Polarization detection system

摘要

A polarization detector system for an optical data storage system including a substrate 32 having a pair of overlapping optical couplers 38 and 40 for separately coupling first and second polarization components of a light beam into first and second waveguide channel 50 and 54. The channels are oriented with their longitudinal axes 52 and 56 approximately perpendicular to each other. First and second optical detectors 60 and 70 are located in the first and second waveguide channels, respectively, for measuring the light intensity of the first and second polarization components. Comparison of the measurements provides polarization data.