Mbda UK Limited

Thomas J Richards

Lee Douglas Miller

Martyn Robert Jennings

Christopher Greenway

James S Mulley

A signal detector system () comprises a single signal detector () having a limited on-time during which any received electromagnetic signal can be assessed. The signal detector () receives electromagnetic signals from a single direction in space (D) through a single optical fibre (), a signal splitterwhich splits the collected signal between three optical paths (and), and a signal combiner () which combines the portions of the signal transmitted by the three optical paths (and) and transmits the combined signal to a signal detector input (). Each of the optical paths (and) includes a respective optical delay (and) designed to delay transmission of any received signal towards the signal detector (). In this manner the signal detector () will receive any signals that arrived at the optical fibre () during three separate periods of time.

Detection of an electromagnetic signal

A switchable coupler () has a first waveguide () defining an inlet port () for a first unpolarized light input (A) and a first outlet port (), and also a second waveguide () defining an inlet port () for a second unpolarized light input () and a second outlet port (). Polarization splitter devices () and two electro-optical switches () are sandwiched between the waveguides (). The polarization splitter devices () are positioned to split the light inputs (A and B) into respective refracted and reflected polarized components (Aand A; Band B), and the electro-optical switch () is operable by the application across it of a potential difference (+V) to recombine the polarized components (B, B) and to couple them with the light output Athrough the first outlet port (). As shown in FIG. (), the electro-optical switch () is alternatively operable by the application across it of the potential difference (+V) to recombine the polarized components (A, A) and to couple them with the light output Bthrough the second outlet port ().

Liquid crystal switchable coupler for coupling at least two unpolarized light inputs

An optical fibre core () having a reflective coating () along a first part of its length such that electromagnetic radiation may travel along the first part of the optical fibre by means of reflection, and further having a cladding () along a second part of its length, the cladding having a refractive index suitable for permitting the electromagnetic radiation to travel along the second part of the optical fibre. The invention also provides a fibre optic coupling arrangement for coupling a light pipe to a clad optical fibre, the coupling arrangement comprising a light pipe comprising an optical fibre core having a reflective coating and a clad optical fibre comprising an optical fibre core with cladding surrounding the core, the optical fibre core of the light pipe being optically joined to the optical fibre core of the clad optical fibre such that electromagnetic radiation is able to travel from the light pipe to the clad optical fibre, wherein tapered cladding is provided in the region where the light pipe is optically joined to the clad optical fibre.

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Ashley Down, United Kingdom

Thomas J Richards