An
optical fiber mode coupling device, capable of being readily connected to a conventional
optical fiber with a high degree of ruggedness, is provided. The inventive
mode coupling device only allows transmission of at least one supported
fiber mode therethrough, and is preferably configured to maximize the
coupling, of at least one desired
fiber mode, to the at least one supported
fiber mode. Advantageously, the inventive
mode coupling device is capable of performing the functions of a mode filter for the
signal entering its first end, or serving as a mode conditioner for the
signal entering its opposite second end. Thus, in one practical application thereof, the novel mode
coupling device functions as a mode filter by maximizing the
coupling between at least one desired fiber mode of a multi-mode input
signal entering the device's first end, and at least one supported mode of the device, to produce an output signal at the device's second end that comprises at least one predetermined fiber mode, corresponding to at least one desired fiber mode. In another practical application thereof, the novel mode coupling device functions as a mode conditioner by maximizing the coupling between an input signal, comprising at least one predetermined fiber mode, that enters the device's second end, and, and at least one supported mode of the device, to produce an output signal at the device's first end that comprises at least one desired fiber mode, corresponding to a conditioned at least one predetermined fiber mode.