Polarization-maintaining optical rotary coupling
AssigneeSchleifring und Apparatebau GmbH
InventorGregor Popp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical rotating data transmission device for polarization-maintaining transmission of linearly polarized light comprises at least one first collimator for coupling on first light-waveguides, and also a second collimator for coupling on second light-waveguides, the second collimator being supported to be rotatable relative to the first collimator about a rotation axis. At least two λ/4 plates for converting linear polarization to circular polarization and vice-versa are provided in an optical path between the first collimator and the second collimator.
Claims20
A polarization-maintaining optical rotary data transmission device for transmitting linearly polarized light, comprising:
- at least one first collimator coupled onto first light-waveguides;
- a second collimator coupled onto second light-waveguides and supported to be rotatable relative to the first collimator about an axis of rotation;
- an optical path passing between the first collimator and the second collimator;
- wherein at least one first polarization converter is disposed in the optical path to rotate jointly with the first collimator, for converting light of linear polarization to light of circular polarization;
- and
- wherein a second polarization converter is disposed in the optical path to rotate jointly with the second collimator, for converting light of circular polarization to light of linear polarization.
A method for polarization-maintaining transmission of linearly polarized light between a first unit and a second unit that is rotatable relative to the first unit comprising the steps of:
- (1) collimating linearly polarized light with a first collimator of the first unit;
- (2) converting linearly polarized light to circularly polarized light with a first polarization converter assigned to the first unit;
- (3) coupling the light by free space propagation from the first unit to the second unit;
- (4) converting circularly polarized light to linearly polarized light with a second polarization converter assigned to the second unit;
- and
- (5) collimating linearly polarized light with a second collimator of the second unit.
Method for polarization-maintaining transmission of linearly polarized light between a first unit and a second unit that is rotatable relative to the first unit, comprising the steps of:
- (1) collimating linearly polarized light with a first collimator of the first unit;
- (2) converting linearly polarized light to circularly polarized light with a first polarization converter assigned to the first unit;
- (3) coupling the light by free space propagation from the first unit to a derotating optical element;
- (4) derotating the light with a derotating optical element that rotates with one half of the angular velocity between the first and the second unit;
- (5) coupling the light from the derotating element by free space propagation to the second unit;
- (6) converting circularly polarized light to linearly polarized light with a second polarization converter assigned to the second unit;
- and
- (7) collimating linearly polarized light with a second collimator of the second unit.
Method for polarization-maintaining transmission of linearly polarized light between a first unit and a second unit that is rotatable relative to the first unit comprising the steps of:
- (1) collimating linearly polarized light with a first collimator of the first unit;
- (2) converting linearly polarized light to circularly polarized light with a first polarization converter assigned to the first unit;
- (3) coupling the light by free space propagation from the first unit to a third polarization converter;
- (4) converting circularly polarized light to linearly polarized light with the third polarization converter that is moved together with the derotating optical element;
- (5) derotating the light with a derotating optical element that rotates with one half of the angular velocity between the first and the second unit;
- (6) converting linearly polarized light to circularly polarized light with a fourth polarization converter that is moved together with the derotating optical element;
- (7) coupling the light from a fourth λ/4 plate to the second unit by free space propagation;
- (8) converting circularly polarized light to linearly polarized light with a second polarization converter assigned to the second unit;
- and
- (9) collimating linearly polarized light with a second collimator of the second unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.