The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 22, 1997
Filed:
Mar. 18, 1996
Mark A Lynn, Warren, OH (US);
Kurt L Jennings, Warren, OH (US);
Ernest E Helms, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An optical splitter arrangement is provided for accepting a light from at least one input and providing multiple light outputs of four or more, a light intensity of the outputs differing from one another no more than two dB, and a light intensity of the cumulative outputs differing no more than three dB from the light intensity of the input. The arrangement includes at least one input fiber having a diameter (I) and a numerical aperture (NA), the input fiber providing a light input and projecting the light input into a spot sized to a diameter (D); at least two intermediate ribbon mixing elements, the ribbon mixing elements having a generally constant thickness and height cross-sectional areas with each ribbon mixing element with a cross-sectional endface exposed to the projected spot of input optical fiber, each such ribbon mixing element being exposed to a generally equal area to the spot, and a total thickness of the ribbon mixing elements being approximately equal to D, the endface of the ribbon mixing elements being spaced approximately (D-I)/(2.times.tan theta) wherein theta equals sine.sup.-1 (NA); and a C number of output optical fibers abutting an end of each ribbon mixing element opposite the input optical fiber(s) wherein C is at least two.