Methods and apparatus for use with optical fibres
AssigneePoint Source Limited
InventorsAndrew James Rennie, Trevor White, Christel Rousseau, Ian Peter Alcock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for performing mode scrambling in a multimode optical fibre 1 comprises an electromechanical transducer 3 and a signal generator 9. A portion of the fibre 1, which is in the form of a loop 5, is arranged with its ends 6 fixed to the transducer 3, but with the remainder of the portion being left free to vibrate. The signal generator 9 drives the transducer 3 so as to form a succession of bends of differing bend radii in the portion of the fibre as a beam of electromagnetic radiation travels through the fibre, thereby “scrambling” the beam as it travels through the fibre.
Claims22
A method of performing mode scrambling in an optical fibre, the method comprising:
- dynamically forming a succession of differing perturbations in a portion of the fibre as a beam of electromagnetic radiation travels through the fibre;
- wherein the perturbations are formed at a rate that is faster than the rate at which the beam output from the fibre is to be observed or used.
An apparatus for performing mode scrambling for an optical fibre, the apparatus comprising:
- a driver for dynamically forming a succession of differing perturbations in a portion of an optical fibre as a beam of electromagnetic radiation travels through the fibre;
- wherein the driver is arranged to form the perturbations at a rate that is faster than the rate at which the beam output from the fibre is to be observed or used.
One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method of performing mode scrambling in an optical fibre, comprising:
- dynamically forming a succession of differing perturbations in a portion of the fibre as a beam of electromagnetic radiation travels through the fibre;
- wherein the perturbations are formed at a rate that is faster than the rate at which the beam output from the fibre is to be observed or used.
A method of operating an optical fibre system, comprising:
- launching a beam of electromagnetic radiation into an optical fibre;
- and
- dynamically forming a succession of differing perturbations in a portion of the optical fibre as the beam travels through the fibre;
- wherein the perturbations are formed at a rate that is faster than the rate at which the beam output from the fibre is to be observed or used.
An optical fibre system, comprising:
- a source of electromagnetic radiation;
- an optical fibre;
- a beam launcher launching a beam of electromagnetic radiation into the optical fibre;
- and
- a driver dynamically forming a succession of differing perturbations in a portion of the optical fibre as the beam travels through the fibre;
- wherein the driver is arranged to form the perturbations at a rate that is faster than the rate at which the beam output from the fibre is to be observed or used.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.