Optiworks, Inc.

Qinglin Wang

Jianhua Wang

Yanyan Ma

Hongtao Hou

Alex Chun-Lai Hsu

Lixuan Xu

The present invention relates to a surface interaction type multimode optical fiber coupler. A representative embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of optical fibers with at least one having an expanded core section. Sections of the optical fibers including at least a portion of the expanded core sections are fused together forming a fused section. At least one of the optical fibers is suitable for multimode operations. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of fabrication an optical fiber coupler comprises: providing a plurality of optical fibers with at least one having an expanded core section; and maintaining sections of the optical fibers including at least a portion of the expanded core sections in contact and simultaneously heating at least a portion of the sections that are in contact to form a fused section until a predetermined end condition is reached.

Multimode optical fiber coupler and fabrication method

The present invention relates to a surface interaction type multimode optical fiber coupler. A representative embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of optical fibers with each having an expanded core section. The expanded core sections of the optical fibers are fused together forming a fused section. Each of the optical fibers is optically coupled with at least one other optical fiber primarily through surface interaction in the fused section. The optical fibers are suitable for multimode operations. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of fabrication an optical fiber coupler comprises: providing a plurality of optical fibers with each having an expanded core section; and maintaining at least a portion of the expanded core sections in contact and simultaneously heating at least a portion of the expanded core sections that are in contact to form a fused section until a predetermined end condition is reached.

In at least some embodiments, an optical module package includes a housing, a plurality of optical fiber cables connected to the housing, and optical fiber connectors terminating each cable. Each optical fiber cable may include an optical fiber, two concentric flexible protective tubes enclosing the fiber, and aramid (e.g. Kevlar&#xae;) fibers disposed between the protective tubes. Each protective tube is capable of longitudinally sliding relative to the optical fiber along at least part of the cable, to release stresses resulting from differential thermal expansion of the optical fiber and the protective tubes. Each optical fiber may be held fixed relative to the housing and distal connectors, and one or both of the ends of the protective tubes may be free to move. The protective tubes may also be held fixed relative to the housing, and the optical fiber(s) allowed to move within the housing.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Qinglin Wang