US5133029A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Adiabatic polarization splitter
Assignee: Nytell Software LLC
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Filing: 1991-06-28
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Granted: 1992-07-21
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Expires: 2011-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A 2×2 polarization beam splitter comprising two parallel waveguides and two crossing waveguides coupled in an X-configuration to the parallel waveguides by four adiabatic γ-junctions which transfer only one of the two orthogonal polarization modes across the junctions, e.g., the TE mode. The crossing waveguides may be of different widths and cross at a very shallow angle so that little cross-talk occurs at the crossing.
Inventors
- 👤 Jane E. Baran
- 👤 David A. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:00
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/126; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/27; G02B6/2726; G02B6/274; G02B6/2753; G02B6/2773
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A polarization beam splitter, comprising: a substrate; a first waveguide and a second waveguide formed in said substrate along respective first and second axes, said first and second waveguides being separated and not crossing; and a third waveguide formed in said substrate along a third axis and having respective ends coupled to respective first middle portions of said first and second waveguides in first and second polarization-separating Y-junctions respectively spanning said first middle portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A polarization beam splitter, comprising: a substrate; a first waveguide and a second waveguide formed in said substrate along respective first and second axes, said first and second waveguides being separated and not crossing; and a third waveguide formed in said substrate along a third axis and having respective ends coupled to respective first middle portions of said first and second waveguides in first and second polarization-separating Y-junctions respectively spanning said first middle portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A polarization beam splitter as recited in claim 1, wherein all said Y-junctions are adiabatic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A polarization beam splitter as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a fourth waveguide formed in said substrate, having respective ends coupled to said first and second waveguides in third and fourth polarization-separating Y-junctions, and crossing said third waveguide in an X-junction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A polarization beam splitter as recited in claim 3, wherein all said Y-junctions are adiabatic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A polarization beam splitter as recited in claim 3, wherein all said Y-junctions preferentially couple a predetermined polarization component between one of said first and second waveguides and one of said third and fourth waveguides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A polarization beam splitter as recited in claim 5, wherein said ends of said third and fourth waveguides are formed into tapered portions adjacent to said first and second waveguides.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A polarization beam splitter as recited in claim 3, wherein all of aid Y-junctions couple a substantially greater portion of light of a first polarization than light of a second polarization between one of said first and second waveguides and one of said third and fourth waveguides.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A polarization beam splitter as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second waveguides comprise respective continuous cores.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A polarization beam splitter as recited in claim 8, wherein said cores have a same composition and a same cross-section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A polarization beam splitter as recited in claim 1, wherein said first, second, and third axes do not vertically overlie one another in parallel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
110 words
A polarization beam splitter, comprising: a substrate; a first waveguide and a second waveguide formed in said substrate; a third waveguide formed in said substrate and having respective ends coupled to said first and second waveguides in first and second polarization-separating Y-junctions; and a fourth waveguide formed in said substrate, having respective ends coupled to said first and second waveguides in third and fourth polarization-separating Y-junctions, and crossing said third waveguide in an asymmetrical X-junction, wherein said third and fourth waveguides have different widths; wherein all said Y-junctions preferentially couple a predetermined polarization component between one of said first and second waveguides and one of said third and fourth waveguides.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
110 words
A polarization beam splitter, comprising: a substrate; a first waveguide and a second waveguide formed in said substrate; a third waveguide formed in said substrate and having respective ends coupled to said first and second waveguides in first and second polarization-separating Y-junctions; and a fourth waveguide formed in said substrate, having respective ends coupled to said first and second waveguides in third and fourth polarization-separating Y-junctions, and crossing said third waveguide in an asymmetrical X-junction, wherein said third and fourth waveguides have different widths; wherein all said Y-junctions preferentially couple a predetermined polarization component between one of said first and second waveguides and one of said third and fourth waveguides.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A polarization beam splitter as recited in claim 11, wherein said substrate comprises lithium niobate, said first and second waveguides comprise Ti-rich areas of said substrate, and said third and fourth waveguides comprise proton-rich areas of said substrate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
109 words
A polarization beam splitter, comprising: first, second, third, and fourth optical waveguides; first adiabatic mode coupling means for optically coupling a first end of said third waveguide with a first central portion of said first waveguide; second adiabatic mode coupling means for optically coupling a second end of said third waveguide with a first central portion of said second waveguide; third adiabatic mode coupling means for optically coupling a first end of said fourth waveguide with a second central portion of said first waveguide; and fourth adiabatic mode coupling means for optically coupling a second end of said fourth waveguide with a second central portion of said second waveguide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
109 words
A polarization beam splitter, comprising: first, second, third, and fourth optical waveguides; first adiabatic mode coupling means for optically coupling a first end of said third waveguide with a first central portion of said first waveguide; second adiabatic mode coupling means for optically coupling a second end of said third waveguide with a first central portion of said second waveguide; third adiabatic mode coupling means for optically coupling a first end of said fourth waveguide with a second central portion of said first waveguide; and fourth adiabatic mode coupling means for optically coupling a second end of said fourth waveguide with a second central portion of said second waveguide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A polarization beam splitter as recited in claim 13, wherein all said coupling means are disposed within a common plane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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