most of the power that is not transmitted. This reflection if fed back to a laser or an amplifier can cause a problem, particularly if an isolator does not adequately block the reflections. A bevel on the fiber end face can eliminate this problem by preventing the reflected power from being directed back into the optical fiber.

Inventors

  • 👤 Julian Stone

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 20:36
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/02052

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 76 words
An optical fiber comprising a core within a cladding, an optical filter comprising a thin-film stack of low and high index of refraction material applied to an end face of said optical fiber by thin film deposition, and the end face of the optical fiber and said optical filter is at an angle which is within a range which varies from less than 90 degrees to 75 degrees relative to the core of said optical fiber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 76 words
An optical fiber comprising a core within a cladding, an optical filter comprising a thin-film stack of low and high index of refraction material applied to an end face of said optical fiber by thin film deposition, and the end face of the optical fiber and said optical filter is at an angle which is within a range which varies from less than 90 degrees to 75 degrees relative to the core of said optical fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 61 words
The optical fiber of claim 1 coupled to a second optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding and at least one end face, said end face of said second optical fiber has an angle which is substantially equal to that of said first optical fiber and means to optically align said first and second optical fibers to each other end-to-end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 31 words
The arrangement of claim 2 wherein the angle of the end face of said second optical fiber is not equal to the angle of the face of said second optical fiber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The arrangement of claim 3 wherein the end face of said second optical fiber is substantially perpendicular to the core of said second fiber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
The arrangement of claim 3 comprising material having an index of refraction other than air positioned between said ends of said optical fibers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
The arrangement of claim 5 wherein said material has an index of refraction which is substantially equal to the index of refraction of the core of one of said optical fibers.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4358851A Cited
US4867520A Cited
US4759596A Cited
US4768849A Cited
US4892388A Cited
US4958897A Cited
US4952798A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-08-05 1995-02-04 1995-08-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-08-05 1999-02-04 1999-08-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-08-05 2003-02-04 2003-08-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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