Patent ID: 6735350
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A passive optical depolarizer comprising:an optical polarization beam splitter/combiner (PBC) having a first and a second input port and having a first and a second output port optically connected respectively with said first and said second input port, said PBC configured such that light having a first linear polarization and entering said PBC through said first input port propagates substantially entirely out through said first output port and substantially 50 percent of light entering through said first input port and having a second linear polarization orthogonal to said first linear polarization is switched out through said second output port and such that light having said first linear polarization and entering said PBC through said second input port propagates substantially entirely out through said second output port and substantially 50 percent of light entering through said second input port and having said second linear polarization is switched out through said first output port; and a loop back light transmission guide connecting said second input port with an output port of said PBC, said loop back light transmission guide configured to have an optical length greater than the coherence length of said light entering said PBC through said first input port.