Fiber optic beam splitter

1 . A fiber optic beam splitter comprising:

a housing;

a single first optical fiber; and

a pair of second optical fibers which meet and abut the single first optical fiber at a location within the housing, the abutment being between end tips of the pair of second optical fibers and an end tip of the single first optical fiber, the housing overmolded over the single first optical fiber and the pair of second optical fibers.

2 . The beam splitter of claim 1 , wherein each optical fiber of the pair of second optical fibers only partially abuts the single first optical fiber.

3 . The beam splitter of claim 1 , wherein the pair of second optical fibers extend alongside each other within the housing towards the location where they meet and abut the single first optical fiber.

4 . A fiber optic beam splitter comprising:

a housing;

a single first optical fiber;

a pair of second optical fibers which meet and abut the single first optical fiber at a location within the housing, the housing overmolded over the single first optical fiber and the pair of second optical fibers; and

an optical adhesive at the location where the pair of second optical fibers meet and abut the single first optical fiber.

5 . The beam splitter of claim 4 , wherein a refractive index of the optical adhesive is equal to a refractive index of the pair of second optical fibers and the single first optical fiber.

6 . The beam splitter of claim 1 , wherein the pair of second optical fibers and the single first optical fiber, are made from plastic material.

7 . The beam splitter of claim 1 , wherein the pair of second optical fibers and the single first optical fiber, are uncoated.

8 . The beam splitter of claim 1 , wherein:

each optical fiber of the pair of second optical fibers only partially abuts the single first optical fiber;

the pair of second optical fibers extend alongside each other within the housing towards the location where they meet and abut the single first optical fiber;

an optical adhesive is located where the pair of second optical fibers meet and abut the single first optical fiber;

a refractive index of the optical adhesive is equal to a refractive index of the pair of second optical fibers and the single first optical fiber;

the pair of second optical fibers and the single first optical fiber, are made from plastic material.

9 . An optical communication module comprising:

first and second fiber optic beam splitters, each beam splitter comprising a housing, a single first optical fiber and a pair of second optical fibers which meet and abut the single first optical fiber at a location within the housing, the housing overmolded over the single first optical fiber and the pair of second optical fibers;

a first light emitting diode (LED) and a first photodiode connected to the first fiber optic beam splitter;

a second light emitting diode (LED) and a second photodiode connected to the second fiber optic beam splitter;

wherein for the first beam splitter:

a tip of a first of the pair of second optical fibers is connected outside of the housing to the first LED;

a tip of a second of the pair of second optical fibers is connected outside of the housing to the first photodiode; and

a tip of the single first optical fiber, which tip is outside of the housing, is in optical communication with an exterior of the module;

wherein for the second beam splitter:

a tip of a first of the pair of second optical fibers is connected outside of the housing to the second LED;

a tip of a second of the pair of second optical fibers is connected outside of the housing to the second photodiode; and

a tip of the single first optical fiber, which tip is outside of the housing, is in optical communication with an exterior of the module.

10 . The optical communication module according to claim 9 , further comprising a microcontroller connected to both of the fiber optic beam splitters.

11 . An optical communication network comprising:

first and second optical communication modules, each in accordance with claim 10 , the first optical communication module being upstream of the second optical communication module; and

optical fiber connecting the single first optical fiber of the second beam splitter of the first optical communication module, and the single first optical fiber of the first beam splitter of the second optical communication module.

12 . The optical communication network of claim 11 , configured to support a half-duplex communication architecture of optical signals through the first and second optical communication modules.

13 . The optical communication network of claim 11 , wherein:

in response to a first incoming signal, the microcontroller of the first optical communication module is configured to control the LED connected to the first beam splitter to emit a first optical signal out of the first module in the upstream direction via (i) the first of the pair of second optical fibers, and (ii) the single first optical fiber, of the first beam splitter; and

in response to a second incoming signal, the microcontroller of the first optical communication module is configured to control the LED connected to the second beam splitter to emit a second optical signal out of the first module in the downstream direction towards the second optical module via (i) the first of the pair of second optical fibers, and (ii) the single first optical fiber, of the second beam splitter.

14 . An irrigation system comprising the optical communication network of claim 11 .