IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,151,870
Granted Patent B2
US 7,151,870 · App. 10/948,856 · Granted Dec 19, 2006

Apparatus for optically coupling a light source with an optical waveguide

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,151,870
App. No.
10/948,856
Granted
Dec 19, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optical fiber coupling, for example, an optical switch, for coupling a light source with a light-receiving end face of an optical waveguide comprises a lens for focusing a light beam emitted from the light source at a focal point on the light-receiving end face of the optical waveguide. An adaptive coupler positioned in the optical path is responsive to a beam steering control signal for steering and aligning the focal point relative to the light-receiving end face of the optical waveguide.

Claims (11)

1. An apparatus for optically coupling a light source with a light-receiving end face of an output optical waveguide along an optical path, the apparatus comprising:

a lens positioned in the optical path for focusing a light beam emitted from the light source at a focal point on the light-receiving end face of the output optical waveguide; and

an adaptive coupler positioned in the optical path, the adaptive coupler being responsive to a beam steering control signal for steering the focal point relative to the light-receiving end face of the output optical waveguide to align the focal point with said light-receiving end face, the adaptive coupler comprising a light beam-intercepting, electro-optical phase shifting medium responsive to said beam steering control signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which:

the light source comprises a light-emitting end face of an input optical waveguide.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which:

the input and output optical waveguides comprise optical fibers.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the adaptive coupler further comprises:

a pair of transparent substrates having confronting, parallel inner faces, the inner face of at least one of the pair of substrates carrying an electrically resistive, beam intercepting, optically transparent film;

a pair of spaced apart electrodes, responsive to said beam steering control signal, in electrical contact with said film for applying a beam steering potential gradient across said film; and in which:

the electro-optical phase shifting medium is disposed between the confronting inner faces of said pair of substrates.