US5166992A — Wavelength selective optical waveguide coupler

Claim 1

Independent Claim 79 words

An optical waveguide coupler comprising a first single mode optical waveguide and a second single mode optical waveguide, the coupler being constructed to pass selectively a signal of a desired wavelength from one of the optical waveguides to the other optical waveguide, in which the first optical waveguide is in the form of a non-coiled undulatory optical fibre extending alongside the second optical waveguide to define a set of optical coupling regions spaced apart by a predetermined distance (P).

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 79 words

An optical waveguide coupler comprising a first single mode optical waveguide and a second single mode optical waveguide, the coupler being constructed to pass selectively a signal of a desired wavelength from one of the optical waveguides to the other optical waveguide, in which the first optical waveguide is in the form of a non-coiled undulatory optical fibre extending alongside the second optical waveguide to define a set of optical coupling regions spaced apart by a predetermined distance (P).

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 38 words

A coupler as claimed in claim 1 in which the undulatory optical fibre and said second optical waveguide each comprise a single mode optical fibre having a cross section which includes a linear portion in each coupling region.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

An optical coupler as claimed in claim 1 including means for substantially simultaneously moving the set of regularly spaced optical coupling regions of said optical waveguides into and out of optical coupling relationship.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 38 words

An optical waveguide coupler as claimed in claim 1 in which the amplitude (H) of each undulation between each pair of optical coupling regions is the same, and said desired wavelength is a function of said amplitude (H).

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

An optical waveguide coupler as claimed in claim 4 in which said desired wavelength is a function of both said predetermined distance (P) and said amplitude (H).

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 61 words

A wavelength selective optical waveguide coupler comprising: a first optical waveguide in the form of an undulatory optical fibre located adjacent to a second optical waveguide to define a set of regularly spaced coupling regions, said first and second waveguides each comprising a single mode optical D-fibre having a D-shaped cross section with their linear portions juxtaposed in each coupling region.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 61 words

A wavelength selective optical waveguide coupler comprising: a first optical waveguide in the form of an undulatory optical fibre located adjacent to a second optical waveguide to define a set of regularly spaced coupling regions, said first and second waveguides each comprising a single mode optical D-fibre having a D-shaped cross section with their linear portions juxtaposed in each coupling region.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 52 words

A wavelength selective optical waveguide coupler comprising: a first optical waveguide in the form of an undulatory optical fibre located adjacent to a second optical waveguide to define a set of regularly spaced optical coupling regions, the undulatory optical fibre being an optical fibre mounted on an undulatory surface of a substrate.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 52 words

A wavelength selective optical waveguide coupler comprising: a first optical waveguide in the form of an undulatory optical fibre located adjacent to a second optical waveguide to define a set of regularly spaced optical coupling regions, the undulatory optical fibre being an optical fibre mounted on an undulatory surface of a substrate.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 77 words

A wavelength selective optical waveguide coupler, comprising: a first optical waveguide in the form of an undulatory optical fibre located adjacent to a second optical waveguide to define a set of regularly spaced optical coupling regions, each waveguide comprising a single mode optical fibre having a cross section which includes a linear portion in each coupling region; the undulatory optical fibre being embedded in a substrate with the coupling regions flush with the surface of the substrate.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 77 words

A wavelength selective optical waveguide coupler, comprising: a first optical waveguide in the form of an undulatory optical fibre located adjacent to a second optical waveguide to define a set of regularly spaced optical coupling regions, each waveguide comprising a single mode optical fibre having a cross section which includes a linear portion in each coupling region; the undulatory optical fibre being embedded in a substrate with the coupling regions flush with the surface of the substrate.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 16 words

An optical coupler as claimed in claim 8 in which the substrate is a thermo-plastic material.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 55 words

A wavelength selective optical waveguide coupler comprising: a first optical waveguide in the form of an undulatory optical fibre located adjacent to a second optical waveguide to define a set of regularly spaced optical coupling regions, the undulatory waveguide being mounted on an elastic support and there are spacers between the first and second waveguides.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 55 words

A wavelength selective optical waveguide coupler comprising: a first optical waveguide in the form of an undulatory optical fibre located adjacent to a second optical waveguide to define a set of regularly spaced optical coupling regions, the undulatory waveguide being mounted on an elastic support and there are spacers between the first and second waveguides.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 56 words

A wavelength selective optical waveguide coupler comprising: a first optical waveguide in the form of an undulatory optical fibre located adjacent to a second optical waveguide to define a set of regularly spaced optical coupling regions; and vibrating means coupled to the first optical waveguide to provide an acoustic transverse wave passing along the optical fibre.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 56 words

A wavelength selective optical waveguide coupler comprising: a first optical waveguide in the form of an undulatory optical fibre located adjacent to a second optical waveguide to define a set of regularly spaced optical coupling regions; and vibrating means coupled to the first optical waveguide to provide an acoustic transverse wave passing along the optical fibre.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 19 words

An optical coupler as claimed in claim 11 in which the vibrating means has a variable frequency of vibration.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 50 words

A wavelength selective optical waveguide coupler comprising: a first optical waveguide in the form of an undulatory optical fibre located adjacent to a second optical waveguide to define a set of regularly spaced optical coupling regions; and means for bending the optical waveguides in a plane containing the optical waveguides.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 50 words

A wavelength selective optical waveguide coupler comprising: a first optical waveguide in the form of an undulatory optical fibre located adjacent to a second optical waveguide to define a set of regularly spaced optical coupling regions; and means for bending the optical waveguides in a plane containing the optical waveguides.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 83 words

A wavelength selective optical signal coupler comprising: a pair of single mode optical waveguides passing in coupling proximity to one another at a set of optical coupling regions, which are uniformly spaced apart by a distance related to the desired wavelength selectively coupled by said waveguides, said optical waveguides being co-located at a common geometrical surface, and at least one of said optical waveguides being an optical fibre waveguide with its axis displaced in ripple-like undulations along said set of optical coupling regions.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 83 words

A wavelength selective optical signal coupler comprising: a pair of single mode optical waveguides passing in coupling proximity to one another at a set of optical coupling regions, which are uniformly spaced apart by a distance related to the desired wavelength selectively coupled by said waveguides, said optical waveguides being co-located at a common geometrical surface, and at least one of said optical waveguides being an optical fibre waveguide with its axis displaced in ripple-like undulations along said set of optical coupling regions.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 37 words

A wavelength selective optical signal coupler as in claim 14 wherein a first of said waveguides has a substantially linear axis and the other of said waveguides has ripple-like undulations along said set of optical coupling regions.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 22 words

A wavelength selective optical signal coupler as in claim 15 wherein both said waveguides are optical fibres having a D-shaped cross section.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 64 words

A wavelength selective optical signal coupler as in claim 15 wherein said at least one optical fibre waveguide has a D-shaped cross section with its flat side disposed toward the other waveguide and further comprising: means for establishing a mechanical standing wave in said at least one optical fibre to define the spacing between said coupling regions by the wavelength of said standing wave.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 40 words

A wavelength selective optical signal coupler as in claim 14 including: means for controllably changing the spacing between said optical coupling regions to controllably change the wavelength of optical signals selectively coupled from one of said waveguides to the other.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 56 words

A wavelength selective optical signal coupler as claimed in claim 18 in which said means for controllably changing the spacing between said optical coupling regions comprises vibrating means coupled to said at least one of said optical waveguides such that an acoustic transverse wave is formed along the said at least one of said optical waveguides.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 18 words

A wavelength selective optical signal coupler as in claim 14 wherein said common geometrical surface is a plane.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 41 words

A waveguide selective optical signal coupler as in claim 20 wherein said waveguides are mounted to permit simultaneous bending of them within said plane to change the wavelength of optical signals selectively coupled from one of the waveguides to the other.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 49 words

A waveguide selective optical signal coupler as in claim 14 wherein each of said waveguides is an optical fibre mounted within a groove of a substrate block that defines the location of the fibre axis and further comprising means for positioning the substrate blocks with respect to one another.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-11-24	1996-05-25	1996-11-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-11-24	2000-05-25	2000-11-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-11-24	2004-05-25	2004-11-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Wavelength selective optical waveguide coupler

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