Patent ID: 6832023
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A tunable waveguide device, the device comprising:a length of optical fiber having a core with a first index of refraction distribution and a cladding with a second index of refraction distribution disposed on the core, wherein the first index of refraction distribution and the second index of refraction distribution define the optical characteristics of the optical fiber, and wherein the cladding has a top surface and an opposed bottom surface; and a grating element disposed in said optical fiber, the grating element defined by a perturbation in the optical characteristics of the optical fiber, the perturbation in the optical characteristics of the optical fiber having an upper region and a bottom region, and wherein the perturbation in the optical characteristics of the optical fiber is azimuthally non-uniform in a plane extending between the upper region and the bottom region, and wherein the upper region extends downward from the top surface of the cladding.