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US 2013/0094026 A1Published application
Fiber optic bi-directional coupling lens
AssigneeUltra Communications, Inc.
InventorsCharles B. Kuznia, Joseph F. Ahadian, Richard T. Hagan, Richard J. Pommer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A component for coupling light bi-directionally between optical waveguides and optoelectronic devices is described. This component can be inexpensively manufactured and fits within the existing form-factor of fiber optic transceivers or transmitters, and has features for efficiently coupling laser light to a waveguide and light from the same waveguide to a detector. The described components can be formed as an array to operate within system that operation over parallel optical fibers. Applicability for these components is for optical time domain reflectometry, bi-directional optical communications, remote fiber sensing, and optical range finders.
Claims31
(canceled)
The device of claim 35, further comprising:
- a standoff integrally formed to the first side of the body as part of the body and providing a gap between at least the first and thirds lens from an end of the standoff
The device of claim 35, further comprising a transparent substrate having a lens side and an opposite non-lens side, disposed exterior to the body, wherein the lens side of the substrate is substantially adjacent to the first and third lens.
(canceled)
A device for transmitting and reflecting light between a plurality of lenses, comprising:
- a light splitting surface capable of passing and reflecting split light based on an angle of incidence;
- a first lens and light emitter combination in a first path, at an angle to the light splitting surface;
- a second lens and waveguide combination in a second path, substantially on an axis of the light splitting surface;
- and
- a third lens and light detector combination in a third path, at another angle to the light splitting surface,
- wherein light from the first lens and light emitter combination is bent towards the second lens and waveguide combination, and light from the second lens and waveguide combination is bent towards the third lens and light detector combination.
3 more elements
-22. (canceled)
The method of claim 39, wherein time domain reflectometry is performed by measuring a time delay between the emitted and the received light.
(canceled)
The method of claim 40, wherein time domain reflectometry is performed by measuring a time delay between the emitted and the received light.
A method for transmitting and reflecting light between a plurality of lenses, comprising:
- forming a light splitting surface capable of passing and reflecting split light based on an angle of incidence;
- aligning a first lens and light emitter combination in a first path, at an angle to the light splitting surface;
- aligning a second lens and waveguide combination in a second path, substantially on an axis of the light splitting surface;
- and
- aligning a third lens and light detector combination in a third path, at another angle to the light splitting surface,
- wherein light from the first lens and light emitter combination is bent towards the second lens and waveguide combination, and light from the second lens and waveguide combination is bent towards the third lens and light detector combination;
- illuminating the first lens with a beam of light, wherein light is reflected from the light splitting surface to a waveguide disposed in line with the second lens;
- and
- receiving light from the waveguide that is passed through the light splitting surface and reflected to the non-integral lens to a light detector.
6 more elements
28-30. (canceled)
The method of claim 41, wherein time domain reflectometry is performed by measuring a time delay between the emitted and the received light.
(canceled)
The device of claim 37, further comprising:
- means for standing off formed integral integrally formed to the first detector-emitter side of the means for light path manipulation and for providing a gap between at least the first and thirds means for focusing light from an end of the means for standing off.
A device for transmitting and reflecting light between a plurality of lenses, comprising:
- a multi-sided transparent body having an indent with a light splitting surface integrally formed from an interior end of the indent as part of the body, and having a detector-emitter side, a waveguide side, and a reflector side;
- a first lens integrally formed to the detector-emitter side of the body;
- a second lens integrally formed to the waveguide side of the body as part of the body;
- a third lens integrally formed to the detector-emitter side of the body as part of the body;
- wherein light from the second lens is partially reflected by the light splitting surface to the detector-emitter side of the body and partially passed by the light splitting surface;
- and
- a reflector-supporting angled surface integrally formed to an exterior end of the indent, wherein a reflector positioned on the angled surface directs the partially passed light from the light splitting surface to the third lens and directs light from the third lens to the light splitting surface.
4 more elements
A device for transmitting and reflecting light between a plurality of lenses, comprising:
- a multi-sided transparent body having a emitter side, a waveguide side, a light splitting surface side, and a supporting side that supports a non-integrally formed lens and a detector housing;
- first lens integrally formed to the emitter side of the body;
- a second lens integrally formed to the waveguide side of the body;
- a transparent substrate disposed substantially adjacent to and below the emitter side of the body;
- a light emitter disposed in-line with the first lens and on an opposite side of the transparent body from the first lens;
- and
- a light splitting surface integrally formed from the light splitting surface side of the body as part of the body, capable of reflecting light from the first lens to the second lens and passing light from the second lens to the non-integral lens.
4 more elements
A device for transmitting and reflecting light between a plurality of lenses, comprising:
- means for light path manipulation having an indent, a detector-emitter side, a waveguide side, and a reflector side;
- means for splitting light integrally formed to an interior end of the indent;
- first means for focusing light integrally formed to the detector-emitter side of the means for light path manipulation;
- second means for focusing light integrally formed to the waveguide side of the means for light path manipulation;
- third means for focusing light integrally formed to the detector-emitter side of the means for light path manipulation;
- wherein light from the second means for focusing is partially reflected by the means for splitting light to the detector-emitter side of the means for light path manipulation, and partially passed by the means for light splitting;
- and
- means for supporting a reflector disposed at an exterior end of the indent, wherein a reflector positioned on the means for supporting directs the partially passed light from the means for splitting light to the third means for focusing light and directs light from the third means for focusing light to the means for splitting light.
5 more elements
A device for transmitting and reflecting light between a plurality of lenses, comprising:
- a multi-sided transparent body having a substrate side, a waveguide side, and light splitting surface side integrally formed to the body as part of the body;
- a first indent disposed in the light splitting side of the body;
- a second indent disposed in the substrate side of the body;
- a first and third lens integrally formed in an interior end of the second indent;
- a second lens integrally formed in the waveguide side of the body;
- a light splitting surface integrally formed from the light splitting surface side of the body as part of the body, positioned to reflect a portion of light from the first lens to the second lens and pass a portion of light from the second lens to the third lens via a reflector;
- a light emitter disposed below the first lens within the second indent;
- and
- a light detector disposed below the third lens within the second indent.
6 more elements
A method for transmitting and reflecting light between a plurality of integral lenses, comprising:
- forming a multi-sided transparent body having an integrally formed indent therein, the body having a detector-emitter side, a waveguide side, and a reflector side;
- forming the body to have an integrally formed light splitting surface to an interior end of the indent, capable of passing and reflecting split light;
- forming an integral first lens to the detector-emitter side of the body;
- forming an integral second lens to the waveguide side of the body, wherein the first lens and second lens are disposed in a reflected split light path of each other;
- forming an integral third lens to the detector-emitter side of the body, wherein light from the second lens is partially reflected by the light splitting surface to the detector-emitter side of the body and partially passed by the light splitting surface;
- forming an integrally formed reflector supporting angled surface to an exterior end of the indent, wherein a reflector positioned on the angled surface reflects light from the third lens to the light splitting surface and reflects light from the light splitting surface to the third lens;
- positioning a light emitter in line with the first lens,
- positioning a light detector in line with the third lens;
- positioning a waveguide in line with the second lens;
- positioning a reflector on the angled surface;
- emitting light from the light emitter to be directed to the waveguide via the light splitting surface;
- and
- receiving waveguide light passing through the light splitting surface and reflected from the reflector to the light detector.
10 more elements
A method for transmitting and reflecting light between a plurality of lenses, comprising:
- forming an integrally formed multi-sided transparent body having a emitter side, a waveguide side, a light splitting surface side, and a supporting side that supports a non-integral lens and a detector housing;
- forming an integral first lens to the emitter side of the body;
- forming an integral second lens to the waveguide side of the body;
- forming from the body an integrally forming light splitting surface to the light splitting surface side of the body;
- positioning a light emitter in line with the first lens,
- positioning a waveguide in line with the second lens;
- positioning a light detector with a housing on the supporting side of the body to align with the second lens;
- positioning a non-integral lens on the supporting side of the body between the light splitting surface and the housing of the light detector;
- emitting light from the light emitter to be directed to the waveguide via the light splitting surface;
- and
- receiving waveguide light passing through the light splitting surface and the non-integral lens to the light detector.
8 more elements
A method for transmitting and reflecting light between a plurality of lenses, comprising:
- forming an integrally formed multi-sided transparent body having a first and second indent therein, the body having a detector-emitter side, a waveguide side, and a reflector side;
- forming from the body a light splitting surface integral to an interior end of the first indent, capable of passing and reflecting split light;
- forming an integral first lens to the detector-emitter side of the body;
- forming an integral second lens to the waveguide side of the body, wherein the first lens and second lens are disposed in a reflected split light path of each other;
- forming an integral third lens to the detector-emitter side of the body, wherein light from the second lens is partially reflected by the light splitting surface to the detector-emitter side of the body and partially passed by the light splitting surface;
- forming an integral reflector supporting angled surface to an exterior end of the indent, wherein a reflector positioned on the angled surface reflects light from the third lens to the light splitting surface and reflects light from the light splitting surface to the third lens;
- positioning a light emitter within the second indent and in line with the first lens,
- positioning a light detector within the second indent and in line with the third lens;
- positioning a waveguide in line with the second lens;
- positioning a reflector on the angled surface;
- emitting light from the light emitter to be directed to the waveguide via the light splitting surface;
- and
- receiving waveguide light passing through the light splitting surface and reflected from the reflector to the light detector.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.