The instructor: H c Tm Linh

Hong Chung Phm Gia Lng Mai Th Qu L Trn Th Kiu Oanh

1. Concept 2. Classification 3. Application 4. Parameter 5. Principle of Operation 6. Fused Biconical Taper - FBT

1. OPTICAL COUPLER
An optical coupler is a passive optical component that able to combine or slip stransmission data from optical fiber. Couplers are bi-directional, they can carry light in either direction.

2. OPTICAL COUPLER TYPES

Y Coupler (Tap Coupler). - Coupler simply divides the signal into two outputs. T Coupler - Fuctions the same as Y coupler. - Connect multiple terminals on a network.

2. OPTICAL COUPLER TYPES

Star Coupler. Directional Star Coupler Mixing optical signals from all inputs and then distribute them among all outputs. Non-directional Star Coupler It takes inputs from all fibers and then distribute them among all fibers, both input and output.

Directional star coupler

Non-directional star coupler

2. OPTICAL COUPLER TYPES

Tree Coupler. - One or two inputs and split it into multiple outputs and backward. - Tree couplers have been extensively used to split and mix optical signal in CATV, LANs and all other kinds of optical comunication systems.

2. OPTICAL COUPLER TYPES

WDM Coupler. - Split two different wavelengths into two outputs. - WDM couplers are used to separate wavelengths transmitted for different through the same fiber.

 A star coupler 8x8 made by combining 3 dB coupler.

 The power from each input is split equally among all the inputs. Tap off a small portion of the light stream for monitoring purposes : close to 1(0.90 0.95) Building blocks: Modulator Switches Filters Multiplexers/ demultiplexers

4. PARAMETER
Excess Loss.

Insertion Loss.

Coupling Ratio.

4. PARAMETER
Uniformity.

Polariation-dependent Loss. Loss < 0.15dB.

Directivity. Near end Crosstalk

4. PARAMETER
Return Loss

Isolator.

 Light couples from one wavelength to the other The propagation mode of the combined waveguide Electric fields outputs (E01 , E02), inputs (E11 , E12):

 When used only one active input:

For a 3dB coupler the coupling length must be chosen to satisfy:

 FBT method is the most common way of manufacturing coupler. Fibre twisted, then spot fused under tension to form an elongated biconical taper structure.

FBT Multimode Operation

For multimode fibre higher order modes (rays with smaller refraction angles) Become unguided, leaving the core of Fibre A and coupling into fibre B.

FBT Multimode Operation

Process happens because in the tapered section the core diameters are reduced. Thus some power from port 1 is transferred gradually over the taper to port 3 The amount of power is a function of the taper length and the degree of coupling

 FBT Singlemode Operation

In the case of monomode operation there is a complex coherent interaction between the fibres. Leads to a periodic variation in the splitting ratio with taper length and with wavelength as shown below. Thus singlemode FBT couplers are naturally wavelength specific.

FBT Singlemode Operation

Wavelenght flattened couplers have been
Wavelength dependence Used in Wavelength division multiplexers