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Optical fiber taps

  • US 4,557,550 A
  • Filed: 10/27/1982
  • Issued: 12/10/1985
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1982
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A coupler for an optical fiber, the coupler having an open position in which it does not operate on the fiber and a closed position in which it does operate on the fiber, comprising:

  • first bending means through which the fiber passes and which has an open position in which the fiber is not bent and a closed position in which the fiber is bent sufficiently to cause at least a portion of an optical signal passing down the fiber to escape and be tapped from the fiber;

    detecting means for detecting the tapped optical signal which has escaped from the fiber when it is maintained in a bent configuration by the first bending means;

    signal attenuation means, located downstream of the first bending means, through which the fiber passes and which has an open position in which an untapped portion of the optical signal passing through the fiber is not attenuated and a closed position in which the untapped portion of the optical signal passing through the fiber is substantially attenuated to prevent confusion between the untapped portion of the optical signal and an optical signal to be injected;

    second bending means, located downstream of the signal attenuation means, through which the fiber passes and which has an open position in which the fiber is not bent and a closed position in which the fiber is bent sufficiently to permit the injection of an optical signal into the fiber;

    injecting means for injecting an optical signal into the bent position of the fiber when it is maintained in a bent configuration by the second bending means; and

    bending and attenuation activating means for moving the first and second bending means and the attenuation means between their open and closed positions.

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