Fibre optic coupler
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsGeorge A. Georgiou, Anthony C. Boucouvalas
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Abstract
A fibre-optic coupler has the claddings of two or more optical fibres partially fused together over a coupling region, and a body of light-transmissive material, having a variable refractive index, contacts the claddings at the coupling region, such that by varying the refractive index of said body light transmitted along one fibre is split between the fibres in a varying ratio.
Claims14
A fibre-optic coupler of the type comprising at least two optic fibres, each having a central core surrounded by a cladding of lower refractive index and in which the claddings of the optic fibres are fused together over part of their length to define a fused biconical coupling region such that light injected along one of the fibres into the coupling region is split between the fibres, wherein a single body of light-transmissive material is disposed in contact with the fused claddings at the coupling region, the refractive index of the body being variable in response to changes in temperature so as to vary the splitting ratio at the coupling region.
A fibre-optic coupler of the type comprising at least two optic fibres each having a central core surrounded by a cladding of lower refractive index and in which the claddings of the optic fibres are fused together over part of their length to define a fused biconical coupling region such that light injected along one of the fibres into the coupling region is split between the fibres, wherein a single body of light-transmissive material is disposed in contact with the fused claddings at the coupling region, the refractive index of the body being variable in response to changes in the strength of an applied electric field so as to vary the splitting ratio at the coupling region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.