Dielectric waveguide with elongate cross-section
AssigneeAndrew Corporation
InventorRichard B. Dyott
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dielectric waveguide comprises a wave propagating member having a core with a refractive index n.sub.1 and a cladding with a refractive index n.sub.2, the core having an elongate cross-section with a major axis a and a minor axis b. The values of n.sub.1, n.sub.2, a and b are such that only the two orthogonally polarized fundamental modes of a wave with a prescribed wavelength can propagate through the core, thereby avoiding propagation of unwanted higher order modes of the wave, and such that the group velocities of the two orthogonally polarized fundamental modes are substantially equal so that any accidental coupling between the fundamental modes does not reduce the bandwidth of the waveguide.
Claims8
A dielectric waveguide comprising a wave propagating member having a core with a refractive index n.sub.1 and a cladding with a refractive index n.sub.2, said core having an elongate cross section with a major axis a and a minor axis b, the values of n.sub.1, n.sub.2, a and b being such that
- (1) only the two orthogonally polarized fundamental modes of a wave with a prescribed wavelength can propagate through said core, thereby avoiding propagation of unwanted higher order modes of said wave and
- (2) the group velocities of said two orthogonally polarized fundamental modes are substantially equal so that any accidental coupling between said fundamental modes does not reduce the bandwidth of the waveguide.
A method of propagating electromagnetic waves along a dielectric waveguide, said method comprising the steps of applying the polarized electromagnetic wave as an input to a wave propagating member having a core with a refractive index n.sub.1 and a cladding with a refractive index n.sub.2, said core having an elongate cross section with a major axis a and a minor axis b, the values of n.sub.1, n.sub.2, a and b being such that
- (1) only the two orthogonally polarized fundamental modes of a wave with a prescribed wavelength can propagate through said core, thereby avoiding propagation of unwanted higher order modes of said wave and
- (2) the group velocities of said two orthogonally polarized fundamental modes are substantially equal so that any accidental coupling between said fundamental modes not does reduce the bandwidth of the waveguide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.