Patent ID: 6373631
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical polarizing beam splitter comprising:a first optical fiber having an end defining a first optical axis; a second optical fiber having an end defining a second optical axis; a third optical fiber having an end defining a third optical axis parallel to and spaced apart from said second optical axis; a collimating lens disposed along said first optical axis positioned to form a collimated optical beam from said first optical fiber; a first Wollaston prism disposed in a path of said collimated optical beam and oriented such that a first component of said optical beam having a first polarization transits said prism along a first path disposed at a first angle with respect to said first optical axis and a second component of said optical beam having a second polarization orthogonal to that of said first polarization transits said prism along a second path disposed at a second angle with respect to said first optical axis, said first and second angles being substantially symmetrical about said first optical axis; a second Wollaston prism disposed along said first and second paths and oriented such as to bend said first and second paths towards each other to form converging first and second paths; a focussing lens disposed along said converging first and second paths and positioned such that a first component optical beam travelling along said first converging path is directed into said end of said second optical fiber along said second optical axis and a second component optical beam travelling along said second converging path is directed into said end of said third optical fiber along said third optical axis.