Optical coupling device
First Claim
1. An optical coupling device comprising a first dielectric material and a second dielectric material, said coupling device having:
- an input end for receiving an optical signal, said input end having an input cross-section, said input cross-section having a first fill factor of said first dielectric material;
an output end for delivering said optical signal, said output end having an output cross-section, said output cross-section having a second fill factor of said first dielectric material; and
an internal portion between said input end and said output end, said internal portion having a plurality of internal cross-sections;
wherein said first dielectric material is internally dispersed forming one or more discrete regions within said second dielectric material;
wherein said internally dispersed discrete regions include one or more filamentary regions, said filamentary regions extending continuously from said input end through said internal portion to said output end of said device, each of said filamentary regions occupying a fill area in each of said input, internal and output cross-sections, said fill area having a fill size and shape,wherein the fill factor of said first dielectric material varies continuously over the length of said internal portion from said first fill factor at said input cross-section to said second fill factor at said output cross-section, said first fill factor differing from said second fill factor.
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Abstract
An optical coupling device for the efficient transfer of an optical signal between optical components. The device can receive an optical signal from a transmitting component connected to its input end and efficiently transmit that signal to a receiving component connected to its output end. The instant device includes a combination of two or more dielectric materials and provides impedance matching at the input and output ends as well as impedance conservation during propagation of the optical signal through the device. Impedance matching at the input and output ends is controlled through variations in the relative proportions of the constituent dielectric materials of the device in the cross-sections of input and output ends to achieve an effective permittivity that closely matches that of the interconnected component. Impedance conservation within the instant device is achieved through simultaneous variations in the cross-sectional shape of the device and cross-sectional fill factors of the constituent dielectric materials. The impedance conditions, in combination with high spatial overlap at the input and output ends, minimize losses in the power of signal transmitted between the interconnected optical components.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An optical coupling device comprising a first dielectric material and a second dielectric material, said coupling device having:
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an input end for receiving an optical signal, said input end having an input cross-section, said input cross-section having a first fill factor of said first dielectric material; an output end for delivering said optical signal, said output end having an output cross-section, said output cross-section having a second fill factor of said first dielectric material; and an internal portion between said input end and said output end, said internal portion having a plurality of internal cross-sections; wherein said first dielectric material is internally dispersed forming one or more discrete regions within said second dielectric material; wherein said internally dispersed discrete regions include one or more filamentary regions, said filamentary regions extending continuously from said input end through said internal portion to said output end of said device, each of said filamentary regions occupying a fill area in each of said input, internal and output cross-sections, said fill area having a fill size and shape, wherein the fill factor of said first dielectric material varies continuously over the length of said internal portion from said first fill factor at said input cross-section to said second fill factor at said output cross-section, said first fill factor differing from said second fill factor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification