US 4,786,129 A · Optical coupling assembly

Abstract

An optical coupling assembly is disclosed which comprises a semiconductor laser amplifier to which an optical control signal and an input signal are fed. The semiconductor laser amplifier is responsive to changes in amplitude of the control signal to produce corresponding phase shifts in the input signal. First and second optical couplers are positioned upstream and downstream of the laser amplifier so that a proportion of the input signal and control signal are fed along an optical fiber directly from the first optical coupler to the second coupler. The remaining portions of the input signal and control signal are fed to the laser amplifier where the input signal is phase shifted and then fed to the second coupler. The arrangement is such that the proportion of the input signal output from each output port of the second coupler is selectable by controlling the amplitude of the control signal.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An optical coupling assembly comprising:

a first optical coupling means having a first and a second input port and a first and a second output port;
a conversion means having an input, an output coupled to the first input of the first optical coupling means, and an optical path length which is dependent on the amplitude of an optical signal passing through it;
and
a splitting means couplable to a source of an optical input signal for coupling a first portion of the optical input signal to the input of the conversion means, and a second portion of the optical input signal to the second input of the first coupling means;
whereby the proportion of the input signal output from each output port of the first optical coupling means is selectable by coupling an optical control signal of appropriate amplitude to the conversion means.

2 more elements

In an optical assembly having a first optical coupling means having a first and a second input port and a first and a second output port, and a conversion means having an input, and an output coupled to the first input of the first optical coupling means, a method for operating said optical coupling assembly to couple an input optical signal to the first and second output ports comprising the steps of:

inputting an optical input signal;
splitting a first portion of said optical input signal and coupling said first portion to said conversion means wherein an optical path length is provided which is dependent upon the amplitude of the optical signal passing through it;
splitting a second portion of said optical input signal and coupling said second portion to the second input of said first coupling means;
generating a predetermined output signal at said first output port and said second output port;
and
controlling the proportion of the optical input signal output to said first output port and said second output port by coupling an optical control signal of an appropriate magnitude to said conversion means.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Optical coupling assembly

Life of this patent

Optical coupling assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12