More Fiberoptic Couplers

An optical combiner is a passive device that combines the optical power carried by two input fibers into a single output fiber.

The picture below illustrates the transfer of optical power in an optical combiner.

Optical-combiner.

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An X coupler combines the functions of the optical splitter and combiner. The X coupler combines and divides the optical power from the two input fibers between the two output fibers. Another name for the X coupler is the 2 x 2 coupler.

Star and tree couplers are multiport couplers that have more than two input or two output ports. A star coupler is a passive device that distributes optical power from more than two input ports among several output ports.

The first picture below shows the multiple input and output ports of a star coupler. A tree coupler is a passive device that splits the optical power from one input fiber to more than two output fibers. A tree coupler may also be used to combine the optical power from more than two input fibers into a single output fiber.

The second picture below illustrates each type of tree coupler. Star and tree couplers distribute the input power uniformly among the output fibers.

Star-coupler.

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(1 x M) and (N x 1) tree coupler designs.

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Fiber optic couplers should prevent the transfer of optical power from one input fiber to another input fiber. Directional couplers are fiber optic couplers that prevent this transfer of power between input fibers. Many fiber optic couplers are also symmetrical. A symmetrical coupler transmits the same amount of power through the coupler when the input and output fibers are reversed.

Passive fiber optic coupler fabrication techniques can be complex and difficult to understand. Some fiber optic coupler fabrication involves beam splitting using microlenses or graded-refractive-index (GRIN) rods and beam splitters or optical mixers. These beamsplitter devices divide the optical beam into two or more separated beams. Fabrication of fiber optic couplers may also involve twisting, fusing, and tapering together two or more optical fibers. This type of fiber optic coupler is a fused biconical taper coupler. Fused biconical taper couplers use the radiative coupling of light from the input fiber to the output fibers in the tapered region to accomplish beam splitting. The picture below illustrates the fabrication process of a fused biconical taper coupler.

Fabrication of a fused biconical taper coupler (star coupler).

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