US 2019/0162921 A1Published application

In-line uni-directional optical tap detector

AssigneeDicon Fiberoptics, Inc.

InventorHo-Shang Lee

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Abstract

In-line uni-directional optical tap detector devices provide optical power monitoring in a small, inexpensive form factor. A pair of optical fibers with angled end surfaces are fusion-spliced or butt-coupled together, with a thin-film coating or coating stack positioned in between the two fiber end surfaces. The thin-film coating or coating stack acts as an optical tap, reflecting a small portion of the optical signal towards a photo-detector affixed to the exterior of the cladding of the fibers, positioned and angled such that the photo-detector measures the optical power of signals propagating in one direction down the fibers, while ignoring signals propagating in the opposite, or reverse direction. Alternately, a V-groove block or fiber holder is used to position and secure the fibers, without requiring fusion splicing, where the reflection of a portion of the optical signal to the photo-detector may be due to Fresnel reflection at the fiber end surfaces.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An optical device, comprising:

a photo-detector;
a first optical fiber having a core and an end;
a second optical fiber having a core and an end adjacent to the end of the first optical fiber, the core of the first optical fiber aligned with the core of the second optical fiber to allow light to propagate through the end of the first optical fiber from the core of the first optical fiber to the core of the second optical fiber through the end of the second optical fiber and to allow light to propagate through the end of the second optical fiber from the core of the second optical fiber to the core of the first optical fiber through the end of the first optical fiber;
and
an optical joint between the end of the first optical fiber and the end of the second optical fiber, the photo-detector bonded to one or both of the first and second optical fibers in an area adjacent to the optical joint, wherein the optical joint is configured to allow light to propagate between the end of the first optical fiber and the end of the second optical fiber and to direct a portion of light propagating from the first optical fiber to be directed to the photo-detector by Fresnel reflection, while blocking light propagating from the second optical fiber from being directed to the photo-detector.

2 more elements

A method of forming an optical device, comprising:

receiving a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber having respective first and second ends;
splicing the first and second optical fibers at the first and second ends at an optical joint so that a core of the first optical fiber is aligned with a core of the second optical fiber;
configuring the optical joint to transmit light incident on the optical joint between the cores of the first and second optical fibers, the optical joint further configured reflect a portion of incident light from the first optical fiber;
orienting the optical joint to maximize the portion of incident light from the first optical fiber reflected by Fresnel reflection from the optical joint that is incident on a photo-detector, and to minimize the portion of light incident on the optical joint from the second optical fiber that is incident on the photo-detector;
and
bonding the photo-detector to one or both of the first and second optical fibers in an area adjacent to the optical joint.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/846,641Filed 19 Dec 2017
Priority: 30 Nov 2017
Published: 30 May 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G02B 6/4286
Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details: optical modules with optical power monitoring
G02B 6/421
The coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms: the intermediate optical component consisting of a short length of…
G02B 6/4212
The coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms: the intermediate optical element being a coupling medium interposed…
G02B 6/4214
The coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms: the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective…