# US 2022/0286205 A1 · Fiber optical communication system using asymmetric optical waveguide splitter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0286205 A1 - Document ID: US20220286205A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/675,818 - Filed: 2022-02-18 - Published: 2022-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-17 - Assignees: CommScope Technologies LLC - Applicants: Commscope Technologies LLC - Inventors: Jan WATTÉ; Salvatore TUCCIO; Vivek PANAPAKKAM VENKATESAN; Saurav KUMAR - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220286205A1 ## CPC - H04B 10/25891: {Transmission components (H04B10/40 takes precedence)} - H04B 10/27: Arrangements for networking - G02B 6/3508: {Lateral or transverse displacement of the whole waveguides, e.g. by varying the distance between opposed waveguide ends, or by mutual lateral displacement of opposed waveguide ends} - G02F 1/3132: {of directional coupler type} - H04B 10/503: {Laser transmitters} - H04B 10/80: Optical aspects relating to the use of optical transmission for specific applications, not provided for in groups H04B10/03 - H04B10/70, e.g. optical power feeding or optical transmission through water - G02B 2006/1215: {Splitter} - H04B: TRANSMISSION - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS ## Abstract An optical communications system includes a laser transmitter to generate an optical signal and a first optical fiber network coupled to transmit the optical signal from the laser transmitter system. A first latchable, asymmetric coupler is disposed along the first optical fiber network to receive the optical signal, and has a first tap output that receives a selected and alterable first fraction of the optical signal. A second latchable, asymmetric coupler is disposed along the first optical fiber network to receive the optical signal from the first latchable asymmetric coupler and has a second tap output that receives a selected and alterable second fraction of the optical signal incident at the second latchable. In certain embodiments the first and second couplers are capable of operating at any of at least three tapping fractions. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 An optical system, comprising: a first asymmetric coupler comprising: a main optical waveguide in a first substrate, the main optical waveguide having an input and an output; a tap waveguide in a second substrate; and a latchable mechanism to change a relative position of the main optical waveguide and the tap waveguide between a first relative position and at least a second relative position; wherein an amount of an optical signal coupled between the main optical waveguide and the tap waveguide, when the optical signal propagates between the input and the output of the main optical waveguide, is a first tapping fraction in the first relative position and a second tapping fraction when in the second relative position. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) An optical system as recited in claim 21, further comprising a laser transmitter system to generate the optical signal and a first optical fiber network coupled to transmit the optical signal from the laser transmitter system to the input of the main optical waveguide. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) An optical system as recited in claim 22, further comprising a second asymmetric coupler having an input and an output, the second asymmetric coupler being disposed in the first optical fiber network, the input of the second asymmetric coupler being coupled to receive the optical signal from the output of the first asymmetric coupler. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) An optical system as recited in claim 21, wherein the second substrate further comprises a waveguide splitter network coupled to receive the optical signal from the tap waveguide, the waveguide splitter network having a plurality of outputs. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) An optical system as recited in claim 24, wherein the plurality of outputs receive split optical signals of equal magnitude. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) An optical system as recited in claim 21, wherein the tap waveguide is in a tap cladding, the latchable mechanism being attached to the tap cladding. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) An optical system as recited in claim 21, wherein the latchable mechanism is capable of changing the relative position of the main optical waveguide and the tap waveguide in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of optical coupling between the main optical waveguide and the tap waveguide. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) An optical system as recited in claim 21, wherein the latchable mechanism is capable of changing the relative position of the main optical waveguide and the tap waveguide in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of optical coupling between the main optical waveguide and the tap waveguide. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) An optical system as recited in claim 21, wherein the latchable mechanism is capable of translating the tap waveguide in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tap waveguide. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) An optical system as recited in claim 21, wherein the latchable mechanism comprises a ratchet element for maintaining a fixed relative position of the main optical waveguide and the tap waveguide. ### Claim 31 (depends on 21) An optical system as recited in claim 21, wherein the latchable mechanism comprises one or more heater elements and one or more portions of solder. ### Claim 32 (depends on 21) An optical system as recited in claim 21, wherein the latchable mechanism comprises a cantilever. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) An optical system as recited in claim 31, wherein the latchable mechanism further comprises one or more portions of solder. ### Claim 34 (depends on 21) An optical system as recited in claim 21, wherein the latchable mechanism is capable of changing the relative position of the main optical waveguide and the tap waveguide to at least a third relative position and the amount of an optical signal coupled between the main optical waveguide and the tap waveguide is a third tapping fraction when in the third relative position.