Patent ID: 6389185
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A device for combining the power of light having first and second mutually orthogonal polarization components into light having a single principal polarization component, said device comprising:an elongated optical fiber defining an output port and an input port capable of accepting light having two mutually orthogonal polarization components; said optical fiber including an output region adjacent said output port which has an elongated cross-section so as to preferentially propagate a single polarization of light having its electrical vector component parallel with an axis of elongation of said cross-section; said optical fiber also including a second region remote from said output port having a cross-section which is generally circular, said second region being for preferentially propagating first and second mutually orthogonal components of a light signal applied to said input port; and said optical fiber further including a polarization rotation region lying between said output region and said second region, said rotation region having cross-sections along its length which transition between said generally circular cross-section into said elongated cross-section adjacent said exit port.