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Simplified wdm fused fiber coupler design

Assignee: Canada Minister of Communications
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Filing: 1991-05-22
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Granted: 1992-09-22
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Expires: 2011-05-22
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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 17:18
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

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