US5664037A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Multi-neckdown fiber optic coupler
Assignee: Corning Inc
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Filing: 1995-11-30
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Granted: 1997-09-02
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Expires: 2015-11-30
Abstract
Abstract A unitary fiber optic coupling device in which N fibers (N≧3) extend in a parallel array having two coupling regions of reduced cross-sectional area. At least one of the fibers is formed of two sections that are situated end-to-end, an active core-containing fiber section that is situated in the first coupling region and a dummy fiber section that is situated in the second coupling region. The coupler also contains at least second and third fibers that are active core-containing fibers throughout their lengths. The second and third fibers couple to one another in the first coupling region but remain uncoupled to one another in the second coupling region. This configuration enables a unitary coupling device to posess multifunction capability. Two fibers that couple in the first coupling region do not couple in the second coupling region, thus avoiding resonance effects.
Inventors
- 👤 David L. Weidman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:41
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/293; G02B6/29379; G02B6/2938; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2856; G02B6/29346; G02B6/2935; G02B6/29352; G02B6/29353; G02B2006/2865; G02B6/241; G02B6/243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A fiber optic coupling device comprising a plurality of N fibers extending in a parallel array, wherein N≧3, at least two coupling regions along the length of said array where the cross-sectional area of said fibers is smaller than the cross-sectional area of said fibers at the first and second ends of said array, wherein said N fibers and said coupling regions are formed such that light which had been propagating in one of said fibers into a first of said coupling regions, and has separated in said first of said coupling regions so that it propagates in at least two of said fibers from said first of said coupling regions into a second of said coupling regions, does not interfere in the second of said coupling regions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A fiber optic coupling device comprising a plurality of N fibers extending in a parallel array, wherein N≧3, at least two coupling regions along the length of said array where the cross-sectional area of said fibers is smaller than the cross-sectional area of said fibers at the first and second ends of said array, wherein said N fibers and said coupling regions are formed such that light which had been propagating in one of said fibers into a first of said coupling regions, and has separated in said first of said coupling regions so that it propagates in at least two of said fibers from said first of said coupling regions into a second of said coupling regions, does not interfere in the second of said coupling regions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The fiber optic coupling device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said fibers is formed of an active fiber section and a dummy fiber section situated end-to-end, said active fiber section having a light transmitting core surrounded by a cladding having a refractive index lower than that of said core, said dummy fiber section having no light transmitting core.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The fiber optic coupling device of claim 2 wherein said fibers are arranged in a given cross-sectional configuration in said first coupling region, and said fibers are arranged in said given cross-sectional configuration in said second coupling region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The fiber optic coupling device of claim 3 wherein N-1 of said fibers are arranged in a circularly symmetric array around a central fiber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fiber optic coupling device of claim 3 wherein said fibers are arranged in a linear array.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fiber optic coupling device of claim 3 wherein said fibers are arranged such that said given cross-sectional configuration is triangular.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fiber optic coupling device of claim 2 wherein at least two of said fibers contain cores throughout their entire lengths.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
The fiber optic coupling device of claim 2 further comprising an elongated body of matrix glass through which said fibers extend, the refractive index of said matrix glass being lower than or equal to that of the claddings of said fibers, said body having first and second ends, the cross-sectional area of said body being smaller at said coupling regions than at said first and second ends.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The fiber optic coupling device of claim 2 wherein one of said coupler regions contains at least three active fiber sections, a first of said active fiber sections coupling to a second of said active fiber sections through a third of said active fiber sections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
The fiber optic coupling device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said fibers is formed of an active fiber section and a dummy fiber section that are situated in end-to-end butting relationship, said active fiber section having a light transmitting core surrounded by a cladding having a refractive index lower than that of said core, said dummy fiber section having no light transmitting core.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The fiber optic coupling device of claim 10 wherein at least one of the fiber sections that are situated in end-to-end butting relationship is provided with a low reflection termination.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
The fiber optic coupling device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said fibers is formed of an active fiber section and a dummy fiber section fused end-to-end, said active fiber section having a light transmitting core surrounded by a cladding having a refractive index lower than that of said core, said dummy fiber section having no light transmitting core.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
123 words
A fiber optic coupling device comprising an elongated body of matrix glass, said body having first and second ends, a plurality of fibers extending longitudinally within said body, at least two coupling regions along the length of said body where the cross-sectional area of said body and the cross-sectional area of the fibers therein are smaller than the cross-sectional area of said fibers and said body at said first and second ends, at least one of said fibers being formed of an fiber section and a dummy fiber section situated end-to-end, said active fiber section having a light transmitting core surrounded by a cladding having a refractive index lower than that of said core, said dummy fiber section having no light transmitting core.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
123 words
A fiber optic coupling device comprising an elongated body of matrix glass, said body having first and second ends, a plurality of fibers extending longitudinally within said body, at least two coupling regions along the length of said body where the cross-sectional area of said body and the cross-sectional area of the fibers therein are smaller than the cross-sectional area of said fibers and said body at said first and second ends, at least one of said fibers being formed of an fiber section and a dummy fiber section situated end-to-end, said active fiber section having a light transmitting core surrounded by a cladding having a refractive index lower than that of said core, said dummy fiber section having no light transmitting core.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The fiber optic coupling device of claim 13 wherein said fibers are arranged in a given cross-sectional configuration in said first coupling region, and said fibers are arranged in said given cross-sectional configuration in said second coupling region.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
145 words
A fiber optic coupling device comprising a plurality of N fibers extending in a parallel array, wherein N≧3, at least a first coupling region and a second coupling region along the length of said array where the cross-sectional area of said fibers is smaller than the cross-sectional area of said fibers at the first and second ends of said array, at least a first and a second of said fibers being active fibers throughout their lengths, said first and second fibers having a light transmitting core surrounded by a cladding having a refractive index lower than that of said core, said first and second fibers coupling to one another in said first coupling region, said first and second fibers remaining uncoupled to one another in said second coupling region, said first fiber being coupled to a third of said fibers in said second coupling region.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
145 words
A fiber optic coupling device comprising a plurality of N fibers extending in a parallel array, wherein N≧3, at least a first coupling region and a second coupling region along the length of said array where the cross-sectional area of said fibers is smaller than the cross-sectional area of said fibers at the first and second ends of said array, at least a first and a second of said fibers being active fibers throughout their lengths, said first and second fibers having a light transmitting core surrounded by a cladding having a refractive index lower than that of said core, said first and second fibers coupling to one another in said first coupling region, said first and second fibers remaining uncoupled to one another in said second coupling region, said first fiber being coupled to a third of said fibers in said second coupling region.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
The fiber optic coupling device of claim 15 further comprising an elongated body of matrix glass through which said fibers extend, the refractive index of said matrix glass being lower than or equal to that of the claddings of said fibers, said body having first and second ends, the cross-sectional area of said body being smaller at said coupling regions than at said first and second ends.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
92 words
A fiber optic coupling device comprising a plurality of N fibers extending in a parallel array, wherein N≧3, at least two coupling regions along the length of said array where the cross-sectional area of said fibers is smaller than the cross-sectional area of said fibers at the first and second ends of said array, one of said coupling regions having a three-fiber coupling array wherein light is coupled from a first of said plurality of fibers, through a second of said plurality of fibers to a third of said plurality of fibers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
92 words
A fiber optic coupling device comprising a plurality of N fibers extending in a parallel array, wherein N≧3, at least two coupling regions along the length of said array where the cross-sectional area of said fibers is smaller than the cross-sectional area of said fibers at the first and second ends of said array, one of said coupling regions having a three-fiber coupling array wherein light is coupled from a first of said plurality of fibers, through a second of said plurality of fibers to a third of said plurality of fibers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5268979A
Cited
US5295205A
Cited
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-09-01 | 2001-03-03 | 2001-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-09-01 | 2005-03-03 | 2005-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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