Patent ID: 6266456
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: G02B,G02F

Abstract:
An optical fiber polarization scrambler having optical fiber birefringence modulators and alternating voltage sources, said optical fiber birefringence modulators including at least two hollow cylindrical piezo devices and a strand of optical fiber wound around outer walls of the piezo devices, said alternating voltage sources respectively applying alternating voltage to each optical fiber birefringence modulator to induce polarization modulation,wherein the optical fiber wound around the piezo devices is not twisted in axial direction of the optical fiber to prevent inducing of circular birefringence thereat,said optical fiber polarization scrambler comprising means for compensating effect of circular birefringence caused by twist between the neighboring birefringence modulators in order to input the input light with its polarization plane forming an angle of 45.+-.90n degrees with respect to the direction of a principal axis of a back birefringence modulator when the polarization plane of the input light is parallel to the principal axis of the front birefringence modulator, where n is an integer.