Method of forming multiport optical fibre coupler and the coupler so formed

摘要

A method of forming a multiport optical fiber coupler in which a bundle of seven optical fibers are located in close-packed hexagonal array within a capillary tube and twisted. An optical source is coupled to an outer fiber. A fused, tapered coupler is formed, the tapering being stopped when the minimum of optical power outputs is first maximized. This provides a 6x7 optical fiber coupler. Also disclosed is a 7x7 optical fiber coupler formed by fusing the coupler during formation sufficiently to provide that the maximum insertion loss through the device between any input and output is minimized.