Patent ID: 6049412
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
A reflective Faraday-based optical system for conveying an optical signal from an input signal port to an output signal port, said system comprisinga Faraday rotator disposed in the signal path between said input port and said output port;a partially transmissive reflector disposed in the optical signal path beyond said Faraday rotator for re-directing an optical signal exiting said Faraday rotator through said Faraday rotator in the reverse direction, said reflector also for providing a portion of said optical signal as a transmitted optical signal in a second path distinct from said reflected signal; andan optical monitoring arrangement disposed beyond said partially transmissive reflector for capturing said transmitted optical signal and generating an output signal representative of the power of said optical signal, said monitoring arrangement comprising a pair of photodiodes, a first photodiode for capturing an optical signal propagating through said optical system in a forward direction and a second photodiode for capturing an optical signal propagating through said optical system in a reverse direction.