Integrated optical coupler and connector

• US 4,881,789 A
• Filed: 05/26/1988
• Issued: 11/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: II-VI Delaware, Inc. (Coherent Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Finisar Corporation (II-VI Incorporated)
• Inventors: Levinson, Frank H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Application Number:
  US07/198,979
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.15, 350/96.16, 350/96.2, 350/96.21
• US Class Current: 385/48
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2852 using tapping light guides arranged sidewardly, e.g. in a non-parallel relationship with respect to the bus light guides (light extraction or launching through cladding, with or without surface discontinuities, bent structures)
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29368 Light guide comprising the filter, e.g. filter deposited on a fibre end G02B6/29359 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4215 the intermediate optical elements being wavelength selective optical elements, e.g. variable wavelength optical modules or wavelength lockers G02B6/4246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/424 Mounting of the optical light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4286 Optical modules with optical power monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/429 by surface irregularities on the light guide, e.g. by mechanical modification of the surface of the light guide on its exterior

Abstract

There is disclosed an optical fiber coupler made from three separate ferrules formed from a continuous glass capillary tube having a capillary bore of suitable diameter for receiving optical fibers. The three ferrules include first and second end ferrules and a middle ferrule, the middle ferrule having a removed window portion exposing a portion of its capillary bore and two ferrule coupling ends on both sides of the removed window portion. An optical fiber is mounted in the capillary bore of the middle ferrule, and a beamsplitter is inserted in the optical fiber at a position exposed by the removed window portion. In addition, an optical element is coupled to the window portion of the middle ferrule so as to be in optical communication with the beamsplitter means. Finally, the coupler is completed by coupling alignment sleeves that couple and align the two ferrule coupling ends of the middle ferrule to the first and second end ferrules when optical fibers are mounted in the first and second ferrules.

Claims

1. An optical fiber coupler comprising:

three separate ferrules formed from a continuous glass capillary tube having a capillary bore of suitable diameter for receiving optical fibers;

said three ferrules including first and second end ferrules and a middle ferrule, said middle ferrule having a removed window portion exposing a portion of its capillary bore and two ferrule coupling ends on both sides of said removed window portion;

an optical fiber mounted in the capillary bore of the middle ferrule;

beamsplitter means inserted in said optical fiber at a position exposed by said removed window portion of said middle ferrule;

an optical element coupled to the window portion of said middle ferrule so as to be in optical communication with said beamsplitter means; and

coupling alignment means for coupling and aligning said two ferrule coupling ends of said middle ferrule to said first and second end ferrules when optical fibers are mounted in said first and second end ferrules.

2. An optical fiber coupler as set forth in claim 1, including

first and second additional ferrules formed from a continuous glass capillary tube having a capillary bore of suitable diameter for receiving optical fibers;

an optical fiber mounted in the capillary bore of said first additional ferrule; and

additional coupling alignment means for coupling and aligning said first and second additional ferrules;

said first additional ferrule comprising said optical element coupled to the window portion of said middle ferrule.

3. An optical fiber coupler as set forth in claim 1, said optical element comprising a fiber optic receiver.

4. An optical fiber coupler as set forth in claim 1, said optical element comprising a light emitting diode.