Beam Steering Structure with Integrated Polarization Splitter
First Claim
1. A beam-turning assembly, comprising:
- a beam steering structure including an alignment structure shaped to receive and align an optical fiber such that an axis of a core of the optical fiber is oriented in a first direction within the alignment structure, the beam steering structure including an end portion having an angled optical surface oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the first direction, the end portion shaped and positioned so that light propagating along the first direction from the optical fiber in the alignment structure passes through the end portion to reach the angled optical surface; and
a reflecting system positioned on the angled optical surface across the first direction so that light propagating along the first direction through the end portion is incident upon the reflecting system at the angled optical surface, the reflecting system configured to reflect incident light propagating along the first direction into a first reflected beam of a first polarization and a second reflected beam of a second polarization, the first reflected beam and the second reflected beam separated by a beam spacing sized to direct the first reflected beam into a first optical communication channel and to direct the second reflected beam into a second optical communication channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A beam steering structure includes an alignment structure shaped to receive and align an optical fiber such that an axis of a core of the optical fiber is oriented in a first direction. The beam steering structure includes an end portion having an angled optical surface oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the first direction. The end portion is shaped and positioned so that light propagating along the first direction from the optical fiber passes through the end portion to reach the angled optical surface. A reflecting system is positioned on the angled optical surface across the first direction. The reflecting system is configured to reflect incident light propagating along the first direction into a first reflected beam of a first polarization and a second reflected beam of a second polarization. The first and second reflected beams are directed into first and second optical communication channels, respectively.
9 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A beam-turning assembly, comprising:
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a beam steering structure including an alignment structure shaped to receive and align an optical fiber such that an axis of a core of the optical fiber is oriented in a first direction within the alignment structure, the beam steering structure including an end portion having an angled optical surface oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the first direction, the end portion shaped and positioned so that light propagating along the first direction from the optical fiber in the alignment structure passes through the end portion to reach the angled optical surface; and a reflecting system positioned on the angled optical surface across the first direction so that light propagating along the first direction through the end portion is incident upon the reflecting system at the angled optical surface, the reflecting system configured to reflect incident light propagating along the first direction into a first reflected beam of a first polarization and a second reflected beam of a second polarization, the first reflected beam and the second reflected beam separated by a beam spacing sized to direct the first reflected beam into a first optical communication channel and to direct the second reflected beam into a second optical communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A beam-turning assembly, comprising:
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a beam steering structure including an alignment structure shaped to receive and align an optical fiber such that an axis of a core of the optical fiber is oriented in a first direction within the alignment structure, the beam steering structure including an end portion having an angled optical surface oriented at an angle relative to the first direction; and a reflecting system positioned on the angled optical surface across the first direction so that light propagating along the first direction from the optical fiber is incident upon the reflecting system, the reflecting system configured to reflect incident light propagating along the first direction into a first reflected beam of a first polarization and a second reflected beam of a second polarization, the first reflected beam and the second reflected beam separated by a beam spacing sized to direct the first reflected beam into a first optical communication channel and to direct the second reflected beam into a second optical communication channel, wherein the end portion of the beam steering structure is shaped and positioned so that the first reflected beam and the second reflected beam do not pass through the beam steering structure.
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24. A method for optical beam turning in an optical data communication system, comprising:
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positioning an optical fiber in an alignment structure of a beam steering structure such that an axis of a core of the optical fiber is oriented in a first direction within the alignment structure, the first direction oriented toward a reflecting system positioned on an angled optical surface of an end portion of the beam steering structure, the angled optical surface oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the first direction, the reflecting system configured to reflect incident light propagating along the first direction into a first reflected beam of a first polarization and a second reflected beam of a second polarization, the first reflected beam and the second reflected beam separated by a beam spacing sized to direct the first reflected beam into a first optical communication channel and to direct the second reflected beam into a second optical communication channel; and transmitting light through the optical fiber so that the light travels from the optical fiber in the first direction and is incident upon the reflecting system, the light incident upon the reflecting system being split into the first reflected beam and the second reflected beam. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification