Fabrication of multiplexing and demultiplexing single-mode fiber optic couplers
First Claim
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1. Method of fabrication of multiplexing and demultiplexing single-mode fiber optic couplers which comprises:
- (a) aligning two single-mode fibers, which have been stripped of their protective plastic jackets and cleaned, so that they are held in contact with each other;
(b) fusing said fibers in a fusing zone, using a suitable heat source to achieve a predetermined fusion profile; and
(c) in a separate step, elongating the fused fibers by controllably pulling them longitudinally while heating them with a suitable heat source so as to create a coupling zone with an adiabatic profile, and stopping the elongation process when a match point between wavelength period and polarization phase is achieved so as to obtain simultaneously a predetermined wavelength spacing and a required polarization phase match, thereby producing the desired multiplexing or demultiplexing coupler.
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Abstract
Multiplexing and demultiplexing single-mode fiber optic couplers are fabricated by aligning two single-mode fibers which have been stripped of their protective plastic jackets and cleaned so that they are held in parallel contact with each other, and then fusing these fibers to achieve a desired fusion profile and elongating the fused fibers to achieve a match point between the wavelength period and the polarization phase. The elongation process is interrupted and resumed as required to obtain a precise match point required to produce the desired multiplexing or demultiplexing coupler.
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19 Claims
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1. Method of fabrication of multiplexing and demultiplexing single-mode fiber optic couplers which comprises:
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(a) aligning two single-mode fibers, which have been stripped of their protective plastic jackets and cleaned, so that they are held in contact with each other;
(b) fusing said fibers in a fusing zone, using a suitable heat source to achieve a predetermined fusion profile; and
(c) in a separate step, elongating the fused fibers by controllably pulling them longitudinally while heating them with a suitable heat source so as to create a coupling zone with an adiabatic profile, and stopping the elongation process when a match point between wavelength period and polarization phase is achieved so as to obtain simultaneously a predetermined wavelength spacing and a required polarization phase match, thereby producing the desired multiplexing or demultiplexing coupler. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification