Abstract: An optical probe suitable for medical or dental tomography is switchable between a rotating and non-rotating mode to control interference between source signals and data signals. The probe is suitably constructed in an in-line configuration and uses Faraday rotators which rotate polarization in the same direction in a rotating mode and rotate polarization in opposite directions in a non-rotating mode.

Abstract: Apparatus and methodology for the low coupling of optical fibers in high power applications. An end of a single mode optical fiber, or a polarization maintaining fiber, is cut and spliced to a relatively short segment of an index matched multi-mode fiber or an optical fiber without cladding (air cladded) having approximately similar diameter as the single mode fiber which in turn is coupled to the external device. The free end of the multi-mode fiber may be cleaved, polished and have an anti-reflection applied to it. The beam emitted by the small core of the single mode optical fiber expands into the larger core of the multi-mode fiber providing low loss high power coupling of the optical fiber to the external device.

Abstract: An optical chromatic dispersion compensator (60) betters optical communication system performance. The dispersion compensator (60) includes a collimating means (61) that receives a spatially diverging beam of light from an end of an optical fiber (30). The collimating means (61) converts the spatially diverging beam into a mainly collimated beam that is emitted therefrom. An optical phaser (62) receives the mainly collimated beam from the collimating means (61) through an entrance window (63), and angularly disperses the beam in a banded pattern that is emitted from the optical phaser (61). A light-returning means (66) receives the angularly dispersed light and reflects it back through the optical phaser (62) to exit the optical phaser near the entrance window (63) thereof.

Abstract: A compact inline fiber optic polarization splitter/combiner for use in fiber optic communications. The splitter/combiner uses two birefringent wedges aligned with their optical axis at 90° from each other and their bases disposed oppositely to each other. One lens is used at the input to couple light from the input fiber. A single output lens is used to couple light into two adjacent polarization maintaining fibers. When used as a combiner a beam of a first linear polarization state from one input fiber is combined with a beam of second linear polarization state from a second input fiber into a third output fiber carrying both beams. The splitter/combiner also provides for the ready alignment of the input and output beams further saving cost and complexity.

Abstract: Optical polarization maintaining couplers which may be used as a splitter(divider) or a combiner (multiplexer). The couplers utilize a series of partial reflectors disposed in the lightpath between the input fiber and the output fibers. The couplers may be used to form 1 or 2 by N devices with the input and output fibers disposed at right angles to each other forming a compact, efficient polarization maintaining optical coupler.

Abstract: Optical isolators for use in fiber optic networks utilizing a birefringent wedge set with a Faraday rotator disposed between the birefringent wedges. In a first embodiment a polarization maintaining optical isolator is disclosed which will maintain the polarization of the light which passes through it in a forward direction and block light in the reverse direction. In a second embodiment a single polarization optical isolator is disclosed which will pass only a single linear polarization of the light in a forward direction and block any light in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A projection engine architecture for use with liquid-crystal-on-silicon semiconductor imager devices is described. The optical architecture disclosed includes a high speed light collection stage wherein luminance from an arc lamp is collected and condensed, an illumination stage wherein the luminance is ideally transformed for presentation to an imaging stage comprised of a triad of three perpendicular polarization beamsplitter cubes and attendant color processing components that form a solid prism assembly. Central to the architecture are an arrangement of optical components that eliminate the deleterious effects of waste light created by polarization and color separation components within the imaging stage.

Abstract: Inline optical circulators utilizing birefringent displacers to split an incoming beam into two orthogonally polarized beams and thereafter to recombine the beams. The birefringent displacers are used in combination with non reciprocal devices (Faraday rotators), reflectors and waveplates and serve to route a signal serially to the next port. Specific embodiments utilize birefringent wedges which provide circulators with reduced component counts and simplified alignment of the components. Circulators which do not utilize waveplates, and thus are relatively wavelength insensitive, are also described.

Abstract: Polarization maintaining optical circulators for fiber optic applications. A first embodiment uses birefringent wedges and Faraday rotators in an inline configuration. The second embodiment utilizes a polarizing beam splitting cube and Faraday rotators which results in a design with the fibers being at either 90° or 180° with respect to each other, all in the same plane. A third embodiment makes use of a polarizing beam splitter cube and Faraday rotators with a reflector on one or both of the sides of the beam splitting cube which provides an device.

Abstract: An optical chromatic dispersion compensator (60) betters optical communication system performance. The dispersion compensator (60) includes a collimating means (61) that receives a spatially diverging beam of light from an end of an optical fiber (30). The collimating means (61) converts the spatially diverging beam into a mainly collimated beam that is emitted therefrom. An optical phaser (62) receives the mainly collimated beam from the collimating means (61) through an entrance window (63), and angularly disperses the beam in a banded pattern that is emitted from the optical phaser (61). A light-returning means (66) receives the angularly dispersed light and reflects it back through the optical phaser (62) to exit the optical phaser near the entrance window (63) thereof.