Patent ID: 6950572

Claim:
An optical coupler comprising: a light split device for receiving an optical signal incident from at least one incidence section placed on a light incidence/emission plane, splitting the incident optical signal into a plurality of optical signals, and emitting the optical signals from a plurality of emission sections placed on the light incidence/emission plane; and a light guide acceptance member including an acceptance section for accepting: at least one incidence light guide for guiding an optical signal into the at least one incidence section; and a plurality of emission light guides for guiding the optical signal emitted from the plurality of emission sections, respectively, the plurality of emission light guides placed on the light incidence/emission plane, wherein: the light split device has at least one sheet-like transparent medium each being formed as a shape having a plurality of steps, the transparent medium for splitting the incidence optical signal; each of the at least one transparent medium includes: the incidence/emission plane of the light split device; the at least one incidence section; at least one first reflection section; a plurality of second reflection sections; and the emission sections; the emission sections are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the steps of the transparent medium; the plurality of second reflection sections are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the steps of the transparent medium; the at least one first reflection section is provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the at least one incidence section and reflects the optical signal incident from the at least one incidence section in a direction of the second reflection sections; the transparent medium guides the reflected optical signals into the second reflection sections, respectively and; the second reflection sections reflect the guided optical signals and emit from the plurality of emission sections, respectively.