Patent ID: 7040816
Filing Date: 2006-05-09
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical communications module for carrying bidirectional optical communications using a single-conductor optical fiber having at least one end portion as a transmission medium, comprising: a light emitting element, which generates outgoing light; a sending optical system, which couples the outgoing light with the single-conductor optical fiber; a light receiving element, which receives incoming light that emerges from the single-conductor optical fiber; and a receiving optical system, which couples the incoming light with the light receiving element, wherein the light emitting element and the sending optical system are disposed so that an enlarged portion of the single-conductor optical fiber, which is an enlarged portion of a light-carrying core section of the single-conductor optical fiber in the at least one end portion of the single-conductor optical fiber, at least partially constitutes an area of the at least one end portion coupled with the outgoing light, the end portion having a center and being divisible into respective halves, the area being disposed in one of the halves and away from the center.