US5963686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low cost, easy to build precision wavelength locker
Assignee: Oplink Communications LLC
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Filing: 1997-06-24
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Granted: 1999-10-05
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Expires: 2017-06-24
Abstract
Abstract A system and method providing a wavelength locker is disclosed. The method and system provide a high uniformity, low polarization sensitivity optical coupler. The optical coupler further comprises a first outer fiber and a second outer fiber. The first outer fiber and the second outer fiber each have a first portion. The method and system further provide a filter coupled to the first portion of the first outer fiber. The method and system further provide a first mechanism coupled to the filter for detecting intensity and providing a first resultant. The method and system further provide a second mechanism coupled to the second portion of the second outer fiber. The second mechanism detects intensity and provides a second resultant.
Inventors
- 👤 Yu Zheng
- 👤 David Li
- 👤 Xiaobing Luo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:30
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4246; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/293; G02B6/29346; G02B6/29361; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2856
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for providing a wavelength locker comprising the steps of: providing a high uniformity, low polarization sensitivity optical coupler for splitting an optical signal including at least one wavelength, the optical coupler further comprising a first outer fiber, a center fiber, and a second outer fiber, the first outer fiber and the second outer fiber each having a first portion, the first portion of the first outer fiber for carrying a first portion of the optical signal, the first portion of the second outer fiber for carrying a second portion of the optical signal; providing a filter coupled to the first portion of the first outer fiber; providing a first means coupled to the filter, the first means for detecting intensity and providing a first resultant; and providing a second means coupled to the first portion of the second outer fiber, the second means for detecting intensity and providing a second resultant wherein the optical signal is not split based on the at least one wavelength.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for providing a wavelength locker comprising the steps of: providing a high uniformity, low polarization sensitivity optical coupler for splitting an optical signal including at least one wavelength, the optical coupler further comprising a first outer fiber, a center fiber, and a second outer fiber, the first outer fiber and the second outer fiber each having a first portion, the first portion of the first outer fiber for carrying a first portion of the optical signal, the first portion of the second outer fiber for carrying a second portion of the optical signal; providing a filter coupled to the first portion of the first outer fiber; providing a first means coupled to the filter, the first means for detecting intensity and providing a first resultant; and providing a second means coupled to the first portion of the second outer fiber, the second means for detecting intensity and providing a second resultant wherein the optical signal is not split based on the at least one wavelength.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
132 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing the optical coupler further comprising the steps of: placing a plurality optical fibers substantially parallel and in close proximity, the plurality of optical fibers further comprising the center fiber, the first outer fiber, and the second outer fiber, the first outer fiber and the second outer fiber each having a second portion, and the center fiber having a first end and a second end; providing an input signal to the second end of the center fiber; monitoring an output signal at the first end of the center fiber; heating and drawing the plurality of optical fibers until the output signal of the center fiber reaches a predetermined value; and removing the second portion of each of the first and second outer fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of: providing comparing means coupled to the first detecting means and the second detecting means, the comparing means for comparing the first resultant to the second resultant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of providing comparing means further comprises the step of: providing means for providing a ratio of the first resultant to the second resultant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of heating and drawing the plurality of optical fibers further comprises the step of: heating the plurality optical fibers using a combination of oxygen and hydrogen gas and drawing the plurality of optical fibers until the output signal at the second end of the center fiber reaches the predetermined value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the predetermined value is approximately ninety four percent of an input intensity.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
171 words
A system for providing a wavelength locker comprising: means for providing a high uniformity, low polarization sensitivity optical coupler for splitting an optical signal having at least one wavelength, the optical coupler having a first outer fiber, a center fiber, and a second outer fiber, the first outer fiber and the second outer fiber each having a first portion, the first portion of the first outer fiber for carrying a first portion of the optical signal, the first portion of the second outer fiber for carrying a second portion of the optical signal; means for providing a filter coupled to the first portion of the first outer fiber; means for providing a first means coupled to the filter, the first means for detecting intensity and providing a first resultant; and means for providing a second means coupled to the first portion of the second outer fiber, the second means for detecting intensity and providing a second resultant wherein the optical signal is not split based on the at least one wavelength.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
171 words
A system for providing a wavelength locker comprising: means for providing a high uniformity, low polarization sensitivity optical coupler for splitting an optical signal having at least one wavelength, the optical coupler having a first outer fiber, a center fiber, and a second outer fiber, the first outer fiber and the second outer fiber each having a first portion, the first portion of the first outer fiber for carrying a first portion of the optical signal, the first portion of the second outer fiber for carrying a second portion of the optical signal; means for providing a filter coupled to the first portion of the first outer fiber; means for providing a first means coupled to the filter, the first means for detecting intensity and providing a first resultant; and means for providing a second means coupled to the first portion of the second outer fiber, the second means for detecting intensity and providing a second resultant wherein the optical signal is not split based on the at least one wavelength.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
137 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the optical coupler providing means further comprise: means for placing a plurality of optical fibers substantially parallel and in close proximity, the plurality of optical fibers further including the center fiber, the first outer fiber, and the second outer fiber, the first outer fiber and the second outer fiber each having a second portion, the center fiber having a first end and a second end; means for providing an input signal to the second end of the center fiber; means for monitoring an output signal at the first end of the center fiber; means for heating and drawing the plurality of optical fibers until the output signal of the center fiber reaches a predetermined value; and means for removing the second portion of each of the first and second outer fibers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 8 further comprising: means for providing comparing means coupled to the first detecting means and the second detecting means, the comparing means for comparing the first resultant to the second resultant.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the comparing means further comprise: means for providing a ratio of the first resultant to the second resultant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the means for heating and drawing the plurality of optical fibers further comprises: means for heating the plurality optical fibers using a combination of oxygen and hydrogen gas and drawing the plurality of optical fibers until the output signal at the second end of the center fiber reaches the predetermined value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the predetermined value is approximately ninety four percent of an input intensity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
185 words
A wavelength locker comprising: a high uniformity, low polarization sensitivity optical coupler for splitting an optical signal having at least one wavelength, the optical coupler having a center fiber, first outer fiber, and a second outer fiber, the first outer fiber and the second outer fiber each having a first portion, the central fiber for receiving an optical signal, the first portion of the first outer fiber for carrying a first portion of the optical signal, and the first portion of the second outer fiber for carrying a second portion of the optical signal; a filter optically coupled to the first portion of the first outer fiber; a first photodetector optically coupled to the filter, the first photodetector for detecting a first intensity of the first portion of the optical signal and providing a first resultant; and a second photodetector optically coupled to the first portion of the second outer fiber, the second photodetector for detecting an intensity of the second portion of the optical signal and providing a second resultant wherein the optical signal is not split based on the at least one wavelength.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
185 words
A wavelength locker comprising: a high uniformity, low polarization sensitivity optical coupler for splitting an optical signal having at least one wavelength, the optical coupler having a center fiber, first outer fiber, and a second outer fiber, the first outer fiber and the second outer fiber each having a first portion, the central fiber for receiving an optical signal, the first portion of the first outer fiber for carrying a first portion of the optical signal, and the first portion of the second outer fiber for carrying a second portion of the optical signal; a filter optically coupled to the first portion of the first outer fiber; a first photodetector optically coupled to the filter, the first photodetector for detecting a first intensity of the first portion of the optical signal and providing a first resultant; and a second photodetector optically coupled to the first portion of the second outer fiber, the second photodetector for detecting an intensity of the second portion of the optical signal and providing a second resultant wherein the optical signal is not split based on the at least one wavelength.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 2002-10-04 | 2003-04-05 | 2003-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-04 | 2007-04-05 | 2007-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-04 | 2011-04-05 | 2011-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |