OPTICAL COUPLER FOR INTERCONNECTING TWO OR MORE OPTICAL TRANSMISSION LINES

摘要

OPTICAL COUPLER FOR INTERCONNECTING TWO OR MORE OPTICAL TRANSMISSION LINES A plural port optical coupler couples light from an input optical transmission line into output optical transmission lines in a optical communication system. The coupler consists of a reflective curvilinear surface defining a bounded volume of a reflecting light coupled into the volume. The interior of the volume is a light transmitting medium. A plurality of optical ports are formed through the surface and into the volume. One of the ports defines an input window and others of the ports define output windows. Each of the windows receives one of the optical transmission lines. The port defining an input window includes a lens in contact with the transmission line received within the window. The lens has a geometrical configuration such as to produce a predetermined light pattern within the volume. The ports defining output windows each include a lens in contact with the transmission line received within the respective output window. The lens have a geometrical configuration which enhances the amount of light transferred through the output window into the respective transmission line. BC9-78-012