Patent ID: 7113279
Filing Date: 2006-09-26
Classification: G02B,G02F,H04J

Abstract:
1. A method for splitting the power of an input light beam of an arbitrary polarization, having an internal power ratio P/S between its P and S polarized components, into a required number of output light beams, the method comprising the steps of: (a) splitting the input light beam into a pair of orthogonally polarized light beams; (b) converting the polarization state of one of the light beams of the pair of the step (a) into the other polarization, while leaving the polarization of the other light beam in the pair unchanged; (c) rotating the polarization state of the pair of light beams from the previous step (b) in an adjustable manner, resulting in the two light beams of the pair having the same rotated polarization; (d) splitting each of the light beams of the pair after the step (c) into two orthogonally polarized light beams, resulting in four light beams, each two of which forming a pair of the same polarization; (f) for each pair of light beams of the step (d), repeating the steps (c) to (d), each time doubling the number of light beam pairs until the number of light beam pair is not less than the required number of output light beams; and (g) for each of the required number of output light beams: wherein the power ratio is adjustable between all the output light beams and is substantially independent of the polarization of the input light beam; and wherein an internal power ratio between P and S polarized components in each output light beam is substantially the same as the said internal power ratio P/S in the input light beam.