GB2217473A - Fused optical fibre coupler manufacture - Google Patents
Fused optical fibre coupler manufacture Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2217473A GB2217473A GB8908447A GB8908447A GB2217473A GB 2217473 A GB2217473 A GB 2217473A GB 8908447 A GB8908447 A GB 8908447A GB 8908447 A GB8908447 A GB 8908447A GB 2217473 A GB2217473 A GB 2217473A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- optical fibres
- fused
- fibres
- intermediate lengths
- optical
- 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.)
- Granted
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
- G02B6/2821—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 lateral coupling between contiguous fibres to split or combine optical signals
- G02B6/2835—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 lateral coupling between contiguous fibres to split or combine optical signals formed or shaped by thermal treatment, e.g. couplers
Abstract
A fused bi-conical taper optical fibre coupler having smoothly curved end portions which are mirror images of one another is formed by removing coatings from a length of each of two optical fibres F intermediate of its ends and arranging these lengths of the two optical fibres F side by side, the temperature and gas pressure of a gas flame from a gas torch 3 used to fuse contacting portions of optical fibres F and the speed of and the distance moved apart by clamps 2 supporting the fibres being controlled automatically to cause the fused portions of the fibres to stretch and provide a desired coupling ratio in accordance with a predetermined computer programme. Laser 7 may inject light into one of the two optical fibres F which is detected by detectors 8 one being connected to each fibre F. <IMAGE>
Description
OPTICAL FIBRE COUPLER MANUFACTURE
This invention relates to optical fibre couplers and is particularly concerned with optical fibre couplers of the kind generally known, and hereinafter referred to, as fused bi-conical taper optical fibre couplers.
A fused bi-conical taper optical fibre coupler comprises two optical fibres which extend side by side and which, over an intermediate part of their adjacent lengths, are fused together to form a coupling region which at each of its ends separates smoothly into the two optical fibres.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of manufacturing a fused bi-conical taper optical fibre coupler having smoothly tapered end portions which are mirror images of one another, which method can be repeatedly employed to manufacture couplers which are substantially identical to one another and which have a predetermined coupling ratio and acceptable excess signal loss.
According to the invention, the improved method comprises the steps of: (i) removing the buffer or other protective coating or
coatings from a length of each of two optical
fibres intermediate of its ends; (ii) arranging the two optical fibres side by side in
such a way that, at least over said intermediate
lengths, the fibres are substantially parallel to
one another and in longitudinal continuous
contact; (iii) clamping the two optical fibres to a supporting
block at each of two longitudinally spaced
positions, one of said two positions being beyond
one end of said contacting intermediate lengths of
the two optical fibres and the other of said two
positions being beyond the other end of said
.contacting intermediate lengths, each of which
supporting blocks is constrained to move in a
direction substantially parallel to said
contacting intermediate lengths;; (iv) directing a gas flame to a substantial central
portion of said contacting intermediate lengths to
heat said central portion to a temperature
sufficient to cause central contacting parts of
the two fibres to fuse together and, at the same
time, causing the supporting blocks to move away
from one another at substantially the same speeds
in accordance with a predetermined computer
programme to impart a substantially equal tensile
force to the two optical fibres at each of their
clamped ends; (v) automatically controlling the temperature and gas
pressure of the gas flame and the speed of and the
distance moved by the supporting blocks in
accordance with said predetermined computer
programme to maintain the fused central parts of
the two fibres taut with substantially no sag so
that the fused central parts are gradually
stretched;; (vi) and, when said fused central parts of the two
fibres have stretched to a sufficient extent to
provide a coupling ratio in accordance with said
predetermined computer programme, automatically
switching off the gas flame and stopping movement
of the supporting blocks, and permitting the fused
central parts of the two fibres to cool.
Preferably, the position of the gas flame relative to said contacting intermediate lengths of the two optical fibres in a direction substantially parallel to said contacting intermediate lengths is maintained substantially constant and, to provide for automatic control of the temperature to which said contacting intermediate lengths in two directions which are substantially normal to said contacting intermediate lengths and which are substantially normal to one another. To this end, preferably the gas torch is mounted on a supporting block which is constrained to move in rectilinear directions towards and away from said contacting intermediate lengths in substantially horizontal and vertical planes.To provide for the gas flame to be directed on to a substantially central portion of said contacting intermediate lengths of the two optical fibres, preferably the gas flame has a head of an elongate form which has a plurality of apertures mutually spaced along its length and which extends substantially parallel to said contacting intermediate lengths
To provide for continuous monitoring of the fused bi-conical taper optical fibre coupler as it is being manufactured, preferably light is injected into one of the two optical fibres on one side of the fused central parts of the two optical fibres and light emitted from one or each of the two optical fibres on the other side of the fused central parts of the two optical fibres is continuously monitored to determine continuously the coupling ratio of the coupler and the gas torch automatically switched off and the supporting bodies automatically stopped when said predetermined coupling ratio has been achieved.
Where, as is the general practice and is preferred, a fused bi-conical taper optical fibre coupler is to be provided with packaging serving as mechanical protection for the coupler1 preferably such packaging is applied to the coupler automatically in accordance with said computer programme and before the fused optical fibres are removed from the clamps. In a preferred embodiment, such packaging comprises primary and secondary packaging, the primary packaging being applied automatically before the fused optical fibres are removed from the clamps and the secondary packaging being applied manually after the coupler with its primary packaging has been removed from the clamps.The primary packaging preferably is in the form of an open-ended trough of quartz which at at least each of its ends is filled with epoxy resin or other ultra-violet curable resin and which is supported on a table which is movable with respect to said contacting intermediate lengths of the two optical fibres and which can be moved automatically in accordance with said computer programme so that the fused central parts of the two optical fibres are housed in the trough, the epoxy resin then being cured by the automatic application of ultra-violet radiation. If desired, the trough may also be filled between its ends with a potting compound.
The secondary packaging is preferably effected, after the coupler has been removed from the clamps, by coating the quartz trough and bare tails of the optical fibres protruding from the resin-filled ends of the trough with heat curable silicone gel, sliding over the quartz trough a sleeve of a heat shrinkable plastics material and then heating the sleeved coupler in such a way as to cause the sleeve to shrink from the centre towards its ends, the shrinking action squeezing excess silicone gel out of the cavity and excluding any air therefrom. As a consequence, a fully filled fused bi-conical taper optical fibre coupler is formed.
Preferably, after the quartz trough has been applied and before the coupler is removed from the clamps the fused bi-conical taper optical fibre coupler is monitored to detect any changes in optical characteristics.
The light injected into one of the two optical fibres may be from a stabilised laser source and, preferably, two stable detectors with electronically matched outputs are connected to the two optical fibres on the opposite side of the contacting intermediate lengths of the two optical fibres. The two stable detectors are used to set the coupling ratio, measure excess signal loss and polarisation stability and, when appropriate, to monitor for packaging-induced losses.
To reduce substantially any risk that dust may prevent satisfactory fusion of the contacting intermediate lengths of the two optical fibres and/or may cause unacceptable excess signal losses during stretching of the fused central parts of the two fibres, preferably fusion of the two fibres and application of the primary packaging is effected in a local clean air environment, e.g. to at least Class 100.
The improved method of the present invention may be employed to manufacture a fused bi-conical taper optical fibre coupler in which the two optical fibres are of substantially the same materials and dimensions as one another or it may be used to manufacture such a coupler in which one of the two optical fibres is made of different materials and/or has different dimensions from those of the other optical fibre.
By way of example, in a batch of forty fused bi-conical taper optical fibre couplers manufactured from two single mode optical fibres of the same materials and dimensions as one another, the average excess loss was 0.04dB (worse case 0.9dB) which is similar to results obtained using a method of manufacture under manual control; the coupling ratio was 50% plus or minus 1% (in 75% of these cases plus or minus 0.5%) which is a significant improvement over what can be achieved manually (50% plus or minus 5%).
The invention is further illustrated by a description, by way of example, of a preferred method of manufacturing in quantity fused bi-conical taper optical fibre couplers with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the preferred apparatus employed in the preferred method;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a fused bi-conical taper optical fibre coupler made by the preferred method with primary packaging applied thereto, and
Figure 3 is a side view of the fused bi-conical taper optical fibre coupler shown in Figure 2 with secondary packaging applied thereto.
Referring to Figure 1, the preferred apparatus comprises two supporting blocks 1, each carrying an optical fibre clamp 2, disposed at each of two longitudinally spaced positions beyond opposite ends of a fusion station 5 and constrained to move in a rectilinear direction away from or towards one another.
A gas torch 3 is mounted on a supporting block (not shown) which is constrained to move in rectilinear directions, normal to the direction of motion of the supporting blocks 1, towards and away from the fusion station 5 in horizontal and vertical planes. The gas torch 3 has a head 4 of elongate form which extends parallel to the direction of motion of the supporting blocks 1 and which has a plurality of apertures mutually spaced along its length. A laser 7 is provided for continuously injecting light into one of two optical fibres F from which a fused bi-conical taper optical fibre coupler is to be manufactured and, beyond the fusion station 5, are two stable detectors 8 with electronically matched outputs each connected to one of the two optical fibres.Means (not shown) for driving the supporting blocks 1 and the supporting block of the gas torch 3 and the source of gas (not shown) of the gas torch are under the automatic control of a computer (not shown) in accordance with a predetermined computer programme. Many known computers can perform the functions to be described and it is well within the abilities of any one skilled in this art to select an appropriate computer for this purpose.
In manufacturing a fused bi-conical taper optical fibre coupler having smoothly tapered end portions which are mirror images of one another using the apparatus shown in Figure 1, the buffer or other protective coating or coatings of each of two optical fibres F which are to be used in manufacture of the coupler are removed from a length of each optical fibre intermediate of its ends. The two optical fibres F are then disposed side by side in such a way that the intermediate lengths of the two fibres are positioned at the fusion station 5 and are parallel to one another and in longitudinal contact. The two optical fibres F are then secured by the clamps 2 carried by the supporting blocks 1.
Light from the laser 7 is continuously injected into one of the two optical fibres F on one side of the fusion station 5 and light emitted from the two optical fibres on the other side of the fusion station is continuously monitored by the stable detectors 8 which have been used to set the coupling ratio required.
By means of the gas torch 3, a gas flame is directed to a substantial central portion of the contacting intermediate lengths of the two optical fibres F at the fusion station 5 to heat the central portion to a temperature sufficient to cause central contacting parts of the two fibres to fuse together and, at the same time, the supporting blocks 1 are caused to move away from one another at the same speeds in accordance with a predetermined computer programme to impart an equal tensile force to the two optical fibres at each of their clamped ends.The position of the gas flame relative to the contacting intermediate lengths of the two optical fibres F in a direction parallel to the contacting intermediate lengths is maintained constant and, to provide for automatic control of the temperature to which the contacting intermediate lengths are heated, the supporting block (not shown) carrying the gas torch 3 is caused to move in rectilinear directions, which are normal to the direction of motion of the supporting blocks 1, towards and away from the contacting intermediate lengths in horizontal and vertical planes.
The temperature and gas pressure of the gas flame and the speed of and the distance moved by the supporting blocks 1 are automatically controlled in accordance with the aforesaid predetermined computer programme to maintain the fused central parts of the two optical fibres F taut with no sag so that the fused central parts are gradually stretched.
When the fused central parts of the two optical fibres F have stretched to a sufficient extent to provide a coupling ratio detected by the optical detectors 8 in accordance with the predetermined computer programme, the source of the gas flame and the means driving the supporting blocks are automatically switched off and the fused central parts of the two fibres are permitted to cool.
Before the fused optical fibres F are removed from the clamps 2, primary packaging in the form of an open-ended trough 11 (Figure 2) of quartz which at each of its ends is filled with epoxy resin 12 is applied to the coupler automatically in accordance with the computer programme. The trough 11 is supported on a table (not shown) which is movable with respect to the contacting intermediate lengths of the two optical fibres F and which is moved automatically in accordance with the computer programme so that the fused central parts of the two optical fibres are housed in the trough, the epoxy resin 12 then being cured by the automatic application of ultra-violet radiation. If desired, the part 14 of the trough 11 intermediate of the epoxy resin 12 may be filled with a potting compound.
After the coupler has been removed from the clamps 2, secondary packaging is applied to the coupler by coating the quartz trough 11 and bare tails 10 of the optical fibres F protruding from the resin-filled ends of the trough with heat curable silicone gel 16 (Figure 3), sliding over the quartz trough a sleeve 17 of a heat shrinkable plastics material and then heating the sleeved coupler in such a way as to cause the sleeve to shrink from the centre towards its ends, the shrinking action squeezing excess silicone gel out of the cavity and excluding any air therefrom to form a fully filled fused bi-conical taper optical fibre coupler having smoothly tapered end portions which are mirror images of one anotiler.
Fused.bi-conical taper optical fibre couplers can be manufactured in quantity by repeated use of the preferred method as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The improved method of manufacturing fused bi-conical taper optical fibre couplers has the important advantage that couplers can be repeatedly automatically manufactured in quantity with acceptable coupling ratio tolerances and excess signal losses and with a very low scrap rate.
Claims (18)
1. A method of manufacturing a fused bi-conical taper optical fibre coupler having smoothly tapered end portions which are mirror images of one another, which method comprises the steps of: (i) removing the buffer or other protective coating or
coatings from a length of each of two optical
fibres intermediate of its ends; (ii) arranging the two optical fibres side by side in
such a way that, at least over said intermediate
lengths, the fibres are substantially parallel to
one another and in longitudinal continuous
contact;; (iii) clamping the two optical fibres to a supporting
block at each of two longitudinally spaced
positions, one of said two positions being beyond
one end of said contacting intermediate lengths of
the two optical fibres and the other of said two
positions being beyond the other end of said
contacting intermediate lengths, each of which
supporting blocks is constrained to move in a
direction substantially parallel to said
contacting intermediate lengths;; (iv) directing a gas flame to a substantial central
portion of said contacting intermediate lengths to
heat said central portion to a temperature
sufficient to cause central contacting parts of
the two fibres to fuse together and, at the same
time, causing the supporting blocks to move away
from one another at substantially the same speeds
in accordance with a predetermined computer
programme to impart a substantially equal tensile
force to the two optical fibres at each of their
clamped ends; (v) automatically controlling the temperature and gas
pressure of the gas flame and the speed of and the
distance moved by the supporting blocks in
accordance with said predetermined computer
programme to maintain the fused central parts of
the two fibres taut with substantially no sag so
that the fused central parts are gradually
stretched;; (vi) and, when said fused central parts of the two
fibres have stretched to a sufficient extent to
provide a coupling ratio in accordance with said
predetermined computer programme, automatically
switching off the gas flame and stopping movement
of the supporting blocks, and permitting the fused
central parts of the two fibres to cool.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the position of the gas flame relative to said contacting intermediate lengths of the two optical fibres in a direction substantially parallel to said contacting intermediate lengths is maintained substantially constant.
3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein, to provide for automatic control of the temperature to which said contacting intermediate lengths are heated, the gas flame is movable relative to said contacting intermediate lengths in two directions which are substantially normal to said contacting intermediate lengths and which are substantially normal to one another.
4. A method as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the gas torch is mounted on a supporting block which is constrained to move in rectilinear directions towards and away from said contacting intermediate lengths in substantially horizontal and vertical planes.
5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding
Claims, wherein, to provide for the gas flame to be directed on to a substantial central portion of said contacting intermediate lengths of the two optical fibres, the gas flame has a head of an elongate form which has a plurality of apertures mutually spaced along its length and which extends substantially parallel to said contacting intermediate lengths.
6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding
Claims,-wherein packaging serving as mechanical protection for the coupler is applied to the coupler automatically in accordance with said computer programme and before the fused optical fibres are removed from the clamps.
7. A method as claimed in Claim 6, wherein such packaging comprises primary and secondary packaging, the primary packaging being applied automatically before the fused optical fibres are removed from the clamps and the secondary packaging being applied manually after the coupler with its primary packaging has been removed from the clamps.
8. A method as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the primary packaging is in the form of an open-ended trough of quartz which at at least each of its ends is filled with epoxy resin or other ultra-violet curable resin and which is supported on a table which is movable with respect to said contacting intermediate lengths of the two optical fibres and which can be moved automatically in accordance with said computer programme so that the fused central parts of the two optical fibres are housed in the trough, the epoxy resin then being cured by the automatic application of ultra-violet radiation.
9. A method as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the trough is also filled between its ends with a potting compound.
10. A method as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, wherein the secondary packaging is effected by coating the quartz trough and bare tails of the optical fibres protruding from the resin-filled ends of the trough with heat curable silicone gel, sliding over the quartz trough a sleeve of a heat shrinkable plastics material and then heating the sleeved coupler in such a way as to cause the sleeve to shrink from the centre towards its ends, the shrinking action squeezing excess silicone gel out of the cavity and excluding any air therefrom.
11. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 10, wherein, after the quartz trough has been applied and before the coupler is removed from the clamps, the fused bi-conical taper optical fibre coupler is monitored to detect any changes in optical characteristics.
12. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 11, wherein fusion of the two fibres and application of the primary packaging is effected in a local clean air environment.
13. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding
Claims, wherein, to provide for continuous monitoring of the fused bi-conical taper optical fibre coupler as it is being manufactured, light is injected into one of the two optical fibres on one side of the fused central parts of the two optical fibres and light emitted from one or each of the two optical fibres on the other side of the fused central parts of the two optical fibres is continuously monitored to determine continuously the coupling ratio of the coupler and the gas torch is automatically switched off and the supporting bodies automatically stopped when said predetermined coupling ratio has been achieved.
14. A method as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the light injected into one of the two optical fibres is from a stabilised laser source.
15. A method as claimed in Claim 13 or 14, wherein two stable detectors with electronically matched outputs are connected to the two optical fibres on the opposite side of the contacting intermediate lengths of the two optical fibres, the two stable detectors being used to set the coupling ratio, measure excess signal loss and polarisation stability and, when appropriate, to monitor for packaging-induced losses.
16. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding
Claims, wherein the two optical fibres are of substantially the same materials and dimensions as one another.
17. A method of manufacturing a fused bi-conical taper optical fibre coupler having smoothly tapered end portions which are mirror images of one another substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
18. A fused bi-conical taper optical fibre coupler manufactured by the method claimed in any one of the preceding Claims.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB888808856A GB8808856D0 (en) | 1988-04-14 | 1988-04-14 | Optical fibre coupler manufacture |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8908447D0 GB8908447D0 (en) | 1989-06-01 |
| GB2217473A true GB2217473A (en) | 1989-10-25 |
| GB2217473B GB2217473B (en) | 1992-02-19 |
Family
ID=10635203
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB888808856A Pending GB8808856D0 (en) | 1988-04-14 | 1988-04-14 | Optical fibre coupler manufacture |
| GB8908447A Expired - Lifetime GB2217473B (en) | 1988-04-14 | 1989-04-14 | Optical fibre coupler manufacture |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB888808856A Pending GB8808856D0 (en) | 1988-04-14 | 1988-04-14 | Optical fibre coupler manufacture |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (2) | GB8808856D0 (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0525743A1 (en) * | 1991-08-01 | 1993-02-03 | Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. | Method of reinforcing optical fiber coupler |
| WO1993002374A1 (en) * | 1991-07-25 | 1993-02-04 | Honeywell, Inc. | Optical coupler housing |
| EP0608226A1 (en) * | 1991-10-15 | 1994-08-03 | Center For Innovative Technology | Fused biconical taper fiber optic coupler station and fabrication techniques |
| US5479548A (en) * | 1994-05-27 | 1995-12-26 | Honeywell Inc. | Fiber-optic coupler package |
Citations (15)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1551720A (en) * | 1977-03-23 | 1979-08-30 | Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co | Light distributor |
| GB1600324A (en) * | 1977-06-13 | 1981-10-14 | Canadian Patents Dev | Low loss access coupler for multimode optical fibre distribution systems |
| WO1983004409A1 (en) * | 1982-06-07 | 1983-12-22 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Method for producing optical fiber access couplers and product produced thereby |
| US4439221A (en) * | 1979-11-01 | 1984-03-27 | Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of Canada As Represented By The Minister Of National Defence | Method for making optical fiber couplers |
| US4449781A (en) * | 1979-07-04 | 1984-05-22 | Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of Canada As Represented By The Minister Of National Defense | Multimode optical fiber coupler |
| GB2136985A (en) * | 1983-03-22 | 1984-09-26 | Gen Electric Plc | Fabricating couplers in optical fibres by fusing |
| GB2150703A (en) * | 1983-11-30 | 1985-07-03 | Standard Telephones Cables Ltd | Single mode fibre directional coupler |
| US4586784A (en) * | 1983-06-10 | 1986-05-06 | Canadian Patents & Dev. Limited | Modal-insensitive biconical taper couplers |
| US4612028A (en) * | 1983-12-16 | 1986-09-16 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Polarization-preserving single mode fiber coupler |
| EP0219096A2 (en) * | 1985-10-16 | 1987-04-22 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Optical fiber star coupler and method of manufacturing the same |
| EP0234325A2 (en) * | 1986-02-24 | 1987-09-02 | Allied Corporation | Multimode optical fiber coupler and method of manufacture thereof |
| EP0234326A2 (en) * | 1986-02-24 | 1987-09-02 | Allied Corporation | Single mode optical fiber coupler and method of manufacture thereof |
| EP0266040A2 (en) * | 1986-10-28 | 1988-05-04 | Gould Inc., | Multimode fiber optic coupler and method for making |
| WO1988003660A1 (en) * | 1986-11-14 | 1988-05-19 | The Commonwealth Of Australia | Fabrication of fibre optic components |
| GB2204145A (en) * | 1987-02-21 | 1988-11-02 | Nippon Telegraph & Telephone | Fused fiber coupler having two optical fibre groups in parallel planes |
-
1988
- 1988-04-14 GB GB888808856A patent/GB8808856D0/en active Pending
-
1989
- 1989-04-14 GB GB8908447A patent/GB2217473B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (15)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1551720A (en) * | 1977-03-23 | 1979-08-30 | Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co | Light distributor |
| GB1600324A (en) * | 1977-06-13 | 1981-10-14 | Canadian Patents Dev | Low loss access coupler for multimode optical fibre distribution systems |
| US4449781A (en) * | 1979-07-04 | 1984-05-22 | Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of Canada As Represented By The Minister Of National Defense | Multimode optical fiber coupler |
| US4439221A (en) * | 1979-11-01 | 1984-03-27 | Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of Canada As Represented By The Minister Of National Defence | Method for making optical fiber couplers |
| WO1983004409A1 (en) * | 1982-06-07 | 1983-12-22 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Method for producing optical fiber access couplers and product produced thereby |
| GB2136985A (en) * | 1983-03-22 | 1984-09-26 | Gen Electric Plc | Fabricating couplers in optical fibres by fusing |
| US4586784A (en) * | 1983-06-10 | 1986-05-06 | Canadian Patents & Dev. Limited | Modal-insensitive biconical taper couplers |
| GB2150703A (en) * | 1983-11-30 | 1985-07-03 | Standard Telephones Cables Ltd | Single mode fibre directional coupler |
| US4612028A (en) * | 1983-12-16 | 1986-09-16 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Polarization-preserving single mode fiber coupler |
| EP0219096A2 (en) * | 1985-10-16 | 1987-04-22 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Optical fiber star coupler and method of manufacturing the same |
| EP0234325A2 (en) * | 1986-02-24 | 1987-09-02 | Allied Corporation | Multimode optical fiber coupler and method of manufacture thereof |
| EP0234326A2 (en) * | 1986-02-24 | 1987-09-02 | Allied Corporation | Single mode optical fiber coupler and method of manufacture thereof |
| EP0266040A2 (en) * | 1986-10-28 | 1988-05-04 | Gould Inc., | Multimode fiber optic coupler and method for making |
| WO1988003660A1 (en) * | 1986-11-14 | 1988-05-19 | The Commonwealth Of Australia | Fabrication of fibre optic components |
| GB2204145A (en) * | 1987-02-21 | 1988-11-02 | Nippon Telegraph & Telephone | Fused fiber coupler having two optical fibre groups in parallel planes |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1993002374A1 (en) * | 1991-07-25 | 1993-02-04 | Honeywell, Inc. | Optical coupler housing |
| EP0525743A1 (en) * | 1991-08-01 | 1993-02-03 | Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. | Method of reinforcing optical fiber coupler |
| US5208883A (en) * | 1991-08-01 | 1993-05-04 | Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. | Method of reinforcing optical fiber coupler |
| EP0608226A1 (en) * | 1991-10-15 | 1994-08-03 | Center For Innovative Technology | Fused biconical taper fiber optic coupler station and fabrication techniques |
| EP0608226A4 (en) * | 1991-10-15 | 1994-09-14 | Innovative Tech Center | Fused biconical taper fiber optic coupler station and fabrication techniques. |
| US5479548A (en) * | 1994-05-27 | 1995-12-26 | Honeywell Inc. | Fiber-optic coupler package |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8808856D0 (en) | 1988-05-18 |
| GB2217473B (en) | 1992-02-19 |
| GB8908447D0 (en) | 1989-06-01 |
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Effective date: 20000414 |