Attenuation of cladding modes in optical fibers
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for attenuating cladding modes in an optical fiber comprising:
- a first support comprising a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart corrugations;
a second support comprising a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart corrugations, the second support facing the first support;
the corrugations of the second support being parallel with the corrugations of the first support but offset from the corrugations of the first support so that central axes of the corrugations of the second support are disposed laterally between central axes of the corrugations of the first support; and
a clamping mechanism for moving at least one of the first or second supports toward the other with a fiber lying transversely across the corrugations of the first and second supports to enable the corrugations of the first and second supports to impart a plurality of micro-bends into the optical fiber.
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Abstract
A device for attenuating cladding modes in a single mode optical fiber is disclosed. The device comprises two supports, each equipped with spaced apart corrugations. The optical fiber lies transversely across the corrugations and the two supports are clamped together to impart micro-bends to the optical fiber. The resulting micro-bends provide excellent cladding mode attenuation and the spacing of the corrugations and support members can be adjusted so that the core modes are not attenuated.
23 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for attenuating cladding modes in an optical fiber comprising:
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a first support comprising a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart corrugations;
a second support comprising a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart corrugations, the second support facing the first support;
the corrugations of the second support being parallel with the corrugations of the first support but offset from the corrugations of the first support so that central axes of the corrugations of the second support are disposed laterally between central axes of the corrugations of the first support; and
a clamping mechanism for moving at least one of the first or second supports toward the other with a fiber lying transversely across the corrugations of the first and second supports to enable the corrugations of the first and second supports to impart a plurality of micro-bends into the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of attenuating cladding mode in an optical fiber and having a core covered by a cladding which is covered by a buffer, the method comprising:
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placing the fiber transversely across corrugations of first and second opposing supports wherein the corrugations of the first support are parallel with the corrugations of the second support but offset from the corrugations of the second support so that central axes of the corrugations of the first support are disposed laterally between central axes of the corrugations of the second support;
moving the first and second supports towards each other to clamp the fiber between the corrugations or the supports and impart a plurality of micro-bends into the fiber. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A transmitter module comprising:
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a laser diode fused to one end of an optical fiber and another end fused to a detector;
a middle section of the optical fiber extending transversely across an attenuation device, the attenuation device comprising a first support comprising an inner surface connected to a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart corrugations;
a second support comprising an inner surface connected to a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart corrugations;
the second support being positioned so that the inner surface of the second support faces the inner surface of the first support and the corrugations of the second support are parallel with the corrugations of the first support but laterally offset from the corrugations of the first support so that central axes of the corrugations of the second support are disposed laterally between central axes of the corrugations of the first support; and
wherein the first and second supports are clamped together with the fiber disposed therebetween so that the corrugations of the first and second supports impart micro-bends into the fiber. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification