US5150439A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Simplified wdm fused fiber coupler design
Assignee: Canada Minister of Communications
•
Filing: 1991-05-22
•
Granted: 1992-09-22
•
Expires: 2011-05-22
Abstract
Abstract A two-channel optical fiber fused coupler comprising two optical fibers, each with a core and cladding, fused together at a narrow tapered waist. The first channel is at a wavelength of λ 1 and the second channel is at a wavelength of λ 2 where λ 2 is longer than λ 1 . The coupler is fabricated to have a characteristic wavelength λ 0 such that for wavelengths λ 2 longer than λ 0 coupling occurs and for wavelenghts λ 1 shorter that λ 0 the light at λ 1 is core guided throughout the coupler and thus does not couple across.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth O. Hill
- 👤 Francois Bilodeau
- 👤 Bernard Malo
- 👤 Derwyn C. Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:57
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/293; G02B6/29331; G02B6/29332; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2821; G02B6/2835
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A two-channel single mode optical fiber fused coupler comprising two optical fibers, each with a core and cladding, fused together at a narrow tapered waist, wherein a first channel is at a wavelength of λ 1 and a second channel is at a wavelength of λ 2 , the coupler having a characteristic wavelength λ 0 where λ 1 <λ 0 <λ 2 and the normalized frequency ##EQU5## for all local fiber core radii throughout the coupling structure where α is the fiber-core radius, η 1 is the refractive index of the core and η 2 is the refractive index of the cladding.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A two-channel single mode optical fiber fused coupler comprising two optical fibers, each with a core and cladding, fused together at a narrow tapered waist, wherein a first channel is at a wavelength of λ 1 and a second channel is at a wavelength of λ 2 , the coupler having a characteristic wavelength λ 0 where λ 1 <λ 0 <λ 2 and the normalized frequency ##EQU5## for all local fiber core radii throughout the coupling structure where α is the fiber-core radius, η 1 is the refractive index of the core and η 2 is the refractive index of the cladding.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A two-channel optical fiber fused coupler as determined in claim 1, wherein λ 1 is approximately 1.3 μm and λ 2 is approximately 1.55 μm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A two-channel optical fiber fused coupler as defined in claim 1, wherein λ 1 is approximately 0.8 μm and λ 2 is approximately 1.3 μm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A two-channel optical fiber fused coupler as defined in claim 1 forming a pump coupler in a fiber amplifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A two-channel optical fiber fused coupler as defined in claim 1 forming a pump coupler in a laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A two-channel optical fiber fused coupler as defined in claim 4 in which the fiber amplifier is Erbium doped, operates in the 1636 nm region and is pumped with 980 nm optical energy.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4723824A
Cited
US4786130A
Cited
US4779945A
Cited
US4738511A
Cited
US4772085A
Cited
US4755037A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-22 | 1996-03-23 | 1996-09-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-22 | 2000-03-23 | 2000-09-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-22 | 2004-03-23 | 2004-09-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |