Optical fiber coupling device and method for its use
First Claim
1. An optical coupler, comprising:
- a rigid coupling element having a concave surface defining a desired bend profile for an optical fiber, the coupling element comprising a rigid body having the concave surface and an optoelectronic device carried by the rigid body at a position and orientation for optical coupling between the optoelectronic device and an optical fiber held against the concave surface so as to conform to the desired bend profile;
a resiliently deformable bending element having a convex surface which is complementary to the concave surface of the coupling element; and
means for urging the bending element toward the coupling element so as to conform an optical fiber placed between the concave surface of the coupling element and the convex surface of the bending element to the desired bend profile
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical coupler comprises a rigid coupling element having a concave surface defining a desired bend profile for an optical fiber, a resiliently deformable bending element having a convex surface which is complementary to the concave surface of the coupling element, and means for urging the bending element toward the coupling element so as to conform an optical fiber placed between the bending element and the coupling element to the desired bend profile. The coupling element comprises a rigid body which has the concave surface, and an optoelectronic device which is carried by the rigid body at a position and orientation for optical coupling between the optoelectronic device and an optical fiber held against the concave surface so as to conform to the desired bend profile.
25 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An optical coupler, comprising:
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a rigid coupling element having a concave surface defining a desired bend profile for an optical fiber, the coupling element comprising a rigid body having the concave surface and an optoelectronic device carried by the rigid body at a position and orientation for optical coupling between the optoelectronic device and an optical fiber held against the concave surface so as to conform to the desired bend profile; a resiliently deformable bending element having a convex surface which is complementary to the concave surface of the coupling element; and means for urging the bending element toward the coupling element so as to conform an optical fiber placed between the concave surface of the coupling element and the convex surface of the bending element to the desired bend profile - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 6, 8, 9)
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4. An optical coupler, comprising:
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a rigid coupling element having two planar surface sections meeting at a rounded internal edge surface, the planar surface sections defining a bend angle between 10 degrees and 20 degrees and the rounded internal edge surface defining a bend radius between 1 mm and 3 mm, the bend angle and the bend radius defining a desired bend profile for an optical fiber, the coupling element comprising a rigid body which is at least partially transparent and which has the planar surface sections and the internal edge surface, and an optoelectronic device embedded in the rigid body at a position and orientation for optical coupling between the optoelectronic device and an optical fiber held against the concave surface so as to conform to the desired bend profile; a resiliently deformable bending element having a rounded external edge surface defining a radius which is slightly less than the bend radius defined by the rounded internal edge surface of the coupling element; and means for urging the bending element toward the coupling element so as to conform an optical fiber placed between the planar surface sections and the rounded internal edge surface of the coupling element and the rounded external edge surface of the bending element to the desired bend profile. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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7. An optical coupler, comprising:
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a rigid coupling element having a concave surface defining a desired bend profile for an optical fiber, the coupling element comprising a rigid body having the concave surface and two optoelectronic devices carried by the rigid body at respective positions and orientations for optical coupling between each optoelectronic device and an optical fiber held against the concave surface so as to conform to the desired bend profile, one of the optoelectronic devices being positioned and oriented for coupling with optical signals propagating in one direction along the optical fiber, and the other of the optoelectronic devices being positioned and oriented for coupling with optical signals propagating in an opposite direction along the optical fiber; a resiliently deformable bending element having a convex surface which is complementary to the concave surface of the coupling element; and means for urging the bending element toward the coupling element so as to conform an optical fiber placed between the concave surface of the coupling element and the convex surface of the bending element to the desired bend profile.
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10. An optical fiber, comprising:
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a rigid coupling element having a concave surface defining a desired bend profile for an optical fiber, the coupling element comprising a rigid body having the concave surface and an optoelectronic device carried by the rigid body at a position and orientation for optical coupling between the optoelectronic device and an optical fiber held against the concave surface so as to conform to the desired bend profile; a resiliently deformable bending element having a convex surface which is complementary to the concave surface of the coupling element; a housing assembly, the housing assembly comprising a housing member fixed to the coupling element, a plunger carrying the bending element, and a linear slide mechanism slidably carrying the plunger on the housing member; and a spring which acts between the housing member and the plunger to urge the bending element toward the coupling element so as to conform an optical fiber placed between the concave surface of the coupling element and the convex surface of the bending element to the desired bend profile. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An optical coupler, comprising:
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a coupling element having a concave surface defining a desired bend profile for an optical fiber, said bend profile having a bend radius between 1 mm and 3 mm and a bend angle between 10 degrees and 20 degrees, the coupling element comprising a body having the concave surface and an optoelectronic device carried by the body at a position and orientation for optical coupling between the optoelectronic device and an optical fiber held against the concave surface so as to conform to the desired bend profile; a bending element having a convex surface which is complementary to the concave surface of the coupling element; and means for urging the bending element toward the coupling element so as to conform an optical fiber placed between the concave surface of the coupling element and the convex surface of the bending element to the desired bend profile.
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13. A method for coupling an optical signal between an optical fiber and an optoelectronic device, the method comprising:
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providing a rigid coupling element having a concave surface defining a desired bend profile for an optical fiber, the coupling element comprising a rigid body which includes the concave surface and an optoelectronic device which is carried by the rigid body at a position and orientation for optical coupling between the optoelectronic device and the fiber conforming to the desired bend profile against the concave surface; providing a resiliently deformable bending element having a convex surface which is complementary to the concave surface of the coupling element; placing an optical fiber between the convex surface of the bending element and the concave surface of the coupling element; and urging the bending element toward the coupling element so as to conform the optical fiber to the desired bend profile.
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Specification