Patent ID: 6621956
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: G01D,G01M

Abstract:
A tandem coupler including a beamsplitter comprising a base and, non-coplanar with said base, respective pairs of planar surface faces wherein each planar surface face extends from the base towards an apex and faces within each pair are mutually disposed at approximate right angles, wherein the beamsplitter is for reflecting a component of radiation propagating in a first core of a multicored fibre into a second core of the fibre, first and second cores comprising an opposite core pair, wherein each opposite core pair is aligned with a respective pair of beamsplitter planar surface faces such that an optical path exists from the first core to the second core via reflections from the planar surfaces faces, said beamsplitter located intermediate to first and second planar microlens arrays wherein each microlens may includes a respective microlens located a focal distance away from each component core and wherein the microlenses of each array are arranged in a common plane and the common planes of each lens array are mutually parallel and parallel to the base of the beamsplitter.