Patent US5117472A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5117472A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical coupler with mode-mixing refractive microparticles
Assignee: Furukawa Electric North America Inc
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Filing: 1990-12-28
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Granted: 1992-05-26
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Expires: 2010-12-28
Abstract
Abstract An optical coupler having an optical core in which a small concentration of refractive microparticles has been added to a suspension material of the optical core. The result is that light from an optical source is bent slightly by the refractive effects of the microparticles and is coupled into the higher order of modes over a relatively short distance within the optical core. These microparticles are closely matched to the index of refraction of the suspension material resulting in smaller deflection angles and fewer reflections. In addition, these microparticles match the specific gravity of the suspension material such that they do not settle out of a suspension while the optical core material is being hardened from a semi-liquid state.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee L. Blyler, Jr.
- 👤 Robert W. Filas
- 👤 Gary J. Grimes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:18
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2808; G02B6/10; G02B6/14; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4202; G02B6/32; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3855; G02B6/3861; G02B6/4204; G02B6/4212
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
An optical device for the communication of light, comprising: an optical cladding structure; and an optical core within said optical cladding structure for communicating light from an input of said optical core to an output of said optical core; said optical core comprising a suspension material having a plurality of refractive particles for coupling light from lower order propagating modes into higher order propagating modes and said plurality of particles having an index of refraction approximately equal to an index of refraction of said suspension material so as to reduce the amount of light being lost through said cladding structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
An optical device for the communication of light, comprising: an optical cladding structure; and an optical core within said optical cladding structure for communicating light from an input of said optical core to an output of said optical core; said optical core comprising a suspension material having a plurality of refractive particles for coupling light from lower order propagating modes into higher order propagating modes and said plurality of particles having an index of refraction approximately equal to an index of refraction of said suspension material so as to reduce the amount of light being lost through said cladding structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The optical device of claim 1 wherein specific gravities of said suspension material and said refractive particles are approximately equal whereby said refractive particles remain suspended in said suspension material for long periods of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical device of claim 1 wherein said suspension material is a cross-linkable silicone resin and said particles are fabricated from silicon dioxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical device of claim 3 wherein each of said particles is an aggregation of smaller particles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical device of claim 1 wherein said suspension material is silicone elastomer and said particles are fabricated from poly(isobutyl methacrylate).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical device of claim 5 wherein each of said particles has a dimension of 10 to 500 microns.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus comprising a plurality of optical signal sources, an optical receiver, and an optical coupler for communicating light between said plurality of optical signal sources and said optical receiver, said optical coupler comprising: an optical cladding structure; and an optical core within said optical cladding structure for communicating light to said optical receiver from said plurality of optical signal sources; said optical core comprising a suspension material having a plurality of refractive particles for coupling light from lower order propagating modes into higher order propagating modes and said plurality of particles having an index of refraction approximately equal to an index of refraction of said suspension material so as to reduce the amount of light being lost through said cladding structure.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus comprising a plurality of optical signal sources, an optical receiver, and an optical coupler for communicating light between said plurality of optical signal sources and said optical receiver, said optical coupler comprising: an optical cladding structure; and an optical core within said optical cladding structure for communicating light to said optical receiver from said plurality of optical signal sources; said optical core comprising a suspension material having a plurality of refractive particles for coupling light from lower order propagating modes into higher order propagating modes and said plurality of particles having an index of refraction approximately equal to an index of refraction of said suspension material so as to reduce the amount of light being lost through said cladding structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said optical signal sources are optical fibers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said optical signal sources are optical lasers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein specific gravities of said suspension material and said refractive particles are approximately equal whereby said refractive particles remain suspended in said suspension material for long periods of time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said suspension material is a cross-linkable silicone resin and said particles are fabricated from silicon dioxide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each of said particles is an aggregation of smaller particles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said suspension material is silicone elastomer and said particles are fabricated from poly(isobutyl methacrylate).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein each of said particles has a dimension of 10 to 500 microns.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said optical receiver comprises an optical detector and a lens for focusing said light onto said optical detector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said optical receiver comprises a plurality of optical fibers.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for fabricating an optical coupler for optically coupling light between an optical signal source and an optical receiver in a cavity formed by an optical cladding structure, comprising the steps of: attaching said optical receiver and said optical signal source each to a different end of said optical cladding structure; and injecting into said optical cladding structure a medium comprising a suspension material and refractive particles to form an optical core for coupling light from lower order propagating modes into higher order propagating modes whereby an index of refraction of said refractive particles is approximately equal to an index of refraction of said suspension material so as to reduce the amount of light lost through said cladding structure.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for fabricating an optical coupler for optically coupling light between an optical signal source and an optical receiver in a cavity formed by an optical cladding structure, comprising the steps of: attaching said optical receiver and said optical signal source each to a different end of said optical cladding structure; and injecting into said optical cladding structure a medium comprising a suspension material and refractive particles to form an optical core for coupling light from lower order propagating modes into higher order propagating modes whereby an index of refraction of said refractive particles is approximately equal to an index of refraction of said suspension material so as to reduce the amount of light lost through said cladding structure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said optical receiver is a plurality of optical fibers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said optical signal source is a plurality of optical fibers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said optical signal source is an optical laser.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 20 wherein specific gravities of said suspension material and said refractive particles are approximately equal whereby said refractive particles remain suspended approximately uniformly in said suspension material for long periods of time.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said optical receiver comprises an optical detector and a lens for focusing said light onto said optical detector.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-05-26 | 1995-11-25 | 1996-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-26 | 1999-11-25 | 2000-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-26 | 2003-11-25 | 2004-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |