OPTICAL POLARIZATION BEAM SPLITTER/COMBINER WITH ISOLATION IN THE BACKWARD OPTICAL PATH

摘要

An optical device (10) is described that may be used to split a beam of light into two or more components of light or combine two or more components of light into a combined beam of light. The optical device may also provide isolation (i.e., inhibit optical feedback) in the reverse direction. The beam of light (39) may be split into two or more polarized components of light (56, 58). Similarly, the two or more components of light that are combined may be polarized. The optical device may be coupled to optical fibers for both input and output of the beam of light or the two or more components of light.