CA1127889A - Distributive couplers for fiber optics - Google Patents
Distributive couplers for fiber opticsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1127889A CA1127889A CA334,817A CA334817A CA1127889A CA 1127889 A CA1127889 A CA 1127889A CA 334817 A CA334817 A CA 334817A CA 1127889 A CA1127889 A CA 1127889A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- light
- optical fibers
- optical
- coupler
- housing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
- G02B6/2804—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers
- G02B6/2808—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers using a mixing element which evenly distributes an input signal over a number of outputs
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
- G02B6/2804—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers
- G02B6/2848—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers having refractive means, e.g. imaging elements between light guides as splitting, branching and/or combining devices, e.g. lenses, holograms
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)
- Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A distributive coupler for use with at least one set of optical fibers includes a fiber optic terminal for supporting the end portions of each set of optical fibers.
In a reflective mode, the coupler is adapted for use with one set of optical fibers by directing light transmitted through any one or more of the optical fibers back onto the set of optical fibers, A reflecting element is utilized to reflect transmitted light toward the set of optical fibers and a focusing element is utilized to focus reflected light onto the set of optical fibers, In a transmissive mode, the coupler is adapted for use with two sets of optical fibers by directing light transmitted through any one or more of the optical fibers onto the other set of optical fibers, A shaping element is utilized for shaping light transmitted toward the other set of optical fibers and a focusing element is utilized for focusing transmitted light onto the other set of optical fibers, The coupler also includes telescoping housing segments for adjusting the position of the optical elements relative to each fiber optic terminal. With these features of construction, the distributive coupler produces substantially uniform illum-ination of all of the optical fibers of a set of optical fibers,
A distributive coupler for use with at least one set of optical fibers includes a fiber optic terminal for supporting the end portions of each set of optical fibers.
In a reflective mode, the coupler is adapted for use with one set of optical fibers by directing light transmitted through any one or more of the optical fibers back onto the set of optical fibers, A reflecting element is utilized to reflect transmitted light toward the set of optical fibers and a focusing element is utilized to focus reflected light onto the set of optical fibers, In a transmissive mode, the coupler is adapted for use with two sets of optical fibers by directing light transmitted through any one or more of the optical fibers onto the other set of optical fibers, A shaping element is utilized for shaping light transmitted toward the other set of optical fibers and a focusing element is utilized for focusing transmitted light onto the other set of optical fibers, The coupler also includes telescoping housing segments for adjusting the position of the optical elements relative to each fiber optic terminal. With these features of construction, the distributive coupler produces substantially uniform illum-ination of all of the optical fibers of a set of optical fibers,
Description
~L27~
DISTRlBUTIVE COUPLERS FOR FIBER OPTICS
TECHNICAL FIELD
__ The present invention relates to a distribu-tive coupler andg more particularly, to a distr~butive coupler useful with at least one set Or optical fibers.
EACKGROUND OF THE. PRIOR ARl' In recent years; ~iber optic transmission lines made up of one or more optlcally conductive fibers arranged to form a ~lexlble cable ~or conveying light 10 from one location to another have come into increasing use. The applications have varied although one particu-larly signi~icant application has been conveying data from one location to another by modulating a light source wlth data to be transmltted at one end o~ the cable and recovering the data at the other end of the cable by a photosensitive detector. Since the data is conveyed by a medium not subject to radio frequency inter~erence or detection, ~iber optic transmission lines are particularly well adapted ~or applications requiring a high degree o~ security llke those ~ound in the data processlng field.
Wlth the increasing use of fiber optic trans-mis~ion lines; the need developed ~or connectors cap-able o~ ~oining segments Or cables with mlnlmum detriment to the optical transmission path. It has been ~ound that precise axial~ angular and lateral alignment be-tween a palr of flber optic cables can be achieved by terminating the optical fibers of the cables in con-nector pin assemblies in such a way as ko provide concentric aligntnen~ with respect to the outer dimen-sions of the connector pins. When a palr o~ connector pins are concentrically and accurately aligned, the ultlmate result is that the optical ~ibers will likewlse be axially, angularly and laterally aligned for e~fi-cient light transfer.
While the connector art is still developing,connector pln assemblies are available today for ter-minating the optlcal ~ibers of the cables so that they are concentrically and accurately aligned within accepted tolerances. More recently, there has been ~2~ g - ~ -a growlng interest in, and recogn:ltlon o;~ the need forg developing sultable d-Lstributive couplers f'or dis-tributing light among ~iber optlc transmission lines so that one or two way communicatlon ls possible f`rom any one or more optical flbers of a set of optical flbers to all of the optical fibers of the same or a dl~ferent set of' optical ~ibers. This interest has been spawned primarily b~ the need to distribute an optical signal to a plurality of locations~ More par-10 ticularly, distribut~ve couplers have been sought whichoperate in the manner described while producing sub-stantially uniform illuminatlon of an entire set of optlcal fibers utilizirlg the light transmitted through any one or more optical f'lbers ~1ithout excessive loss 15 of light or excessive distortion of light signal pulse~. Additlonally, a distributive coupler `nas been needed to make it possible to easily adjust the optical components for use wlth different types of` optical ~ibers and dlr~erent plurallties o~ opt~cal ~ibers ~n a 20 manner capable of' fabrication at reasonable cost and to acceptable kolerances.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordlngly~ the present inventiong ln a broad aspect, is d-lrected to a dlstrlbutive coupler for use 25 with at least one set o~ optical ~lbers. It includes means ~or supporting the end port~ons ~f ~he ~ptical fibers5 means for directing light transmitted through any one or more of the optlcal ~ibers onto an entire set o~ optical ~ibers, and means ~or adjusting the 30 position of the light directing means relative to the ~iber supporting means. With these ~eatures of con-structiong the distr-ibutive coupler produces substan-tially uniform lllumination o~ all of the optical f`lbers o~ the entire set of` optical fibers.
More specif'icatllyg the coupler lncludes a ~iber optic terminal f'or supporting the end portions o~
each set of optlcal f`ibers. ln a ref'lective mode) the coupler is adapted ~or use with one set Or optical ~ibers by directing light transmitted throu~h any one or more of the optical fibers back onto the set of optical fibers. A reflectlng e].ement is utilized to reflect transmitted light toward the set of optical fibers and a focusing element is utilized to focus re-flected light onto tl1e set of optical fibers. In atransmissive mode, the coupler is adapted for use with two sets of optical ~ibers by directing light trans-mitted through any one or more of the optical fibers onto the other set of optical fibers. A shaping element 10 is utiliæed for shaping light transmitted toward the other set of optical fibers and a focusing element is utilized for focusing transmitted light onto the other set of optical fLbers. The coupler also lncludes telescoping houslng segments for adjusting the position of the optical elements relative to each fiber optic terminal.
In the re~lective mode, the distributive coupler includes means for supporting the end portions of the optical fibers of one set o~ optical flbers. It 20 also includes means ~or directing l-lght transmitted through any one or more of the opt'lcal fibers onto the set of optlcal fibers wherein the :Light directing means for this mode includes means ~or reflecting transmitted light toward the set o~ optlcal fibers and means for 25 focusing reflected li~ht onto the set o~' optical ~lbers with the light focusing means being disposed between the riber supporting means and the light re~lecting means. Further~ the reflective mode distribut~ve coupler inc].udes means for adjusting the position of 30 the light directing means relat~ve to the riber support-lng means to produce substantlally uniform illumination of the set of optical fibers Additional deta-lls of the reflective mode distributive coupler include a housing having first and 35 second housing segments telescopically related to one another so as to de~ine at least a portlon o~ the posi-tion adjusting means. Preferabl~, the f~rst and second housing segments are complementarily shaped having a common longitudinal axis and include means for support-. .
.. . : .
, .
`, ~, --4---lng the llght focusing means or lens and the light reflecting means or mirror in spaced apart relation within the housing. Advantageously, the light focusing means or lens is supported in one of the housing seg-ments and the light reflecting means or mirror issupported in the other of the housing segments so as to be movable toward and away from the light focusing means or lens by utllizing the portion of the position adJusting means permitting the housing segments to be lQ moved telescopically relative to one anokher. In addi-tion, the reflective mode distributive coupler includes a fiber optic terminal having a sleeve supporting the end portions of the optical fibers of the set of optl-cal fibers in tightly packed relation parallel to one 15 another thereby definlng light transmission paths extending parallel to the common longitudinal axis of the housing segments.
In the transmi.ssive mode, the distributive coupler includes means for support-lng the end portions 20 o~ the optical fibers o~ two sets of optical fibers in spaced relation to one another~ It also includes means for directlng light transmitted th:rough any one or more of the optlcal flbers onto the other set o~ optical fLbers wherein the light directlng means for thls mode lncludes means for shaping llght transmitted from one set of optical ~ibers and means for focus-Lng transmitted light onto the other set of optical fibers. Further, the transmissive mode distribu~ive coupler includes means for adjusting the position of the light directing 30 means relative to the fiber supporting means to produce substantially uniform illum-lnation of the other set:of optical ~ibers.
Add~tional details of the transmissive mode distributive coupler also include a housing having 35 ~irst and second houslng segments telescopically related to one another so as to define at leas~ a portion of the posi~ion adJusting means. Pre~erably~ the first and second housing segments are complernentarily shaped having a common longitudinal a~is and include means .. :
7~3~9 for supporting ~he light shaping means or lens and the light focusing means or lens within the housing. Advantageously, the light shaping means or lens is supported in one o-f the housing segments and the light focusing means or lens is supported in the other of the housing segments so as to be movable toward and away from the light shaping means or lens by utilizing the portion of the position adjusting means permitting the housing segments to be moved telescopically relative to one another.
In addition, the transmissive mode distributive coupler also includes a fiber optic terminal associated with each of the housing segments each of which includes a sleeve supporting the end portions of the optical Eibers of one of the sets of optical fibers in tightly packed relation parallel to one another there-by defining light transmission paths extending parallel to the common longitudinal axis of the housing segments.
The invention is particularly directed toward a dis-tributive coupler for coupling light between at least one opti-cal fiber and a set of optical fibers. The coupler comprises means for suppor-ting one optical fiber and a set of optical fibers and means for directing light transmitted through the one optical fiber toward the set of optical fibers ? the trans-mitted light being directed along a light transmission path.
Means are provided for readily adjusting the directing means axially of the light transmission path for adjusting the length of the light transmission path to enable the light directing means to direct the transmitted light uniformly onto all of the optical fibers of the set.
The present invention is therefore directed to a distributive coupler for distributing light among fiber optic transmission lines so that one or two way communication is possible from any one or more optical fibers of a set of optical fibers to all of the optical fibers of ~he same or a different ,~ -5-set of optical,fibers. It is a further object of the invention to provide a coupler capable of distributing an optical signal to a plurality of locations while operating to produce sub-stantially uniform illumination of an entire set of optical fibers utilizing the light transmitted through any one or more optical fibers without excessive loss of light or excessive dis-tortion of light signal pulses. It is still a further object of the invention to provide a distributive coupler which facilitates easy adjustment of the optical components for use with different types of optical fibers and different pluralities of optical fibers in a manner capable of fabrication at reasonable cost and to acceptable tolerances. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated from a consideration of the details of construction and -Sa-~lZ'7~
operation s0t forth in the accompanying specificatioD, claims and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The novel features of the present invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims The invention, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals identify like elements in the several figures, in which:
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a reflective mode distributive coupler constructed in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional view of an alternative embodi-ment of a reflective mode distributive coupler constructed in ~ ;
accordance with the present invention;
Figure 3 is an enlarged end view of a fiber opticterminal sleeve taken on the linè 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a sectional view of a transmissive mode distributive coupler constructed iD accordance with the present invention; and Figure 5 is an elevational view of a transmissive mode distributive coupler constructed in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION -`
.
In the illustrations given, the reference numerals lO, lO' and 100 desigDate several embodiments of a distributive coupler in accordance with the present invention. In each of the embodiments, the coupler is adapted for use with at least one set 12 of optical fibers 14 and iDcludes means 16 for supporting the end portions of the optical fibers 14 and means 18 for directing light transmitted through any one or more of ~;27~
the optical fibers 14 onto the entire set 12 o~ optical fibers 14, The coupler 10 further includes means 20 for adjusting the position of the light directing means 18 relative to the fiber suppor*ing means 16 to produce substantially uniform illumination of the entire set 12 o~ optical fibers 14.
In a reflective mode (as shown in Figure 1), the distributive coupler 10 is adapted ~or use with one set 12 of optical fibers 14 to direct light transmitted through any one or more o~ the optical fibers 14 back onto the set 12 o~ opti-cal fibers. The reflective mode distributive coupler 10 in-cludes a single fiber supporting means 16. It also includes light directing means 18 wherein the light directing means comprise~,means 22 for reflecting transmitted light toward the set 12 of optical fibers 14 and means 24 disposed between the fiber supporting means 16 and the light reflecting means 22, for focusing reflected light onto the set 12 of optical fibers 14, The reflective mode distributive coupler 10 further in-cludes means 20 for ad~usting the position of the light direc-ting means 18 relative to the fiber supporting means 16. With these features of construction, the distributive coupler 10 produces substantially uniform illumination of the set 12 of optical fibers 1~ in the reflective mode, More particularly, the light focusing means 24 and the light reflecting means 22 (illustrated in Figure 1) are disposed within a housing 26 in the reflective mode coupler 10.
The housing 26 includes first and second housing segments 28 and 30 telescopically related to one ano~her and lying along a common longitudinal aæis 32. so as to define at least a portion of the position adjusting means 20. The first and second hous~ng segments 28 and 30 are complementarily shaped and include means 34 for supporting the light focusing means 2 in spaced apart relation to the light reflecting means 22 !- ~ 7-~27~3i!3~
(described hereinafter) such that the light focusing means 24 is supported in one of the housing segments 28 and the light reflecting means 22 is supported in the other of the housing ~ -segments 30 so as to be movable toward and away from the light focusing means 24 by utilizing the portion of the position adjusting means 20 permitting the housing segments 28 and 30 to be moved telescopically relative to one :
~ `
-7a-anokher. The hous-lng 26 further lncludes a fiber optic termlnal def-lning the flber supporting means 16 and lylng along the common longitudinal axis 32 of the first and second housing segments 28 and 30. Adva-ntageously~
the fiber optic terminal 16 includes a sleeve 38 support-ing the end portions of the opt-Lcal fibers 14 in tlghtly packed relatlon (as sl~own in Figure 3) such that the end portions thereof are maintained parallel to one another and to the common longitudinal axis 32 thereby 10 defining llght transmission paths extending parallel to the common longitudinal axis 32 of the housing segments 28 and 30.
Referring again to Figure 1, the sleeve 38 supports the end faces of the optical fibers 14 in 15 optical communlcation with the light focusing means 24 and the light reflecting means 22. The sleeve 38 is advankageously associated with the one o~ the housing segments 28 supporting the light focusing means 24 with the llght focusing means 24 being disposed between the li~ht reflect-lng means 22 and the end faces of the optlcal fibers 14. Further3 the optical ribers 1l~ are pre~erably supported such that the end faces thereof are maintained in a plane perpendicular to the light transmisslon paths of the optlcal fibers 14.
As illustrated in Figure 1~ the light focuslng means 24 is a ~ocusin~ element such as a lens and the light reflecting means 22 is a reflecting element such as a mirror both of which are dlsposed in the light transmission paths o~ all of the optical f-lbers 14.
The mirror 22 is movable toward and away from the end faces of the optical fibers 14 and the lens 24 by utilizing the portion of the position adJusting means 20 permittin~ the housing segments 28 and 30 to be moved telescopically relative to one another, The lens 35 24 is advantageously mounted in a collar 34 within the houslng 26 and is separately movable toward and away from the end faces of the optical fibers 1~ so as to define another portion of the position adjusting means 20. AdditionallyJ the housing segment 30 includes f~Z7~8~
means 40 ~or securlng the hous-Lng segments 28 and 30 and the housing segment 28 includes means ~2 ~or securing the collar 34 which together permit the lens
DISTRlBUTIVE COUPLERS FOR FIBER OPTICS
TECHNICAL FIELD
__ The present invention relates to a distribu-tive coupler andg more particularly, to a distr~butive coupler useful with at least one set Or optical fibers.
EACKGROUND OF THE. PRIOR ARl' In recent years; ~iber optic transmission lines made up of one or more optlcally conductive fibers arranged to form a ~lexlble cable ~or conveying light 10 from one location to another have come into increasing use. The applications have varied although one particu-larly signi~icant application has been conveying data from one location to another by modulating a light source wlth data to be transmltted at one end o~ the cable and recovering the data at the other end of the cable by a photosensitive detector. Since the data is conveyed by a medium not subject to radio frequency inter~erence or detection, ~iber optic transmission lines are particularly well adapted ~or applications requiring a high degree o~ security llke those ~ound in the data processlng field.
Wlth the increasing use of fiber optic trans-mis~ion lines; the need developed ~or connectors cap-able o~ ~oining segments Or cables with mlnlmum detriment to the optical transmission path. It has been ~ound that precise axial~ angular and lateral alignment be-tween a palr of flber optic cables can be achieved by terminating the optical fibers of the cables in con-nector pin assemblies in such a way as ko provide concentric aligntnen~ with respect to the outer dimen-sions of the connector pins. When a palr o~ connector pins are concentrically and accurately aligned, the ultlmate result is that the optical ~ibers will likewlse be axially, angularly and laterally aligned for e~fi-cient light transfer.
While the connector art is still developing,connector pln assemblies are available today for ter-minating the optlcal ~ibers of the cables so that they are concentrically and accurately aligned within accepted tolerances. More recently, there has been ~2~ g - ~ -a growlng interest in, and recogn:ltlon o;~ the need forg developing sultable d-Lstributive couplers f'or dis-tributing light among ~iber optlc transmission lines so that one or two way communicatlon ls possible f`rom any one or more optical flbers of a set of optical flbers to all of the optical fibers of the same or a dl~ferent set of' optical ~ibers. This interest has been spawned primarily b~ the need to distribute an optical signal to a plurality of locations~ More par-10 ticularly, distribut~ve couplers have been sought whichoperate in the manner described while producing sub-stantially uniform illuminatlon of an entire set of optlcal fibers utilizirlg the light transmitted through any one or more optical f'lbers ~1ithout excessive loss 15 of light or excessive distortion of light signal pulse~. Additlonally, a distributive coupler `nas been needed to make it possible to easily adjust the optical components for use wlth different types of` optical ~ibers and dlr~erent plurallties o~ opt~cal ~ibers ~n a 20 manner capable of' fabrication at reasonable cost and to acceptable kolerances.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordlngly~ the present inventiong ln a broad aspect, is d-lrected to a dlstrlbutive coupler for use 25 with at least one set o~ optical ~lbers. It includes means ~or supporting the end port~ons ~f ~he ~ptical fibers5 means for directing light transmitted through any one or more of the optlcal ~ibers onto an entire set o~ optical ~ibers, and means ~or adjusting the 30 position of the light directing means relative to the ~iber supporting means. With these ~eatures of con-structiong the distr-ibutive coupler produces substan-tially uniform lllumination o~ all of the optical f`lbers o~ the entire set of` optical fibers.
More specif'icatllyg the coupler lncludes a ~iber optic terminal f'or supporting the end portions o~
each set of optlcal f`ibers. ln a ref'lective mode) the coupler is adapted ~or use with one set Or optical ~ibers by directing light transmitted throu~h any one or more of the optical fibers back onto the set of optical fibers. A reflectlng e].ement is utilized to reflect transmitted light toward the set of optical fibers and a focusing element is utilized to focus re-flected light onto tl1e set of optical fibers. In atransmissive mode, the coupler is adapted for use with two sets of optical ~ibers by directing light trans-mitted through any one or more of the optical fibers onto the other set of optical fibers. A shaping element 10 is utiliæed for shaping light transmitted toward the other set of optical fibers and a focusing element is utilized for focusing transmitted light onto the other set of optical fLbers. The coupler also lncludes telescoping houslng segments for adjusting the position of the optical elements relative to each fiber optic terminal.
In the re~lective mode, the distributive coupler includes means for supporting the end portions of the optical fibers of one set o~ optical flbers. It 20 also includes means ~or directing l-lght transmitted through any one or more of the opt'lcal fibers onto the set of optlcal fibers wherein the :Light directing means for this mode includes means ~or reflecting transmitted light toward the set o~ optlcal fibers and means for 25 focusing reflected li~ht onto the set o~' optical ~lbers with the light focusing means being disposed between the riber supporting means and the light re~lecting means. Further~ the reflective mode distribut~ve coupler inc].udes means for adjusting the position of 30 the light directing means relat~ve to the riber support-lng means to produce substantlally uniform illumination of the set of optical fibers Additional deta-lls of the reflective mode distributive coupler include a housing having first and 35 second housing segments telescopically related to one another so as to de~ine at least a portlon o~ the posi-tion adjusting means. Preferabl~, the f~rst and second housing segments are complementarily shaped having a common longitudinal axis and include means for support-. .
.. . : .
, .
`, ~, --4---lng the llght focusing means or lens and the light reflecting means or mirror in spaced apart relation within the housing. Advantageously, the light focusing means or lens is supported in one of the housing seg-ments and the light reflecting means or mirror issupported in the other of the housing segments so as to be movable toward and away from the light focusing means or lens by utllizing the portion of the position adJusting means permitting the housing segments to be lQ moved telescopically relative to one anokher. In addi-tion, the reflective mode distributive coupler includes a fiber optic terminal having a sleeve supporting the end portions of the optical fibers of the set of optl-cal fibers in tightly packed relation parallel to one 15 another thereby definlng light transmission paths extending parallel to the common longitudinal axis of the housing segments.
In the transmi.ssive mode, the distributive coupler includes means for support-lng the end portions 20 o~ the optical fibers o~ two sets of optical fibers in spaced relation to one another~ It also includes means for directlng light transmitted th:rough any one or more of the optlcal flbers onto the other set o~ optical fLbers wherein the light directlng means for thls mode lncludes means for shaping llght transmitted from one set of optical ~ibers and means for focus-Lng transmitted light onto the other set of optical fibers. Further, the transmissive mode distribu~ive coupler includes means for adjusting the position of the light directing 30 means relative to the fiber supporting means to produce substantially uniform illum-lnation of the other set:of optical ~ibers.
Add~tional details of the transmissive mode distributive coupler also include a housing having 35 ~irst and second houslng segments telescopically related to one another so as to define at leas~ a portion of the posi~ion adJusting means. Pre~erably~ the first and second housing segments are complernentarily shaped having a common longitudinal a~is and include means .. :
7~3~9 for supporting ~he light shaping means or lens and the light focusing means or lens within the housing. Advantageously, the light shaping means or lens is supported in one o-f the housing segments and the light focusing means or lens is supported in the other of the housing segments so as to be movable toward and away from the light shaping means or lens by utilizing the portion of the position adjusting means permitting the housing segments to be moved telescopically relative to one another.
In addition, the transmissive mode distributive coupler also includes a fiber optic terminal associated with each of the housing segments each of which includes a sleeve supporting the end portions of the optical Eibers of one of the sets of optical fibers in tightly packed relation parallel to one another there-by defining light transmission paths extending parallel to the common longitudinal axis of the housing segments.
The invention is particularly directed toward a dis-tributive coupler for coupling light between at least one opti-cal fiber and a set of optical fibers. The coupler comprises means for suppor-ting one optical fiber and a set of optical fibers and means for directing light transmitted through the one optical fiber toward the set of optical fibers ? the trans-mitted light being directed along a light transmission path.
Means are provided for readily adjusting the directing means axially of the light transmission path for adjusting the length of the light transmission path to enable the light directing means to direct the transmitted light uniformly onto all of the optical fibers of the set.
The present invention is therefore directed to a distributive coupler for distributing light among fiber optic transmission lines so that one or two way communication is possible from any one or more optical fibers of a set of optical fibers to all of the optical fibers of ~he same or a different ,~ -5-set of optical,fibers. It is a further object of the invention to provide a coupler capable of distributing an optical signal to a plurality of locations while operating to produce sub-stantially uniform illumination of an entire set of optical fibers utilizing the light transmitted through any one or more optical fibers without excessive loss of light or excessive dis-tortion of light signal pulses. It is still a further object of the invention to provide a distributive coupler which facilitates easy adjustment of the optical components for use with different types of optical fibers and different pluralities of optical fibers in a manner capable of fabrication at reasonable cost and to acceptable tolerances. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated from a consideration of the details of construction and -Sa-~lZ'7~
operation s0t forth in the accompanying specificatioD, claims and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The novel features of the present invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims The invention, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals identify like elements in the several figures, in which:
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a reflective mode distributive coupler constructed in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional view of an alternative embodi-ment of a reflective mode distributive coupler constructed in ~ ;
accordance with the present invention;
Figure 3 is an enlarged end view of a fiber opticterminal sleeve taken on the linè 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a sectional view of a transmissive mode distributive coupler constructed iD accordance with the present invention; and Figure 5 is an elevational view of a transmissive mode distributive coupler constructed in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION -`
.
In the illustrations given, the reference numerals lO, lO' and 100 desigDate several embodiments of a distributive coupler in accordance with the present invention. In each of the embodiments, the coupler is adapted for use with at least one set 12 of optical fibers 14 and iDcludes means 16 for supporting the end portions of the optical fibers 14 and means 18 for directing light transmitted through any one or more of ~;27~
the optical fibers 14 onto the entire set 12 o~ optical fibers 14, The coupler 10 further includes means 20 for adjusting the position of the light directing means 18 relative to the fiber suppor*ing means 16 to produce substantially uniform illumination of the entire set 12 o~ optical fibers 14.
In a reflective mode (as shown in Figure 1), the distributive coupler 10 is adapted ~or use with one set 12 of optical fibers 14 to direct light transmitted through any one or more o~ the optical fibers 14 back onto the set 12 o~ opti-cal fibers. The reflective mode distributive coupler 10 in-cludes a single fiber supporting means 16. It also includes light directing means 18 wherein the light directing means comprise~,means 22 for reflecting transmitted light toward the set 12 of optical fibers 14 and means 24 disposed between the fiber supporting means 16 and the light reflecting means 22, for focusing reflected light onto the set 12 of optical fibers 14, The reflective mode distributive coupler 10 further in-cludes means 20 for ad~usting the position of the light direc-ting means 18 relative to the fiber supporting means 16. With these features of construction, the distributive coupler 10 produces substantially uniform illumination of the set 12 of optical fibers 1~ in the reflective mode, More particularly, the light focusing means 24 and the light reflecting means 22 (illustrated in Figure 1) are disposed within a housing 26 in the reflective mode coupler 10.
The housing 26 includes first and second housing segments 28 and 30 telescopically related to one ano~her and lying along a common longitudinal aæis 32. so as to define at least a portion of the position adjusting means 20. The first and second hous~ng segments 28 and 30 are complementarily shaped and include means 34 for supporting the light focusing means 2 in spaced apart relation to the light reflecting means 22 !- ~ 7-~27~3i!3~
(described hereinafter) such that the light focusing means 24 is supported in one of the housing segments 28 and the light reflecting means 22 is supported in the other of the housing ~ -segments 30 so as to be movable toward and away from the light focusing means 24 by utilizing the portion of the position adjusting means 20 permitting the housing segments 28 and 30 to be moved telescopically relative to one :
~ `
-7a-anokher. The hous-lng 26 further lncludes a fiber optic termlnal def-lning the flber supporting means 16 and lylng along the common longitudinal axis 32 of the first and second housing segments 28 and 30. Adva-ntageously~
the fiber optic terminal 16 includes a sleeve 38 support-ing the end portions of the opt-Lcal fibers 14 in tlghtly packed relatlon (as sl~own in Figure 3) such that the end portions thereof are maintained parallel to one another and to the common longitudinal axis 32 thereby 10 defining llght transmission paths extending parallel to the common longitudinal axis 32 of the housing segments 28 and 30.
Referring again to Figure 1, the sleeve 38 supports the end faces of the optical fibers 14 in 15 optical communlcation with the light focusing means 24 and the light reflecting means 22. The sleeve 38 is advankageously associated with the one o~ the housing segments 28 supporting the light focusing means 24 with the llght focusing means 24 being disposed between the li~ht reflect-lng means 22 and the end faces of the optlcal fibers 14. Further3 the optical ribers 1l~ are pre~erably supported such that the end faces thereof are maintained in a plane perpendicular to the light transmisslon paths of the optlcal fibers 14.
As illustrated in Figure 1~ the light focuslng means 24 is a ~ocusin~ element such as a lens and the light reflecting means 22 is a reflecting element such as a mirror both of which are dlsposed in the light transmission paths o~ all of the optical f-lbers 14.
The mirror 22 is movable toward and away from the end faces of the optical fibers 14 and the lens 24 by utilizing the portion of the position adJusting means 20 permittin~ the housing segments 28 and 30 to be moved telescopically relative to one another, The lens 35 24 is advantageously mounted in a collar 34 within the houslng 26 and is separately movable toward and away from the end faces of the optical fibers 1~ so as to define another portion of the position adjusting means 20. AdditionallyJ the housing segment 30 includes f~Z7~8~
means 40 ~or securlng the hous-Lng segments 28 and 30 and the housing segment 28 includes means ~2 ~or securing the collar 34 which together permit the lens
2~ and the mirror 22 to be secured in selected positions of ad~ustment relative to the end races of the optical fibers 14 so as to produce substantially un~form illum-ination o~ all of the optical ~lbers 14 of the set 12 of optical fibers.
It wlll be appreciated that the lens 24 and 10 the mirror 22 (illustrated in F~gure 1) are disposed perpendicular to the common longitudinal axis 32 and the light transmisslon paths of the opt~cal fibers 14 with the sleeve 38 being disposed at one end 44 of the housing 26; the mirror 22 being disposed at the other 15 end L~6 o~ the housing 26~ and the lens 24 being dis-posed intermediate the ends 44 and 4~ of the housing 26, The lens 24~ therefore~ divldes the housing 26 in~o two separate chambers l~8 and 50 extending through the housing 26 along the common longltudinal axis 32 and 20 the light transmission paths of the optical fibers 1 with the two separate chambers pre~erably being in communlcation with one another. As will be described more fully in connection with the alternative embodiment of ~igure 2~ the chambers can communicate through a 25 passageway extending throu~h at least one of the housing segments and the housing can include means ~or sealing the chambers against exposure to conditions external of the housing.
Re~erring again to Figure 1~ it will be appre-30 ciated that the housing 26 is generally tubular in shape and the housing segment 30 supports an end cap 52 at the end 46 thereof. The housing segment 30 inc~des an annular recess 58 of a depth generally the same as the thickness o~ the end cap 52 and o~ a diameter 35 generally the same as the diameter o~ the end cap 52.
The end cap 52 which has a central aperture 5~ is re~
tained in the annular recess 58 by any suitable securing means such as epoxy ~as at 60). The mirror 22 is sup-ported by the end cap 52 and need only be dimensioned ~2~
smaller than thc end cap 52 but larger than the cenkral aperture 5~ As will be seen~ the m~rror 22 is likewise secured to the end cap 52 by any suitable means such as epoxy (as at 52).
As will be seen9 the long cylindrical wall 6~
of the houslng segment 30 includes a through hole 66 at some point on the circumference. The through hole 66 is provided to accommodateg ~or exampleg a set screw L~o defining the means for securing the telescoping housing 10 segments28 and 30 in a selected position of adjustment.
It will be appreciated that this ~acilitates movement between the housing segments ~8 and 30 when it is deslred to make an optical adJustment to the coupler 10. The housing segment 28 likewlse includes a cylln-15 drical wall 68 having a through hole 70 at some pointabout the circumference provlded~ for example~ to accommodate a set screw 42 defining the means for secur~
ing the collar 34 in a selected position of adjustment.
Wlth these features of construction~ the reflectlve 20 mode coupler 10 is well suited for produclng substan-tlally uniform lllumination of the entire set 12 of optical flbers utlllzlng the light transmitted through any one or more optlcal flbers 14 hy making appropriate adJustment ln the relatlve positlon of the optlcal 25 components 14~ 22 and 24.
Referring again to ~igure lg it will be seen that the housing segment 28 includes a ma~or inner diameter wall portlorl 72 and a m-lnor inner dlameter wall portion 74, The collar 34 is mounted for sliding move-30 ment along the common longitudinal axls 32 withln theminor inner dlameter wall portion 7L~, It will be seen that an inwardly extending annular ~lange 76 is disposed at the Juncture between the ma~or lnner dlameter wall portion 72 and the minor inner dlameter wall portlon 74 35 which acts as a stop for the collar 34 restricting axial movement of ~he collar ln a direct.lon away from the sleeve 38. The end 4~ of the housing segment 28 in-cludes a cap 78 which is secured to the minor inner diameter wall portion 74 by screws (as at 80). 0~
.
78~9 course~ the cap 78 can be remov~ t~ p~ide ao~e~ ~o khe collar 34 ~or facilltating adjustment o~ the posl-tion of the collar 34 after loosening the set screw ~2, As shown~ the collar 34 can be ad~usted between a poslt~on ln which it is contacting the annular flange 76 and any other position nearer the sleeve 38 in which lt ls still opposite the through hole 70 for securement by the set screw 42, The collar 34 there~ora permits ~ine adJustment o~ the lens 24 so as to assure substan-tlally uniform illumination of the entire set 12 o~optical ~ibers utilizing the light transmitted through any one or more optical fibers 14. Further, lt will be seen that the collar 34 includes internal threads 82 which cooperate with an externally threaded ring 84 to secure the lens 24 within the collar 34 permltting re-placement of the lens 24 by another lens in a ~uick and ea~y fashion. The threaded ring 84 may simply be un-threaded from the internally threaded collar 34~ the lens 24 removed, and the replacemellt lens installed into the co].lar 3~. In additiong the collar 34 can be placed in the housing segment 28 with the lens slde o~
the collar nearer the ~leeve 38 or nearer the mirror 22 to provlde an even wlder range of ad~ustment if desired.
Re~erring to the cap 78, it includes an inter-~5 nally threaded outwardl~ extendlng tubular port-lon 86.
The tubul~r portion 86 cooperates wlth an externally threaded adapter 88 thereby de.~in~ng the ~iber optic terminal 16. It will be ~een that the adapter 88 is dlmensloned and shapsd to receive a fiber optic pin 90,
It wlll be appreciated that the lens 24 and 10 the mirror 22 (illustrated in F~gure 1) are disposed perpendicular to the common longitudinal axis 32 and the light transmisslon paths of the opt~cal fibers 14 with the sleeve 38 being disposed at one end 44 of the housing 26; the mirror 22 being disposed at the other 15 end L~6 o~ the housing 26~ and the lens 24 being dis-posed intermediate the ends 44 and 4~ of the housing 26, The lens 24~ therefore~ divldes the housing 26 in~o two separate chambers l~8 and 50 extending through the housing 26 along the common longltudinal axis 32 and 20 the light transmission paths of the optical fibers 1 with the two separate chambers pre~erably being in communlcation with one another. As will be described more fully in connection with the alternative embodiment of ~igure 2~ the chambers can communicate through a 25 passageway extending throu~h at least one of the housing segments and the housing can include means ~or sealing the chambers against exposure to conditions external of the housing.
Re~erring again to Figure 1~ it will be appre-30 ciated that the housing 26 is generally tubular in shape and the housing segment 30 supports an end cap 52 at the end 46 thereof. The housing segment 30 inc~des an annular recess 58 of a depth generally the same as the thickness o~ the end cap 52 and o~ a diameter 35 generally the same as the diameter o~ the end cap 52.
The end cap 52 which has a central aperture 5~ is re~
tained in the annular recess 58 by any suitable securing means such as epoxy ~as at 60). The mirror 22 is sup-ported by the end cap 52 and need only be dimensioned ~2~
smaller than thc end cap 52 but larger than the cenkral aperture 5~ As will be seen~ the m~rror 22 is likewise secured to the end cap 52 by any suitable means such as epoxy (as at 52).
As will be seen9 the long cylindrical wall 6~
of the houslng segment 30 includes a through hole 66 at some point on the circumference. The through hole 66 is provided to accommodateg ~or exampleg a set screw L~o defining the means for securing the telescoping housing 10 segments28 and 30 in a selected position of adjustment.
It will be appreciated that this ~acilitates movement between the housing segments ~8 and 30 when it is deslred to make an optical adJustment to the coupler 10. The housing segment 28 likewlse includes a cylln-15 drical wall 68 having a through hole 70 at some pointabout the circumference provlded~ for example~ to accommodate a set screw 42 defining the means for secur~
ing the collar 34 in a selected position of adjustment.
Wlth these features of construction~ the reflectlve 20 mode coupler 10 is well suited for produclng substan-tlally uniform lllumination of the entire set 12 of optical flbers utlllzlng the light transmitted through any one or more optlcal flbers 14 hy making appropriate adJustment ln the relatlve positlon of the optlcal 25 components 14~ 22 and 24.
Referring again to ~igure lg it will be seen that the housing segment 28 includes a ma~or inner diameter wall portlorl 72 and a m-lnor inner dlameter wall portion 74, The collar 34 is mounted for sliding move-30 ment along the common longitudinal axls 32 withln theminor inner dlameter wall portion 7L~, It will be seen that an inwardly extending annular ~lange 76 is disposed at the Juncture between the ma~or lnner dlameter wall portion 72 and the minor inner dlameter wall portlon 74 35 which acts as a stop for the collar 34 restricting axial movement of ~he collar ln a direct.lon away from the sleeve 38. The end 4~ of the housing segment 28 in-cludes a cap 78 which is secured to the minor inner diameter wall portion 74 by screws (as at 80). 0~
.
78~9 course~ the cap 78 can be remov~ t~ p~ide ao~e~ ~o khe collar 34 ~or facilltating adjustment o~ the posl-tion of the collar 34 after loosening the set screw ~2, As shown~ the collar 34 can be ad~usted between a poslt~on ln which it is contacting the annular flange 76 and any other position nearer the sleeve 38 in which lt ls still opposite the through hole 70 for securement by the set screw 42, The collar 34 there~ora permits ~ine adJustment o~ the lens 24 so as to assure substan-tlally uniform illumination of the entire set 12 o~optical ~ibers utilizing the light transmitted through any one or more optical fibers 14. Further, lt will be seen that the collar 34 includes internal threads 82 which cooperate with an externally threaded ring 84 to secure the lens 24 within the collar 34 permltting re-placement of the lens 24 by another lens in a ~uick and ea~y fashion. The threaded ring 84 may simply be un-threaded from the internally threaded collar 34~ the lens 24 removed, and the replacemellt lens installed into the co].lar 3~. In additiong the collar 34 can be placed in the housing segment 28 with the lens slde o~
the collar nearer the ~leeve 38 or nearer the mirror 22 to provlde an even wlder range of ad~ustment if desired.
Re~erring to the cap 78, it includes an inter-~5 nally threaded outwardl~ extendlng tubular port-lon 86.
The tubul~r portion 86 cooperates wlth an externally threaded adapter 88 thereby de.~in~ng the ~iber optic terminal 16. It will be ~een that the adapter 88 is dlmensloned and shapsd to receive a fiber optic pin 90,
3~ which includes the sleeve 38~ through a central opening 92 thereln. It will be appreciated that the threaded adapter 88 permits adjustment of the fiber optic pin 90 which may therea~ter be secured in a selected posi-tion o~ ad~ustment by means o~ set ~crew 89. The ~iber optic pin 90 also includes an outwardly extending B annular flange ~ which cooperates with an inwardly extendlng flange 9~:of an internally threaded nut 96.
~s shown in Flgure 1, the f~ber optic pin 90 can be inserted into the externally thr~aded adapter 88 and the .:
: .
lnternally threaded nut 96 can be threaded onto the externally threaded adapter 88 to secure the sleeve 38 in posltion w~thin the fiber optic terminal 16.
While ~orming no part o~ the present i~vention3 the optical fibers 14 comprise lead segments adapted for connection to fiber optlc transmlssion lines. The fiber optic connecto~s ~8 have been shown merely ~o represent that the optlcal fibers 14 are to be connec-ted to ~iber optic transmission lines. Ik is also within the purview of the present invention to simply ~orm the di~trlbutive coupler with opt~cal ~ibers or ~iber optic kransmlssion lines (such as 14~ whlch are su~ficiently long to exkend to desired receiving stations. The optical fibers 14 could also be ~itted with other types of connectors or spllcers to secure the optical fibers to suitable ~iber optic transmi~sion lines. Persons skilled in the art will readll~ recog~
nize the numerou~ means ~or ~oining the distrlbutive coupler 10 to su~table ~lber optic transmlssion lines.
Re~errln~ to Figure 2, the alternative embodi-ment reflective mode dlstributlve coupler 10' employs inventlve prlnciples in oommon with the di3tributive coupler lO of Figure l. It should be noted that cor-re~ponding elements of the two embodiments have been given correspond~ng re~erence numerals in the drawings with the exceptlon that the nL~rals a~slgned to ele-ments in the al~er~ative embodiment are prime for purposes o~ distlnction. In order to avoid repetltion~
the distributlve coupler 10' w~ll be descr~bed only to 3 the extent it di~ers from the distributive coupler lO
with the understandlng that description of the distribu-tive coupler 10 is otherwise equally appllcable to the dis~ributive coupler 10'.
As will be seen, the lens 24' divides the hous-ing 26' into two separate chambers ~8' and 50'. The chambers 48' and 50' extend through the housing 26' along the common lon~ltudinal axis 32' and the llght transmission paths o~ the optical fibers 14'. The two separate chambers 48' and 50' are in communication ~2~
with one another through a passageway 51~ extending through the housing segment 28~, Moreover, the housing 26~ includes means 53~ for sealing the chambers 48~ and 50~ against expos-ure to conditions external o~ the housing 26~, Referring again to Figure 2, it will be appreciated that the housing segments 28~ and 30~ are generally tubular in shape, The housing segment 30~ includes an integral end por-tion 52~ having an internal annular ring 55'. As will be seen, the mirror 22~ is supported against the ring 55' by any suitable means such as epoxy (as at ~2~), As shown, the long cylindrical wall 64~ of the hous-ing segment 30~ includes internal threads as at 65' to co-operate with external threads 67~ on the generally cylindrical wall 68l of the housing segment 28~, It will be appreciated that this de~ines the position adjusting means 20~ facilitating telescoping movement between the housing segments 28' and 30' when it is desired to make an optical adjustment to the coupler 10~ as well as defining the means 40' for securing the tele-scoping housing segments 28~ and 30~ in a selected position o~
adjustment. With these ~eatures o~ construction, the coupler 10' is well suited for producing substantially uniform illumin-ation o~ the entire set 12~ of optical fibers utilizing the light ~ransmitted through any one or more optical fibers 14~ ~
by making appropriate adjustments in the relative position of ~ :
the optical componen~s 14', 22~ and 24~.
Referring again to Figure 2 9 it will be seen that the housing segment 28~ includes a major inner diameter wall :;
portion 71~ and aminor inner diameter wall portion 73'. The collar 34' is mounted along the common longitudinal axis 32 within the major inner diameter wall portion 71~. As shown, the collar 3~ includes a through hole 75~ and a circumferential cutout 77' through which the chamber 48' communicates with the _, -13-~IL27~3~9 passageway 51~ and, hence, the chamber 50i As will be seen, the cap 78~ includes an outwardly e~tending tubular portion 86~ The tubular portion 86~ serves as a guide aDd support for the optical fibers 14~. It will be appreciated that the optical fibers 14' are stripped at various points along their lengths from the outer jacket, to the strength members, to the inner jacket, to the fibers themselves prior to the point the optical fibers 14~ enter the sleeve 38' The optical fibers 14' are epo~ied in the sleeve 38~ and the tubu-1~ lar portion 86~. Additionally, the optical fibers 14~ aresecured to the distributive coupler 10' by using a length of heat shrink tubing 87~ extending from near the point the tubu-lar portion 86' joins the cap 78' to rearwardly of the point the outer jac~et is trimmed away with epoxy being used (as at 89') to secure the optical :Eibers 14' to one another, the tubular portion 86' and the heat shrink tubing 87~, Further details of the alternative embodiment reflec-tive mode distributive coupler 10' include the utilization of an 0-ring 91' between the collar 34' and the lens 24'. It is also contemplated that the slot (not shown) in the head of the screws 80~ and the joint between the housing segments 28~ and 30~ (as at 93') can be epo~ied, particularly for applications requiring a hermetically sealed unit, to discp~Fage disassembly by the user and to lock the distributive coupler into a desired position of adjustment. If the distributive coupler 10~ is to be hermetically sealed9 the housing segment 30~ may be un-threaded rela$ive to the housing segment 28' until it completely clears the 0-ring 53~, the coupler can be placed into a vacuum for a period of time, and the vacuum chamber can be filled with dry nitrogen immediatel~ a:Eter which the housing segment 30' can again be threaded into position overlapping the 0-ring 53' In a transmissive mode (as shown in Figure 4), the ~781~
distributive coupler 100 is adapted for use with two sets 12 of optical fibers 14 by directing light transmitted through any one or more of the optical fibers 14 of one of the sets 12 o~ optical fibers onto all of the optical fibers 14 of the other set 12 of optical fibers, The transmissive mode dis-~ributive coupler 100 then includes means 16 at each end for supporting the end portions of the optical fibers 14 of *he two sets 1~ of optical fibers in spaced relation to one another.
It also includes means 18 for directing the light trans~itted through any one or more of the optical fibers 14 of one of the sets 12 onto all of the optical fibers 14 o~ the other of the sets 12 wherein the light directing means 18 comprises light shaping means 109 and light focusiDg means 110 disposed between the sets 12 of optical ~ibers, The transmissive mode distribu-tive coupler 100 further includes means 20 for adjusting the position of the light directing means 18 relative to the fiber supporting means 16. With these features of construction, the distributive coupler 100 produces substantially uni~orm illu-mination of the other of the sets 12 of optical fibers 14 in the transmissi~e mode.
More particularly, the light shaping means 109 and the light ~ocusing means 110 (illustrated in Figure 4) are disposed within a housing 114 in the transmissive mode coupler 100. The housing 114 includes first and second housing seg-ments 116 and 118 telescopically related to one another and lying along a common longitudinal axis 12~ so as to define at least a portion of the position adjusting means 20. The ~`irst and second housing segments 116 and 11~ are complementarily shaped and include means for supporting the light focusing means 110 in spaced apart relation to the light shaping means 109 (described hereina~ter) such that the light ~ocusing means 110 is supported in one of the housing segments 118 and the 8~
light shaping means 109 is supported in the other of the housing segments 116 so as to be movable toward and away from the light focusing means 110 by utilizing the portion of the position zdjusting means 20 permitting the housing segments 116 and 118 to be moved telescopically relative to one another.
The housing 114 further includes a pair of fiber optic terminals defining the fiber supporting means 16 and lying aloDg the common longitudinal axis 120 of the first and second housing segments 116 and 11~ with one of the fiber optic terminals 16 being associated with each of the housing segments 116 and 11~ so as to be disposed at opposite ends 130 and 132 of the housing 114. Advantageously, the fiber optic terminals 16 each include a sleeve 134 supporting the end portions of the optical fibers 14 of one of the sets 12 in tightly packed relation (similar to Figure 3) such that the end portions o~ any one set 12 are maintained parallel to one another and to the common longitudinal axis 120 thereby defining light transmission paths extending parallel to the common longitudinal axis 120 of the housing segments 116 and 118.
~e~'erring again to ~igure 4, each of the sleeves 134 supports the end faces of the optical fibers 14 ~f one of the sets 12 in ~ptical c~munication with the light shaping means 109, the light focusing means 110 and the end faces of the optical fibers 14 of the other of the sets 12. Both the light shaping means 109 and the light focusing means 110 are disposed between the end faces of the sets 12 of optical fibers wi$h the optical fibers 14 of each of the sets being supported such that the end faces thereof are maintained in a plane perpendicular to the light transmission paths of the optical fibers 14, The light shaping means 109 includes a shaping element such as a lens and the light focusing means 110 includes a ~ocusing element such as a lens both of which are disposed in the light ~L27~
transmission paths of all of the optical fibers 14 Both of the lenses 109 and 110 are movable toward and away from each other by utilizing *he portion of the position adjusting means 20 permitting the housing segments 116 and 118 to be moved telescopically relative to one another. Further, each of the lenses 109 and 110 is advantageously mounted in a collar 122 defining means for supporting light shaping means 109 and the light focusing means 110 whereby the lenses 109 and 110 are separately movable toward and away from -the end faces of the adjacent optical fibers 14 so as to define another portion o~
the position adjusting means 20.
It will be seen that the lenses 109 and 110 are dis-posed perpendicular to the common longitudinal axis 120 and the light transmission paths of the optical fibers 14. Further, the housing segment 116 includes mea~s 136 in the form of a set screw for securing the housing segments 116 and 118 and the housing segments 116 and 118 each include means 13~ also iD the form of a set screw ~or securing th~e respective collars 122 which together permit the lenses 109 and 110 to be se~ured in selected positions o~ adjustment relative to the end faces of -the adjacent optical fibers 14 and to each other so as to produce substantially uniform illumination o~ all of the opti~
cal fibers 14 of one of the sets 12 of optical fibers ~lore-over, the lenses 109 and 110 are disposed intermediate the ends 130 and 132 of the housing 114 in spaced relation to each other and to the end faces o~ the optical fibers 14 of the sets 12 of optical fibers so as to divide the housing 114 into three separate chambers 140, 142 and 144 extending through the housing 114 along the common longitudinal axis 120 and the light transmission paths. If desired, the chambers 140, 142 and 144 can communicate through ~ passageway extending through the housing segments 116 and 118 and the housing 114 can iD-~ ~7~
clude means for sealing th0 chambers 140, 142 and 144 against exposure to conditions external o~ the housing 114 in the manner taught hereinabove in connection with the reflective mode coupler alternative embodiment of Figure 2.
Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the details of con-struction are similar to the details of construction of Figure 1. The principal differences relate to minor changes in the fiber supporting means 16 and the collar 122. It will be seen, for instance, that the housing segment 116 includes an end cap 146 secured to the end 130 thereof by any suitable means such as screws 148 and the housing segment 118 also includes an end cap 146 secured to the end 132 thereof again by any suitable means such as screws 148. The corresponding fiber supporting means 16 then includes an internally threaded annular flange member 154 secured to each of the caps 146 by means of suitable fasteDers such as screws 156. The annular flanges 154 receive suitable externally threaded adapters 158 which in turn are sized and shaped to receive fiber optic pins 160. It will be appreciated that the threaded adapters 158 permit adjustment of the fiber optic pins 160 which may thereafter be secured in selected positions of adjustment by means of set screws 159.
It will be seen and appreclated that the fiber optic pins 160 are secured within bores 162 extending through the threaded adapters 158 by means of nuts 164. Of course, the fiber sup-porting means 16 at each end of the housing 114 are advantage-ously identical in construction to facilitate production, Referring to the collars 122, the corresponding lenses 109 and 110 are secured therein against radial flanges 166 by any suitable means such as epoxy (as at 170). It will be seen that there is a stop 123 provided for the collars 122 as with the embodime~t of reflective mode distributive coupler 10 i~lustrated in Figure 1. It will be appreciated that the -18_ , ' ~L278~
end caps 146 can be removed, the set screws 138 loosened, and the collars 122 moved along the common longitudinal axis 120 toward and away from the sleeves 134 in order to adjust the positions of the lenses 109 and 110 relative to the optical fibers 14. Likewise, the set screw 136 can be loosened to telescopically move the housing segments 116 and 118 relative to one another to adjust the position of the lenses 109 and 110 relative to one another all of which facilitates producing substantially uniform illumination of all of the optical fibers 14 of a set 12 of optical fibers, While different lenses or lens combinations can be used in the present invention, it has been found -18a-7~38~
that a slngle ~ouble convex lens is well suited for a ref~lective mode dlstrlbutive coupler and generally plano-convex lenses are well suited for transmisslve mode distributi~e couplers. The lenses effectively remove the necessity o~ matchlng the size of the mixing rods to the end face of a set o~ optlcal fibers as with prlor art couplers, ~aslcally, the use of lenses coupled with means for ad~usting the position o~ the optical components renders it possible to produce 10 substantially uni~'orm illumination both in amount and angular distribution even ~rom a non-uni~orm source.
Utilizing the features ~ the present in~en~
tion, the distrlbutive coupler can distribute the essentially monochromatic components of llght from an~
15 optical fiber so that the amount and angular distribu~
tion of light incldent on each optical ~iber of a set o~ optlcal fibers is equivalent to equalize slgnal pulse shape in the fiber optic transmisslon lines after passage through the coupler. The coupler can be ad~us-20 ted to be used with any type o~ fiber optic cable orwith a di~ferent plurality of ~iber optic -transmlssion lines by only changlng the d:~stances between optical elements thereby rendering it unnecessary to change the optical elements. With the present invention, the 25 optical elements collect~ shape and direct light in a manner producing substantially uniform illumination o~
all o~ the optical fibers of a set of optical fibers.
With both the reflective mode and transmissive mode distributive couplers, the ideal position for the 30 optical components can be determined ~or any particular optical ~ibers in conventional ~ashion by mere calcu-lation. It is also posslble to adjust the optical components in either mode by measuring the power in the optical ~ibers to determine when the power is essen-35 tially equivalent in all. Additlonally, the transmls-sive mode optlcal coupler renders adJustment o~ the position o~ the optlcal components simple by merely removing one angular ~lange and placing translucent paper in its place to visually inspect the light .
' ' ~'78~C~ .
dlstrlbution, Regardless of the manner selected for adjust-ing the position of' the optical componentsg the present invention provides a signl~icantly improved distribu-tive coupler for distributing light among fiber optictransmlssion lines so that one or two way communication is posslble from any one or more optical fibers of a set of optical fibe~s to all of the optical fibers of the same or a di~ferent set of optical fibers. It ls 10 clear that the objective of providing a coupler capable of distributing an optical si~nal to a plurality of locations has been achieved in a manner producing substantlally uniform illumination of an entire set of optical fibers ut~lizing the llght transmitted through 15 any one or more optical fibers without excessive loss of light or ex~essive distortion of light signal pulses. In addition~ the present invention provides a distributive coupler which facilitates easy ad~ustment of the optical omponents for use with different types 20 of optical fibers and different pluralities of optical fibers in a manner capable O.r fabrication at reasonable cost and to acceptable tolerances.
While in the foregoing specification a detailed descriptiorl of the lnventive concepts have been set 25 ~orth for purposes of illustration, the details herein given may be varied by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth and defined by the appended claims.
~s shown in Flgure 1, the f~ber optic pin 90 can be inserted into the externally thr~aded adapter 88 and the .:
: .
lnternally threaded nut 96 can be threaded onto the externally threaded adapter 88 to secure the sleeve 38 in posltion w~thin the fiber optic terminal 16.
While ~orming no part o~ the present i~vention3 the optical fibers 14 comprise lead segments adapted for connection to fiber optlc transmlssion lines. The fiber optic connecto~s ~8 have been shown merely ~o represent that the optlcal fibers 14 are to be connec-ted to ~iber optic transmission lines. Ik is also within the purview of the present invention to simply ~orm the di~trlbutive coupler with opt~cal ~ibers or ~iber optic kransmlssion lines (such as 14~ whlch are su~ficiently long to exkend to desired receiving stations. The optical fibers 14 could also be ~itted with other types of connectors or spllcers to secure the optical fibers to suitable ~iber optic transmi~sion lines. Persons skilled in the art will readll~ recog~
nize the numerou~ means ~or ~oining the distrlbutive coupler 10 to su~table ~lber optic transmlssion lines.
Re~errln~ to Figure 2, the alternative embodi-ment reflective mode dlstributlve coupler 10' employs inventlve prlnciples in oommon with the di3tributive coupler lO of Figure l. It should be noted that cor-re~ponding elements of the two embodiments have been given correspond~ng re~erence numerals in the drawings with the exceptlon that the nL~rals a~slgned to ele-ments in the al~er~ative embodiment are prime for purposes o~ distlnction. In order to avoid repetltion~
the distributlve coupler 10' w~ll be descr~bed only to 3 the extent it di~ers from the distributive coupler lO
with the understandlng that description of the distribu-tive coupler 10 is otherwise equally appllcable to the dis~ributive coupler 10'.
As will be seen, the lens 24' divides the hous-ing 26' into two separate chambers ~8' and 50'. The chambers 48' and 50' extend through the housing 26' along the common lon~ltudinal axis 32' and the llght transmission paths o~ the optical fibers 14'. The two separate chambers 48' and 50' are in communication ~2~
with one another through a passageway 51~ extending through the housing segment 28~, Moreover, the housing 26~ includes means 53~ for sealing the chambers 48~ and 50~ against expos-ure to conditions external o~ the housing 26~, Referring again to Figure 2, it will be appreciated that the housing segments 28~ and 30~ are generally tubular in shape, The housing segment 30~ includes an integral end por-tion 52~ having an internal annular ring 55'. As will be seen, the mirror 22~ is supported against the ring 55' by any suitable means such as epoxy (as at ~2~), As shown, the long cylindrical wall 64~ of the hous-ing segment 30~ includes internal threads as at 65' to co-operate with external threads 67~ on the generally cylindrical wall 68l of the housing segment 28~, It will be appreciated that this de~ines the position adjusting means 20~ facilitating telescoping movement between the housing segments 28' and 30' when it is desired to make an optical adjustment to the coupler 10~ as well as defining the means 40' for securing the tele-scoping housing segments 28~ and 30~ in a selected position o~
adjustment. With these ~eatures o~ construction, the coupler 10' is well suited for producing substantially uniform illumin-ation o~ the entire set 12~ of optical fibers utilizing the light ~ransmitted through any one or more optical fibers 14~ ~
by making appropriate adjustments in the relative position of ~ :
the optical componen~s 14', 22~ and 24~.
Referring again to Figure 2 9 it will be seen that the housing segment 28~ includes a major inner diameter wall :;
portion 71~ and aminor inner diameter wall portion 73'. The collar 34' is mounted along the common longitudinal axis 32 within the major inner diameter wall portion 71~. As shown, the collar 3~ includes a through hole 75~ and a circumferential cutout 77' through which the chamber 48' communicates with the _, -13-~IL27~3~9 passageway 51~ and, hence, the chamber 50i As will be seen, the cap 78~ includes an outwardly e~tending tubular portion 86~ The tubular portion 86~ serves as a guide aDd support for the optical fibers 14~. It will be appreciated that the optical fibers 14' are stripped at various points along their lengths from the outer jacket, to the strength members, to the inner jacket, to the fibers themselves prior to the point the optical fibers 14~ enter the sleeve 38' The optical fibers 14' are epo~ied in the sleeve 38~ and the tubu-1~ lar portion 86~. Additionally, the optical fibers 14~ aresecured to the distributive coupler 10' by using a length of heat shrink tubing 87~ extending from near the point the tubu-lar portion 86' joins the cap 78' to rearwardly of the point the outer jac~et is trimmed away with epoxy being used (as at 89') to secure the optical :Eibers 14' to one another, the tubular portion 86' and the heat shrink tubing 87~, Further details of the alternative embodiment reflec-tive mode distributive coupler 10' include the utilization of an 0-ring 91' between the collar 34' and the lens 24'. It is also contemplated that the slot (not shown) in the head of the screws 80~ and the joint between the housing segments 28~ and 30~ (as at 93') can be epo~ied, particularly for applications requiring a hermetically sealed unit, to discp~Fage disassembly by the user and to lock the distributive coupler into a desired position of adjustment. If the distributive coupler 10~ is to be hermetically sealed9 the housing segment 30~ may be un-threaded rela$ive to the housing segment 28' until it completely clears the 0-ring 53~, the coupler can be placed into a vacuum for a period of time, and the vacuum chamber can be filled with dry nitrogen immediatel~ a:Eter which the housing segment 30' can again be threaded into position overlapping the 0-ring 53' In a transmissive mode (as shown in Figure 4), the ~781~
distributive coupler 100 is adapted for use with two sets 12 of optical fibers 14 by directing light transmitted through any one or more of the optical fibers 14 of one of the sets 12 o~ optical fibers onto all of the optical fibers 14 of the other set 12 of optical fibers, The transmissive mode dis-~ributive coupler 100 then includes means 16 at each end for supporting the end portions of the optical fibers 14 of *he two sets 1~ of optical fibers in spaced relation to one another.
It also includes means 18 for directing the light trans~itted through any one or more of the optical fibers 14 of one of the sets 12 onto all of the optical fibers 14 o~ the other of the sets 12 wherein the light directing means 18 comprises light shaping means 109 and light focusiDg means 110 disposed between the sets 12 of optical ~ibers, The transmissive mode distribu-tive coupler 100 further includes means 20 for adjusting the position of the light directing means 18 relative to the fiber supporting means 16. With these features of construction, the distributive coupler 100 produces substantially uni~orm illu-mination of the other of the sets 12 of optical fibers 14 in the transmissi~e mode.
More particularly, the light shaping means 109 and the light ~ocusing means 110 (illustrated in Figure 4) are disposed within a housing 114 in the transmissive mode coupler 100. The housing 114 includes first and second housing seg-ments 116 and 118 telescopically related to one another and lying along a common longitudinal axis 12~ so as to define at least a portion of the position adjusting means 20. The ~`irst and second housing segments 116 and 11~ are complementarily shaped and include means for supporting the light focusing means 110 in spaced apart relation to the light shaping means 109 (described hereina~ter) such that the light ~ocusing means 110 is supported in one of the housing segments 118 and the 8~
light shaping means 109 is supported in the other of the housing segments 116 so as to be movable toward and away from the light focusing means 110 by utilizing the portion of the position zdjusting means 20 permitting the housing segments 116 and 118 to be moved telescopically relative to one another.
The housing 114 further includes a pair of fiber optic terminals defining the fiber supporting means 16 and lying aloDg the common longitudinal axis 120 of the first and second housing segments 116 and 11~ with one of the fiber optic terminals 16 being associated with each of the housing segments 116 and 11~ so as to be disposed at opposite ends 130 and 132 of the housing 114. Advantageously, the fiber optic terminals 16 each include a sleeve 134 supporting the end portions of the optical fibers 14 of one of the sets 12 in tightly packed relation (similar to Figure 3) such that the end portions o~ any one set 12 are maintained parallel to one another and to the common longitudinal axis 120 thereby defining light transmission paths extending parallel to the common longitudinal axis 120 of the housing segments 116 and 118.
~e~'erring again to ~igure 4, each of the sleeves 134 supports the end faces of the optical fibers 14 ~f one of the sets 12 in ~ptical c~munication with the light shaping means 109, the light focusing means 110 and the end faces of the optical fibers 14 of the other of the sets 12. Both the light shaping means 109 and the light focusing means 110 are disposed between the end faces of the sets 12 of optical fibers wi$h the optical fibers 14 of each of the sets being supported such that the end faces thereof are maintained in a plane perpendicular to the light transmission paths of the optical fibers 14, The light shaping means 109 includes a shaping element such as a lens and the light focusing means 110 includes a ~ocusing element such as a lens both of which are disposed in the light ~L27~
transmission paths of all of the optical fibers 14 Both of the lenses 109 and 110 are movable toward and away from each other by utilizing *he portion of the position adjusting means 20 permitting the housing segments 116 and 118 to be moved telescopically relative to one another. Further, each of the lenses 109 and 110 is advantageously mounted in a collar 122 defining means for supporting light shaping means 109 and the light focusing means 110 whereby the lenses 109 and 110 are separately movable toward and away from -the end faces of the adjacent optical fibers 14 so as to define another portion o~
the position adjusting means 20.
It will be seen that the lenses 109 and 110 are dis-posed perpendicular to the common longitudinal axis 120 and the light transmission paths of the optical fibers 14. Further, the housing segment 116 includes mea~s 136 in the form of a set screw for securing the housing segments 116 and 118 and the housing segments 116 and 118 each include means 13~ also iD the form of a set screw ~or securing th~e respective collars 122 which together permit the lenses 109 and 110 to be se~ured in selected positions o~ adjustment relative to the end faces of -the adjacent optical fibers 14 and to each other so as to produce substantially uniform illumination o~ all of the opti~
cal fibers 14 of one of the sets 12 of optical fibers ~lore-over, the lenses 109 and 110 are disposed intermediate the ends 130 and 132 of the housing 114 in spaced relation to each other and to the end faces o~ the optical fibers 14 of the sets 12 of optical fibers so as to divide the housing 114 into three separate chambers 140, 142 and 144 extending through the housing 114 along the common longitudinal axis 120 and the light transmission paths. If desired, the chambers 140, 142 and 144 can communicate through ~ passageway extending through the housing segments 116 and 118 and the housing 114 can iD-~ ~7~
clude means for sealing th0 chambers 140, 142 and 144 against exposure to conditions external o~ the housing 114 in the manner taught hereinabove in connection with the reflective mode coupler alternative embodiment of Figure 2.
Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the details of con-struction are similar to the details of construction of Figure 1. The principal differences relate to minor changes in the fiber supporting means 16 and the collar 122. It will be seen, for instance, that the housing segment 116 includes an end cap 146 secured to the end 130 thereof by any suitable means such as screws 148 and the housing segment 118 also includes an end cap 146 secured to the end 132 thereof again by any suitable means such as screws 148. The corresponding fiber supporting means 16 then includes an internally threaded annular flange member 154 secured to each of the caps 146 by means of suitable fasteDers such as screws 156. The annular flanges 154 receive suitable externally threaded adapters 158 which in turn are sized and shaped to receive fiber optic pins 160. It will be appreciated that the threaded adapters 158 permit adjustment of the fiber optic pins 160 which may thereafter be secured in selected positions of adjustment by means of set screws 159.
It will be seen and appreclated that the fiber optic pins 160 are secured within bores 162 extending through the threaded adapters 158 by means of nuts 164. Of course, the fiber sup-porting means 16 at each end of the housing 114 are advantage-ously identical in construction to facilitate production, Referring to the collars 122, the corresponding lenses 109 and 110 are secured therein against radial flanges 166 by any suitable means such as epoxy (as at 170). It will be seen that there is a stop 123 provided for the collars 122 as with the embodime~t of reflective mode distributive coupler 10 i~lustrated in Figure 1. It will be appreciated that the -18_ , ' ~L278~
end caps 146 can be removed, the set screws 138 loosened, and the collars 122 moved along the common longitudinal axis 120 toward and away from the sleeves 134 in order to adjust the positions of the lenses 109 and 110 relative to the optical fibers 14. Likewise, the set screw 136 can be loosened to telescopically move the housing segments 116 and 118 relative to one another to adjust the position of the lenses 109 and 110 relative to one another all of which facilitates producing substantially uniform illumination of all of the optical fibers 14 of a set 12 of optical fibers, While different lenses or lens combinations can be used in the present invention, it has been found -18a-7~38~
that a slngle ~ouble convex lens is well suited for a ref~lective mode dlstrlbutive coupler and generally plano-convex lenses are well suited for transmisslve mode distributi~e couplers. The lenses effectively remove the necessity o~ matchlng the size of the mixing rods to the end face of a set o~ optlcal fibers as with prlor art couplers, ~aslcally, the use of lenses coupled with means for ad~usting the position o~ the optical components renders it possible to produce 10 substantially uni~'orm illumination both in amount and angular distribution even ~rom a non-uni~orm source.
Utilizing the features ~ the present in~en~
tion, the distrlbutive coupler can distribute the essentially monochromatic components of llght from an~
15 optical fiber so that the amount and angular distribu~
tion of light incldent on each optical ~iber of a set o~ optlcal fibers is equivalent to equalize slgnal pulse shape in the fiber optic transmisslon lines after passage through the coupler. The coupler can be ad~us-20 ted to be used with any type o~ fiber optic cable orwith a di~ferent plurality of ~iber optic -transmlssion lines by only changlng the d:~stances between optical elements thereby rendering it unnecessary to change the optical elements. With the present invention, the 25 optical elements collect~ shape and direct light in a manner producing substantially uniform illumination o~
all o~ the optical fibers of a set of optical fibers.
With both the reflective mode and transmissive mode distributive couplers, the ideal position for the 30 optical components can be determined ~or any particular optical ~ibers in conventional ~ashion by mere calcu-lation. It is also posslble to adjust the optical components in either mode by measuring the power in the optical ~ibers to determine when the power is essen-35 tially equivalent in all. Additlonally, the transmls-sive mode optlcal coupler renders adJustment o~ the position o~ the optlcal components simple by merely removing one angular ~lange and placing translucent paper in its place to visually inspect the light .
' ' ~'78~C~ .
dlstrlbution, Regardless of the manner selected for adjust-ing the position of' the optical componentsg the present invention provides a signl~icantly improved distribu-tive coupler for distributing light among fiber optictransmlssion lines so that one or two way communication is posslble from any one or more optical fibers of a set of optical fibe~s to all of the optical fibers of the same or a di~ferent set of optical fibers. It ls 10 clear that the objective of providing a coupler capable of distributing an optical si~nal to a plurality of locations has been achieved in a manner producing substantlally uniform illumination of an entire set of optical fibers ut~lizing the llght transmitted through 15 any one or more optical fibers without excessive loss of light or ex~essive distortion of light signal pulses. In addition~ the present invention provides a distributive coupler which facilitates easy ad~ustment of the optical omponents for use with different types 20 of optical fibers and different pluralities of optical fibers in a manner capable O.r fabrication at reasonable cost and to acceptable tolerances.
While in the foregoing specification a detailed descriptiorl of the lnventive concepts have been set 25 ~orth for purposes of illustration, the details herein given may be varied by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth and defined by the appended claims.
Claims (22)
1. A distributive coupler for coupling light between at least one optical fiber and a set of optical fibers comprising:
means for supporting said one optical fiber and said set of opti-cal fibers; means for directing light transmitted through said one optical fiber toward said set of optical fibers, said transmitted light being directed along a light transmission path; and means for readily adjusting said directing means axially of said light transmission path for adjusting the length of said light trans-mission path to enable said light directing means to direct said transmitted light uniformly onto all of the optical fibers of said set.
means for supporting said one optical fiber and said set of opti-cal fibers; means for directing light transmitted through said one optical fiber toward said set of optical fibers, said transmitted light being directed along a light transmission path; and means for readily adjusting said directing means axially of said light transmission path for adjusting the length of said light trans-mission path to enable said light directing means to direct said transmitted light uniformly onto all of the optical fibers of said set.
2. A distributive coupler in accordance with claim 1 including a housing having at least one internal chamber in opti-cal communication with said one optical fiber and said set of op-tical fibers, said chamber defining said light transmission path and said light directing means being disposed in said chamber, and wherein said path length adjusting means adjusts the length of said housing chamber.
3. A distributive coupler in accordance with claim 2 wherein said path length adjusting means comprises first and se-cond segments of said housing, said first and second housing seg-ments being in telescoping engagement for adjusting the length of said light transmission path.
4. A distributive coupler in accordance with claim 1 wherein said set of optical fibers includes said one optical fi-ber, and wherein said light directing means includes means for re-flecting light transmitted through said one optical fiber back on-to all of the optical fibers of said set.
5. A distributive coupler in accordance with claim 4 wherein said light transmission path extends from said one opti-cal fiber to said reflecting means and back to said set of optical fibers, and wherein said path length adjusting means enables selective positioning of said set of optical fibers and said reflecting means relative to one another,
6. A distributive coupler in accordance with claim 5 wherein said light directing means includes means interposed between said reflecting means and said set of optical fibers for focusing said reflected light onto all of the optical fib-ers of said set,
7, A distributive coupler in accordance with claim 6 wherein said path length adjusting means includes means for positioning said focusing means along said light transmission path,
8, A distributive coupler in accordance with claim 1 wherein said light directing means is interposed between said one optical fiber and said set of optical fibers, wherein the distance between said one optical fiber and said set of optical fibers defines the length of said light transmission path, and wherein said path length adjusting means enables selective positioning of said one optical fiber and said set of optical fibers relative to one another for adjusting the length of said light transmission path,
9. A distributive coupler in accordance with claim 8 wherein said path length adjusting means includes means for positioning said light directing means along said light trans-mission path.
10. A distributive coupler in accordance with claim 9 wherein said light directing means comprises first optical means directing said transmitted light toward said set of optical fibers and second optical means interposed between said first optical means and said set of optical fibers for focusing said transmitted light onto said set of optical fibers,
11. A distributive coupler in accordance with claim 10 wherein said path length adjusting means includes means for independently positioning said first optical means and said se-cond optical means along said light transmission path.
12. A distributive coupler for use with a set of opti-cal fibers, comprising: a housing including means for supporting the end portions of said optical fibers; means for directing light transmitted through any one or more of said optical fibers onto said set of optical fibers, said light directing means including means for reflecting transmitted light toward said set of optical fibers and means for focusing reflected light onto said set of op-tical fibers, said light focusing means and said light reflecting means being disposed within said housing with said light focusing means between said fiber supporting means and said light reflect-ing means, said transmitted light being directed along a light transmission path within said housing; and means for readily ad-justing said directing means axially of said light transmission path for adjusting the optical length of said light transmission path to produce uniform illumination of said set of optical fibers.
13. The distributive coupler as defined in claim 12 wherein said housing includes first and second housing segments, said first and second housing segments being telescopically rela-ted to one another so as to define at least a portion of said op-tical length adjusting means.
14. The distributive coupler as defined in claim 13 wherein said light focusing means is supported in one of said hou-sing segments and said light reflecting means is supported in the other of said housing segments, said light reflecting means being movable toward and away from said light focusing means by utili-zing said portion of said optical length adjusting means permit-ting said housing segments to be moved telescopically relative to one another.
15. The distributive coupler as defined in claim 14 wherein said fiber supporting means comprises a fiber optic terminal, said fiber optic terminal including a sleeve suppor-ting the end portions of said optical fibers in tightly packed relation, said optical fibers being supported such that the end portions thereof are maintained parallel to one another thereby defining light transmission paths extending parallel to said common longitudinal axis of said housing segments.
16 The distributive coupler as defined in claim 15 wherein said light focusing means includes a lens and said light reflecting means includes a mirror, said lens and said mirror being disposed in said light transmission paths of said optical fibers and said mirror being movable toward and away from the end faces of said optical fibers by utilizing said portion of said optical length adjusting means permitting said housing segments to be moved telescopically relative to one another, said lens being mounted in a collar within said hous-ing and being separately movable toward and away from the end faces of said optical fibers so as to define another portion of said optical length adjusting means
17. The distributive coupler as defined in claim 16 wherein said lens divides said housing into two separate chambers in communication with one another, said chamber com-municating through a passageway extending through at least one of said housing segments, said housing including means for sealing said chambers against exposure to condition external of said housing.
18. A distributive coupler for use with two sets of optical fibers, comprising: a housing supporting the end portions of said optical fibers, said optical fibers of one of said sets being supported in spaced relation to said optical fibers of the other of said sets; means for directing light transmitted through any one or more of said optical fibers of one of said sets onto all of said optical fibers of the other of said sets, said light directing means including means for focus-ing light onto all of said optical fibers of the other of said sets, said light focusing means being disposed within said hous-ing between said sets of optical fibers, said transmitted light being directed along a light transmission path; and means for readily adjusting said directing means axially of said light trans-mission path for adjusting the optical length of said light trans-mission path to produce uniform illumination of all of said opti-cal fibers of the other of said sets of optical fibers.
19, A distributive coupler in accordance with claim 18 wherein said housing includes first and second housing segments, said first and second housing segments being telescopically rela-ted to one another so as to define at least a portion of said op-tical length adjusting means.
20. A distributive coupler in accordance with claim 19 including light shaping means supported in one of said housing seg-ments with said light focusing means being supported in the other of said housing segments, said light shaping means being movable toward and away from said light focusing means by utilizing said portion of said optical length adjusting means permitting said housing segments to be moved telescopically relative to one another.
21. A distributive coupler in accordance with claim 20 wherein said housing includes a pair of fiber optic terminals, one of said fiber optic terminals being associated with each of said housing segments and being disposed such that said fiber optic ter-minals are located at opposite ends of said housing, each of said fiber optic terminals including a sleeve supporting the end por-tions of said optical fibers of one of said sets in tightly packed relation, said optical fibers being supported such that the end portions of any one set are maintained parallel to one another thereby defining light transmission paths extending parallel through said housing segments.
22. A distributive coupler in accordance with claim 21 wherein each of said light shaping means and said light focusing means includes a lens, each of said lenses being disposed in said light transmission paths of said optical fibers and being movable toward and away from the other of said lenses by utilizing said portion of said optical length adjusting means permitting said housing segments to be moved telescopically relative to one an-other, each of said lenses being mounted in a collar within said housing and being movable toward and away from said sleeves so as to define another portion of said optical length adjusting means.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US93858578A | 1978-08-31 | 1978-08-31 | |
| US938,585 | 1978-08-31 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1127889A true CA1127889A (en) | 1982-07-20 |
Family
ID=25471632
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA334,817A Expired CA1127889A (en) | 1978-08-31 | 1979-08-30 | Distributive couplers for fiber optics |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (2) | JPS5535396A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1127889A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2934153A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2435059A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2029046B (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4398791A (en) * | 1981-02-09 | 1983-08-16 | Litton Systems, Inc. | Single channel optical slip ring |
| FR2551887B1 (en) * | 1983-09-09 | 1987-02-20 | Sopelem | DEVICE FOR COUPLING OPTICAL FIBER CABLES |
| JP2503622B2 (en) * | 1989-01-27 | 1996-06-05 | 日立電線株式会社 | Optical star coupler device |
| GB8902797D0 (en) * | 1989-02-08 | 1989-03-30 | Stc Plc | Optical fibre star coupler |
| GB2289955B (en) * | 1991-12-27 | 1996-07-17 | Seiko Giken Kk | Optical fibre light diverging/converging device having ferrules |
| GB2283334B (en) * | 1991-12-27 | 1996-07-17 | Seiko Giken Kk | Optic fibre light diverging/converging device having ferrules |
| CN107842778A (en) * | 2017-11-28 | 2018-03-27 | 重庆光遥光电科技有限公司 | A kind of adjustable Down lamp of light angle |
Family Cites Families (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3508807A (en) * | 1967-10-27 | 1970-04-28 | Ford Motor Co | Light pipe connector |
| JPS4861156A (en) * | 1971-12-01 | 1973-08-27 | ||
| CH564889A5 (en) * | 1973-11-28 | 1975-07-31 | Patelhold Patentverwertung | |
| US3912364A (en) * | 1974-04-08 | 1975-10-14 | Corning Glass Works | Mixer for optical waveguide bundle |
| US3883223A (en) * | 1974-04-08 | 1975-05-13 | Corning Glass Works | Coupler for optical communication system |
| DE2522763A1 (en) * | 1975-05-22 | 1976-12-02 | Siemens Ag | DEVICE FOR CONNECTING TWO FIBER OPTIC CABLES AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE DEVICE |
| GB1537477A (en) * | 1975-11-14 | 1978-12-29 | Post Office | Dielectric optical waveguide couplings |
| GB1579027A (en) * | 1976-05-25 | 1980-11-12 | Combined Optical Ind Ltd | Fibre optic waveguide connectors |
| US4111524A (en) * | 1977-04-14 | 1978-09-05 | Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated | Wavelength division multiplexer |
-
1979
- 1979-08-21 GB GB7929030A patent/GB2029046B/en not_active Expired
- 1979-08-23 DE DE19792934153 patent/DE2934153A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1979-08-29 JP JP10926279A patent/JPS5535396A/en active Pending
- 1979-08-30 CA CA334,817A patent/CA1127889A/en not_active Expired
- 1979-08-30 FR FR7922349A patent/FR2435059A1/en active Granted
-
1987
- 1987-09-14 JP JP13948187U patent/JPS63109906U/ja active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2435059B1 (en) | 1984-02-03 |
| GB2029046A (en) | 1980-03-12 |
| DE2934153A1 (en) | 1980-03-13 |
| FR2435059A1 (en) | 1980-03-28 |
| JPS5535396A (en) | 1980-03-12 |
| JPS63109906U (en) | 1988-07-15 |
| GB2029046B (en) | 1982-11-17 |
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| MKEX | Expiry |