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. 02, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 01, 2000
Yiqiang Li, San Jose, CA (US);
Bay Photonics, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and system for providing an optical circulator is disclosed. The optical circulator includes, a first port, a second port, a third port and means for establishing a first optical path and a second optical path, the second port is opposite to the first port, while the third port is adjacent to the first port. The first optical path is from the first port to the second port, while the second optical path from the second port to the third port. The optical path establishing means include a first and a second half wave plate, a first and a second rotator pair, and a polarization beam deflector. The first rotator pair is between the first port and the first half wave plate. The second rotator pair is between the second port and the second half wave plate. The polarization beam deflector is for altering a direction of the first optical path and the second optical path. The polarization beam deflector is located between the first rotator pair and the first half wave plate. Thus, when an optical signal is input at the first port, the optical signal travels along the first optical path to the second port. When the optical signal is input to the second port, the optical signal travels along the second optical path to the third port.