Active optical fibre star coupler

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Active optical fibre star coupler
Patent Number: 4,863,231
Publication Date: September 05, 1989
Appl. No: 07/315,853
Application Filed: February 27, 1989
Abstract: An active optical fibre star coupler having a length of amplifying optical fibre (1) optically connected at one end to a wavelength combining coupler (2) and at the other end to via a beam expanding element (3) to a set of output optical fibres.
Inventors: Byron, Kevin C. (Bishop's Stortford, GB3); Bricheno, Terry (Great Sampford, GB3); Fielding, Alan (Sawbridgeworth, GB3); Pitt, Nicholas J. (Harlow, GB3); Baker, Robert A. (London, GB3)
Assignees: STC PLC (London, GB2)
Claim: We claim
Claim: 1. An active optical fibre star coupler having a length of amplifying optical fibre optically connected at one end to a wavelength combining coupler and at the other end via a beam expanding element to a set of output optical fibres.
Claim: 2. An active optical fibre star coupler according to claim 1 wherein the beam expanding element is a length of tapered optical preform.
Claim: 3. An active optical fibre star coupler according to claim 2 wherein the wavelength combining coupler is a fused fibre coupler.
Current U.S. Class: 350/9616; 330/4; 455/617
Current International Class: G02B 514
Patent References Cited: 4220396 September 1980 Antell
4473270 September 1984 Shaw
4515431 May 1985 Shaw et al.
4546476 October 1985 Shaw et al.
4553238 November 1985 Shaw et al.
4560246 December 1985 Cotter
4674830 June 1987 Shaw et al.
4723824 February 1988 Shaw et al.
4801185 January 1989 Bricheno
4817207 March 1989 Smith et al.
Primary Examiner: Sikes, William L.
Assistant Examiner: Ullah, Akm E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lee & Smith
Accession Number: edspgr.04863231
Database: USPTO Patent Grants
Description
Abstract:An active optical fibre star coupler having a length of amplifying optical fibre (1) optically connected at one end to a wavelength combining coupler (2) and at the other end to via a beam expanding element (3) to a set of output optical fibres.