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US3883222A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Coupler for optical communication system
Assignee: Corning Glass Works
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Filing: 1973-09-07
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Granted: 1975-05-13
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Expires: 1993-09-07
Abstract
Abstract A coupler for coupling a portion of an optical signal propagating in any one of N optical signal transmission lines to all of the remaining transmission lines. The coupler comprises N optical mixer rods, an end of each transmission line terminating at a first endface of a respective mixer rod. The end of a bundle of optical waveguides is disposed at the second endface of each of the mixer rods. Each bundle is divided into N-1 groups of optical waveguide fibers, a group of fibers extending to the second endface of each of the remaining mixer rods. An optical signal that has propagated through a transmission line radiates into the associated mixer rod which couples that signal to the optical waveguide bundle at the second endface thereof. Each group of fibers in that bundle propagates a portion of the signal to a different one of the remaining mixer rods which couples the signal received thereby to the transmission line connected thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Leslie C Gunderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:17
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2808
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An optical coupler comprising at least four elongated transparent mixer rods, each rod having first and second planar endfaces that are substantially perpendicular to the axis thereof, means for connecting an optical signal transmission line to the first endface of each of said mixer rods, a plurality of bundles of optical waveguide fibers, one of said bundles being coupled to the second endface of each of said mixer rods, each of said bundles being divided into groups of fibers, one of which extends to the second endface of each of the remaining mixer rods, and a housing for supporting said mixer rods, said plurality of bundles of optical waveguide fibers being disposed within said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
An optical coupler comprising at least four elongated transparent mixer rods, each rod having first and second planar endfaces that are substantially perpendicular to the axis thereof, means for connecting an optical signal transmission line to the first endface of each of said mixer rods, a plurality of bundles of optical waveguide fibers, one of said bundles being coupled to the second endface of each of said mixer rods, each of said bundles being divided into groups of fibers, one of which extends to the second endface of each of the remaining mixer rods, and a housing for supporting said mixer rods, said plurality of bundles of optical waveguide fibers being disposed within said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A coupler in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said mixer rods comprises a rod of transparent material and a layer of transparent cladding material disposed upon the surface of said rod, the refractive index of said cladding material being lower than that of said rod.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A coupler in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a layer of refractive index matching fluid disposed adjacent to the first and second endfaces of each of said mixer rods.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A coupler in accordance with claim 3 wherein each of said groups of optical waveguide fibers contains the same number of fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A coupler in accordance with claim 4 wherein said rods are cylindrically shaped.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A coupler in accordance with claim 4 wherein said rods are conically shaped.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
224 words
In an optical communication system having a plurality of optical signal transmission lines each comprising at least one optical waveguide having a core of transparent material having a refractive index n1 surrounded by a layer of transparent cladding material having a refractive index n2 that is lower than n1, a coupler for coupling the signal in any one of said optical signal transmission lines to all of the remaining transmission lines, said coupler comprising at least four elongated transparent mixer rods each having first and second planar endfaces that are substantially perpendicular to the axis thereof, means disposed adjacent to the periphery of the first endface of each of said mixer rods for connecting the end of a respective one of transmission lines adjacent to said first endface, the optical waveguides of which said transmission line is comprised terminating in faces that are disposed in a substantially planar array adjacent to said first endface, a plurality of bundles of optical waveguide fibers, one of said bundles being coupled to the second endface of each of said mixer rods, each of said bundles being divided into groups of fibers, one of which extends to the second endface of each of the remaining mixer rods, and a housing for supporting said mixer rods, said plurality of bundles of optical waveguide fibers being disposed within said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
224 words
In an optical communication system having a plurality of optical signal transmission lines each comprising at least one optical waveguide having a core of transparent material having a refractive index n1 surrounded by a layer of transparent cladding material having a refractive index n2 that is lower than n1, a coupler for coupling the signal in any one of said optical signal transmission lines to all of the remaining transmission lines, said coupler comprising at least four elongated transparent mixer rods each having first and second planar endfaces that are substantially perpendicular to the axis thereof, means disposed adjacent to the periphery of the first endface of each of said mixer rods for connecting the end of a respective one of transmission lines adjacent to said first endface, the optical waveguides of which said transmission line is comprised terminating in faces that are disposed in a substantially planar array adjacent to said first endface, a plurality of bundles of optical waveguide fibers, one of said bundles being coupled to the second endface of each of said mixer rods, each of said bundles being divided into groups of fibers, one of which extends to the second endface of each of the remaining mixer rods, and a housing for supporting said mixer rods, said plurality of bundles of optical waveguide fibers being disposed within said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A coupler in accordance with claim 7 further comprising means disposed adjacent to the periphery of the second endface of each of said mixer rods for supporting the end of a respective one of said bundles adjacent to said second endface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
An optical coupler in accordance with claim 8 wherein each of said mixer rods comprises a cylindrically shaped rod of transparent material and a layer of transparent cladding material disposed upon the surface of said rod, the refractive index of said cladding material being lower than that of said rod.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical coupler in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a layer of refractive index matching fluid disposed adjacent to the first and second endfaces of each of said mixer rods.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical coupler in accordance with claim 10 wherein each of said groups of optical waveguide fibers contains the same number of fibers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3453036A
Cited
US3455625A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |