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:
Jun. 08, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 13, 2002
Elizabeth A. Nevis, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Agilent Technologies, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A beam source for a heterodyne interferometer generates a beam containing components with different frequencies and respective orthogonal circular polarizations and directs the beam down an isotropic single-mode or few-mode optical fiber. Polarizations of light exiting the optical fiber are converted to orthogonal linear polarizations for use in the interferometer, where the frequency components are separated according to linear polarization. Crosstalk between left-handed and right-handed polarizations in the fiber is low, which permits clean separation of frequency components. A quarter-wave plate or other optical element that converts the polarization in the beam exiting the fiber has a mounting with tilt and roll angle adjustments to adjust to exit polarizations that depend on bends in the fiber. The fiber can have a rigid jacket or fast relaxation time to provide a stable output.