Optical tap having a v-shaped recess within the range of from 152.degree. t o .degree.
AssigneeBritish Telecommunications public limited company
InventorsSimon M. Dennis, Philip R. Steward, Roland W. Downing, Simon M. James, David A. Ferguson, Dominik Drouet
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Abstract
An optical tap comprises a transparent acrylic block (1) having a single V-shaped recess (2) into which an optical fibre (3) is urged by a member (4). The resulting kink in the fibre (3) enables light to couple between the core of the fibre and the block (1) from what is substantially a point source defined by a tight curve of short arcuate length at the kink.
Claims20
Optical tap apparatus for coupling light including a range of wavelengths into, or out of, an optical fibre substantially independent of wavelength, the apparatus comprising:
- an optical head having a V-shaped recess, and
- an abutment member disposed for movement towards and away from the apex of said V-shaped recess to deform the optical fibre into the apex of said recess,
- the recess being shaped and sized to subject the optical fibre to a tight curve of short arcuate length when the fibre is deformed into the recess whereby light over a range of wavelengths can be coupled into, or out of, the optical fibre at a punctiform region of its curved portion, wherein the angle at the apex of the V-shaped recess is within the range of from 152.degree. to 179.degree. to provide coupling that is substantially independent of wavelength.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.