Optical interleaver
Granted: April 10, 2001
Patent Number:
6215923
An optical interleaver having a deflection plate disposed along an optical path between two input/output ports. The interleaver generally comprises a first birefringent element optically coupled to at least two of the input/output ports, first and second polarization rotators, a wavelength filter, and a second birefringent element. The interleaver may be configured to operate as a multiplexer, a de-multiplexer, or a router. The interleaver may further comprise a collimator that couples…
Optical interleaver
Granted: April 3, 2001
Patent Number:
6212313
An optical interleaver having a reflector that reflects an optical signal from one or more input/output ports back through the elements of the interleaver in reverse order to the input/output ports. The interleaver generally comprises a first birefringent element optically coupled to at least three input/output ports, first and second polarization rotators, a wavelength filter, a second birefringent element and the reflector. The interleaver may further comprise a compensation plate that…
Method and system for providing a multi-channel optical filter
Granted: February 20, 2001
Patent Number:
6192175
A system and method for filtering are disclosed. The system and method include providing first, second, third and fourth fibers for carrying a first, second, third, and fourth optical signals, respectively. The method and system also include providing a holder, a filter, and a first wedge assembly. The holder is for receiving the first fiber, the second fiber, the third fiber, and the fourth fiber therein. The filter is for filtering the first optical signal, the second optical signal,…
Method and system for providing an optical circulator
Granted: January 23, 2001
Patent Number:
6178044
A method and system for providing an optical circulator is disclosed. The optical circulator includes a first port, a second port, a third port, and means for establishing a first optical path and a second optical path. The first optical path is from the first port to the second port. The second optical path is from the second port to the third port. The optical path establishing means also includes a wedge and a first birefringent material. The wedge intersects the second optical path…
Method and system for providing an improved three port wavelength division multiplexer
Granted: December 26, 2000
Patent Number:
6167175
A system and method for providing a wavelength division multiplexer is disclosed. In one aspect, the system and method include providing a housing for the wavelength division multiplexer. The housing includes a first port having a first aperture therein, a second port having a second aperture and a first plurality of apertures therein, and a third port having a third aperture and a second plurality of apertures therein. The second and third apertures are coupled to the first aperture.…
System and method for precision wavelength monitoring
Granted: July 11, 2000
Patent Number:
6088142
A system and method for monitoring a wavelength of light produced by a light source is disclosed. The system and method comprise a diffractor for diffracting the light. A first portion of the light is transmitted without diffraction and has a propagation direction. A second portion of the light has a predetermined wavelength and is diffracted through a predetermined angle from the propagation direction. The system also comprises a plurality of filters at the predetermined angle from the…
Tunable, low back-reflection wavelength division multiplexer
Granted: July 4, 2000
Patent Number:
6084994
The tunable wavelength division multiplexer is disclosed. The wavelength division multiplexer includes a fiber, a holder, a filter, and an isolator. The fiber carries an optical signal that includes a plurality of channels. The holder has and end and an axis. The holder receives the first fiber in an aperture such that the first fiber is separated from the axis by a distance. The distance is selected to tune the first angle of incidence so that the filter transmits a portion of the…
Method and system for providing a multi-channel optical filter
Granted: June 20, 2000
Patent Number:
6078710
A system and method for providing filtering is disclosed. The system and method include providing a first fiber and a second fiber. The first fiber is for carrying a first optical signal. The second fiber is for carrying a second optical signal. The method and system further include providing a holder, a filter, a first wedge, and a third fiber. The holder is for receiving the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber therein. The filter is for filtering the first and second…
Multiple wavelength division multiplexer with reduced loss
Granted: May 23, 2000
Patent Number:
6067178
A system and method for providing wavelength division multiplexer is disclosed. The wavelength division multiplexer is for separating an optical signal into a plurality of components. The wavelength division multiplexer includes a splitter and a plurality of isolators coupled to the splitter. The splitter is for separating the optical signal into a plurality of groups. Each group contains a portion of the plurality of components. The plurality of isolators correspond to the plurality of…
Low cost and easy to use improved optical coupler
Granted: November 23, 1999
Patent Number:
5988892
A system and method for providing an optical coupler is disclosed. In one aspect, the method and system include a plurality of optical fibers, a first covering, and a second covering. The plurality of optical fibers further include a first end, a second end, a fused portion between the first end and the second end, a first interface between the first end and the fused portion, and a second interface between the second end and fused portion. The first and second coverings enclose…
Low cost, easy to build precision wavelength locker
Granted: October 5, 1999
Patent Number:
5963686
A system and method providing a wavelength locker is disclosed. The method and system provide a high uniformity, low polarization sensitivity optical coupler. The optical coupler further comprises a first outer fiber and a second outer fiber. The first outer fiber and the second outer fiber each have a first portion. The method and system further provide a filter coupled to the first portion of the first outer fiber. The method and system further provide a first mechanism coupled to the…
Method and system for providing an improved three port wavelength division multiplexer
Granted: August 31, 1999
Patent Number:
5946435
A system and method for providing a wavelength division multiplexer is disclosed. In one aspect, the system and method include providing a housing for the wavelength division multiplexer. The housing includes a first port having a first aperture therein, a second port having a second aperture and a first plurality of apertures therein, and a third port having a third aperture and a second plurality of apertures therein. The second and third apertures are coupled to the first aperture.…
Method and system for wavelength division multiplexer
Granted: August 3, 1999
Patent Number:
5933260
A system and method for separating a component signal having a predetermined wavelength from a signal carried over a range of wavelengths is disclosed. The system comprises a first filter for transmitting light of the predetermined wavelength. The component signal is reflected rather than transmitted. The system further comprises a second filter for transmitting light of a second predetermined wavelength. The second filter is in the transmission direction from the first filter. Thus, the…
Method and system for aligning a lens and a pigtail
Granted: November 24, 1998
Patent Number:
5841591
A system and method for providing an optical collimator is disclosed. The collimator includes a lens, a pigtail, and a holder. The method and system include aligning the lens and the pigtail, affixing a position of the lens with respect to a position of the pigtail, and placing the lens and the pigtail in the holder. The alignment is carried out in three dimensions.
Method and system for providing an improved optical coupler
Granted: August 18, 1998
Patent Number:
5796893
A system and method for providing an optical coupler is disclosed. The system and method comprise providing a plurality of optical fibers formed together in parallel and providing a torch capable of maintaining a temperature of approximately 1200 degrees Celsius, plus or minus approximately 50 degrees Celsius on the plurality of optical fibers, for a predetermined time. An optical coupler made in accordance with the method and system possesses improved uniformity and insertion loss.
Optical isolator
Granted: August 26, 1997
Patent Number:
5661829
A system and method for providing an optical isolator comprising a first collimating means, a core, and a second collimating means is disclosed. The first collimating means comprises at least a first optical fiber holder, a first lens, and a first collimator holder. The core comprises a first polarizer, a polarization rotation means, and a second polarizer. The second collimating means comprises at least a second optical fiber holder, a second lens, and a second collimator holder. One…
