US5295205A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Environmentally stable monolithic Mach-Zehnder device
Assignee: Corning Inc
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Filing: 1993-03-29
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Granted: 1994-03-15
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Expires: 2013-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A monolithic, environmentally stable Mach-Zehnder device is formed by threading first and second dissimilar optical fibers through the bore of a glass tube. The tube is evacuated and heated to collapse it onto the fibers. The tube is further heated and stretched at two spaced locations to form two couplers that are joined by the two optical fibers. The fibers have different propagation constants in the region between the two couplers, whereby there is a relative delay in the optical signal propagating in one of the fibers with respect to the optical signal propagating in the other fiber.
Inventors
- 👤 William J. Miller
- 👤 Daniel A. Nolan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:28
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2821; G02B6/2835; G02B6/293; G02B6/29331; G02B6/29332; G02B6/29346; G02B6/2935; G02B6/29352
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A Mach-Zehnder device comprising an elongated body of matrix glass, first and second dissimilar optical fibers extending longitudinally through said body, a phase shift region in said body in which said fibers have different propagation constants, and whereby optical signals propagate through said optical fibers at different velocities in said phase shift region, two spaced coupler regions in said body at opposite ends of said phase shift region, the diameter of said body and the diameters of said fibers being smaller in said coupler regions than in said phase shift region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
A Mach-Zehnder device comprising an elongated body of matrix glass, first and second dissimilar optical fibers extending longitudinally through said body, a phase shift region in said body in which said fibers have different propagation constants, and whereby optical signals propagate through said optical fibers at different velocities in said phase shift region, two spaced coupler regions in said body at opposite ends of said phase shift region, the diameter of said body and the diameters of said fibers being smaller in said coupler regions than in said phase shift region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cores of said fibers have different refractive indices.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cores of said fibers have different diameters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cores of said fibers have different refractive indices and different diameters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said matrix glass substantially contacts said fibers in said phase shift region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fibers extend through an elongated cavity in said phase shift region, whereby said matrix glass remains substantially uncontacted by said fibers in said phase shift region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for bending said phase shift region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coupler regions are achromatic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said two coupler regions are substantially identical.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said two coupler regions are not identical.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said two coupler regions are both 3 dB couplers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fibers are not fused together in said phase shift region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the diameters of said fibers in said phase shift region are the same as the diameters of said fibers at those ends of said couplers opposite said phase shift region.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of making a Mach-Zehnder device comprising inserting a plurality of optical fibers into the bore of a glass tube, evacuating said tube bore, heating said tube to collapse a first region of said tube onto said fibers, stretching the midregion of said first collapsed region to form a first coupling region, heating said tube to collapse a second region of said tube onto said fibers, and stretching the midregion of said second collapsed region to form a second coupling region that is spaced from said first coupling region.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of making a Mach-Zehnder device comprising inserting a plurality of optical fibers into the bore of a glass tube, evacuating said tube bore, heating said tube to collapse a first region of said tube onto said fibers, stretching the midregion of said first collapsed region to form a first coupling region, heating said tube to collapse a second region of said tube onto said fibers, and stretching the midregion of said second collapsed region to form a second coupling region that is spaced from said first coupling region.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the steps of heating said tube to collapse said first and said second tube regions are performed prior to the step of stretching the midregion of said first collapsed region.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the steps of heating said tube to collapse said first and said second tube regions comprises subjecting said first tube region to a source of heat, and moving said source of heat toward said second collapsed region until the entire portion of said tube that includes said first and second collapsed regions and the region between said first and second collapsed regions are collapsed onto said fibers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the step of stretching said second coupling region is identical to the step of stretching said first coupling region.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein, after the steps of heating said tube to collapse said first and second regions of said tube onto said fibers, said matrix glass substantially contacts said fibers between said coupling regions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein, after the steps of heating said tube to collapse said first and second regions of said tube onto said fibers, said matrix glass substantially is spaced from said fibers between said coupling regions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-03-14 | 1997-09-13 | 1998-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-03-14 | 2001-09-13 | 2002-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-03-14 | 2005-09-13 | 2006-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |