Passive optical coupler
AssigneeCorning Glass Works
InventorRoy E. Love
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupler disposed between two optical signal transmission lines for extracting from the first transmission line a fraction of the energy transmitted thereby and for injecting an input optical signal into the other transmission line. The first transmission line is coupled to the input of a first mixer rod, the output end of which is connected to the input end of a second mixer rod by a first optical waveguide bundle. A second optical waveguide bundle, which is also connected to the output of the first mixer rod extracts a portion of the energy at the output end of the first mixer rod and couples it to output means. An input optical signal is coupled by a third optical waveguide bundle to the input end of the second mixer rod, the output end of which is coupled to the second transmission line.
Claims7
A passive optical coupler for use in an optical communication system including first and second optical signal transmission lines, said coupler comprising,
- first and second light mixers, each having an input portion for receiving light and an output portion across which light received by the input portion is relatively evenly distributed, the input portion of said first mixer being adapted to be connected to an end of said first transmission line, and the output portion of said second mixer being adapted to be connected to an end of said second transmission line,
- first coupling means for coupling most of the light at the output portion of said first mixer to the input portion of said second mixer, the remaining light available at the output portion of said first mixer constituting an output optical signal,
- output means for receiving said output optical signal,
- second coupling means disposed adjacent to the output portion of said first mixer for coupling said output optical signal to said output means,
- input means for providing an input optical signal, and
- third coupling means for coupling said input optical signal from said input means to the input portion of said second mixer.
A passive optical coupler for use in an optical communication system including first and second optical signal transmission lines, said coupler comprising, first and second light mixers, each having an input portion for receiving light and an output portion across which light received by the input portion is relatively evenly distributed, the input portion of said first mixer being adapted to be connected to an end of said first transmission line, and the output portion of said second mixer being adapted to be connected to an end of said second transmission line, third optical signal transmission line coupling means for coupling the light at the output portion of said first mixer to the input portion of said second mixer, the remaining light available at the output portion of said first mixer constituting an output optical signal, fourth optical signal transmission line coupling means disposed adjacent to the output portion of said first mixer for coupling said output optical signal from said mixer, and fifth optical signal transmission line coupling means for coupling an input optical signal to the input portion of said second mixer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.