Method of coupling light via a coupler on a fiber optic light guide using phase space matching
First Claim
1. An apparatus for coupling light between a light emitting device and a target optical device, the light emitting device emitting light having an emittance intensity phase space plot on a reference surface representable by a first plurality of intensity contours, the target device having an acceptance intensity phase space plot on the reference surface representable by a second plurality of intensity contours defining those light rays which will be captured by the target device, comprising:
- the light emitting device for emitting light;
the target optical device;
an optical path for guiding at least some of the emitted light to the target optical device;
means for altering a direction of propagation of the emitted light so that the altered emitted light has an altered emittance intensity phase space plot on the reference surface representable by a third plurality of intensity contours and so that a first major axis of the altered plot substantially overlaps a first major axis of the acceptance plot on a first plot plane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A coupler for a fiber optic light waveguide has phase space matching optics to increase coupling efficiency. The acceptance phase space of the fiber optic waveguide has two components for light in two orthogonal planes. One of the phase space plots has a straight spine and the other has a bent spine. The phase space matching optics include a graded index lens optically coupled to the phase of a light emitting diode, in the case of a write coupler, which alters the emitted light phase space at a reference plane of the emitted light to match, at the reference plane, the acceptance phase space component having the straight spine. Another lens takes the output light from the graded index lens and alters the phase space further to match the phase space component having the bent spine. Also disclosed is a method for measuring phase space and a system using write and read couplers and a pair of buses for bidirectional communication of information between a plurality of users and a central facility such a telephone central switching office.
33 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for coupling light between a light emitting device and a target optical device, the light emitting device emitting light having an emittance intensity phase space plot on a reference surface representable by a first plurality of intensity contours, the target device having an acceptance intensity phase space plot on the reference surface representable by a second plurality of intensity contours defining those light rays which will be captured by the target device, comprising:
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the light emitting device for emitting light; the target optical device; an optical path for guiding at least some of the emitted light to the target optical device; means for altering a direction of propagation of the emitted light so that the altered emitted light has an altered emittance intensity phase space plot on the reference surface representable by a third plurality of intensity contours and so that a first major axis of the altered plot substantially overlaps a first major axis of the acceptance plot on a first plot plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for coupling light between a light emitting device and a target optical device, comprising:
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the light emitting device for emitting light; the target optical device; an optical path for guiding at least some of the emitted light to the target optical device; means for altering a direction of propagation of the emitted light, the altering means including at least one third or higher order corrective lens, at least one of the devices comprising a bent optical fiber whereby light passes through a side of the fiber at a bend. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A telecommunications system, comprising:
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at least one optical fiber; a head end connected to the optical fiber; an optical coupler connected to the optical fiber, the optical coupler bending the optical fiber so as to allow light to be coupled between an electro-optic device and a core of the bent optical fiber so as to allow signals to be transported between the electro-optic device and the head end, one of the electro-optic device and the bent optical fiber emitting light having an emittance intensity phase space plot on a reference surface representable by a first plurality of intensity contours, the other of the electro-optic device and the bent optical fiber having an acceptance intensity phase space plot on the reference surface representable by a second plurality of intensity contours defining those light rays which will be captured by the target device; means for altering a direction of propagation of the emitted light so that the altered emitted light has an altered emittance intensity phase space plot on the reference surface representable by a third plurality of intensity contours and so that a first major axis of the altered plot substantially overlaps a first major axis of the acceptance plot on a first plot plane.
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17. A method for coupling light between a light emitting device and a target optical device, the light emitting device emitting light having an emittance intensity phase space plot on a reference surface representable by a first plurality of intensity contours, the target device having an acceptance intensity phase space plot on the reference surface representable by a second plurality of intensity contours defining those light rays which will be captured by the target device, comprising the steps of:
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guiding light emitted by the emitting device toward the target optical device; altering a direction of propagation of the emitted light so that the altered emitted light has an altered emittance intensity phase space plot on the reference surface representable by a third plurality of intensity contours and so that a first major axis of the altered plot substantially overlaps a first major axis of the acceptance plot on a first plot plane. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for coupling light between a light emitting device and a target optical device, comprising the steps of:
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characterizing light emitted by the light emitting device so as to define an emittance intensity phase space plot representable by a first plurality of intensity contourson a reference surface; characterizing for the target device an acceptance intensity phase space plot on the reference surface representable by a second plurality of intensity contours so as to define those light rays which will be captured by the target device; guiding light emitted by the emitting device toward the target optical device; altering a direction of propagation of the emitted light so that the altered emitted light has an altered emittance intensity phase space plot on the reference surface representable by a third plurality of intensity contours and so that the altered plot more closely conforms to the acceptance plot than does the emittance plot prior to such altering. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification