Light branching device
AssigneeNippon Electric Co., Ltd.
InventorsKouichi Minemura, Teiji Uchida
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A light branching device includes a light-focusing transmission body having a refractive index which decreases in proportion to the square of the distance from the plane of its optical axis, and two end faces perpendicular to the optical axis and a substantial light path length equal to an integral multiple of approximately one-half of the pitch at which the light propagates. The ends of a plurality of optical fibers are disposed adjacent to the end faces so that light emanating from one of the optical fibers is dispersed primarily in a plane parallel with the optical axis plane and impinges upon the end of at least one of the other optical fibers for transmission therethrough.
Claims9
A light branching device comprising a light focusing transmission body having a refractive index decreasing approximately in proportion to the square of the distance from the optical axis plane and first and second end faces approximately perpendicular to said optical axis plane, said second end face having a reflective means, said light focusing transmission body having a physical length measured in the direction of said optical axis equal to an integral multiple of approximately 1/4 of the pitch and a substantial light path length equal to an integral multiple of approximately 1/2 of the pitch at which the light propagates, a plurality of optical fibers, one end of each of said optical fibers lying adjacent to said first end face of said light focusing transmission body and focusing means disposed between the ends of at least a proportionate number of said optical fibers and said light focusing transmission body, said focusing means having its center axis in a direction perpendicular to said optical axis plane and having a curved surface parallel to its center axis, whereby the light beam from a selected one of said optical fibers is respectively coupled to at least one other of said optical fibers.
A light branching device comprising a light focusing transmission body having a refractive index decreasing approximately in proportion to the square of the distance from the optical axis plane and first and second end faces approximately perpendicular to said optical axis plane, said light focusing transmission body having a physical length and a substantial light path measured in the direction of said optical axis equal to an integral multiple of approximately 1/2 of the pitch at which the light propagates, a plurality of optical fibers, one end of each of said optical fibers lying adjacent to one of said end faces, and focusing means disposed between the ends of at least a proportionate number of said optical fibers and said light focusing transmission body, said focusing means having its center axis in a direction perpendicular to said optical axis plane and having a curved surface parallel to its center axis, whereby the light beam from a selected one of said optical fibers is respectively coupled to at least one other of said optical fibers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.