Single-ended long period grating optical device
AssigneeLuna Innovations Incorporated
InventorsMark E. Jones, Kent A. Murphy, Jennifer L. Elster, Michael F. Gunther, Thomas A. Wavering
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A single-ended long period grating optical device is presented. The single-ended optical device comprises an optical waveguide having at least one core mode and a plurality of cladding modes. At least one long period grating couples light from the core mode to the cladding modes. A reflector is positioned in an operable relationship to the long period grating, and the reflector reflects a signal. A mode stripper is positioned after the long period grating and removes the cladding modes from a transmitted signal and the reflected signal.
Claims49
A single-ended optical device comprising:
- an optical waveguide having at least one core mode and a plurality of cladding modes;
- at least one long period grating disposed within the optical waveguide wherein the long period grating couples light from the core mode to the cladding modes;
- a reflector, positioned in an operable relationship to the long period grating, wherein the reflector reflects a signal;
- and
- a mode stripper, positioned after the long period grating, wherein the mode stripper removes the cladding modes from a transmitted signal and the reflected signal.
A single-ended optical device comprising:
- a) a fiber-optic waveguide comprising a core having at least one core mode;
- a cladding surrounding the core, wherein the cladding has a refractive index and supports a plurality of cladding modes;
- and at least one long period grating disposed within the core wherein the long period grating couples light from the core mode to the cladding modes;
- b) a reflector, positioned in an operable relationship to the long period grating, wherein the reflector reflects a signal;
- and
- c) a mode stripper, positioned after the long period grating, wherein the mode stripper removes the cladding modes from a transmitted signal and the reflected signal.
A process for preparing a single-ended optical device, the process comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an optical waveguide having a first end and a second end, a core and a cladding;
- b) writing a long period grating into the optical waveguide core;
- c) modifying the cladding between the long period grating and the second end to change propagation conditions in the waveguide wherein cladding mode light is removed from a reflected signal;
- d) modifying the optical waveguide at the second end to make the cladding and the core essentially flat;
- and
- e) depositing a reflector on the modified second end of the optical waveguide.
A process for preparing a single-ended optical device, the process comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an optical waveguide having a first end and a second end, a core and a cladding;
- b) writing a long period grating into the optical waveguide core;
- c) providing a mode stripper after the long period grating;
- d) modifying the optical waveguide at the second end to make the cladding and the core essentially flat;
- and
- e) depositing a reflector on the flat core of the optical waveguide.
A process for detecting changes in an environmental parameter, the process comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a single-ended optical device comprising:
- an optical waveguide having a core, a cladding, a first end, and a second end;
- at least one long period grating disposed within the core;
- a broadband light source positioned at the first end of the optical waveguide;
- a splitter positioned between the broadband light source and the long period grating, wherein the broadband light source is coupled to a first input of the splitter and wherein a detector is coupled to a second input of the splitter;
- a reflector positioned in an operable relationship to the long period grating and opposite from the broadband light source;
- and a mode stripper positioned after the long period grating;
- b) launching light into the optical waveguide core wherein the light contacts the long period grating and is coupled to cladding modes;
- c) exposing the single-ended optical device to an environmental parameter;
- d) stripping the light from the cladding modes;
- e) reflecting the remaining light back through the long period grating;
- and
- f) detecting a spectral profile of the reflected light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.