Optical beam combiner

Abstract

An optical beam combiner for combining a plurality of light beams comprises: a plurality of spherical mirrors; and a flat mirror, the plurality of spherical mirrors and the flat mirror configured to form at least one multiple pass light beam optical arrangement for receiving the plurality of light beams and for superimposing spot images of the light beams onto a single location with a single incident angle. In addition, a waveguide-based optical White cell comprises: a waveguide having front and rear edges, the inside surfaces thereof being coated with a reflective material, wherein the front edge including an input section for the passage of at least one light beam into the waveguide; at least one waveguide lens disposed in front of the inside surface of the rear edge to form a plurality of waveguide spherical mirrors at the rear edge; a plurality of angled micro mirrors disposed at the inside surface of the front edge; and the plurality of waveguide spherical mirrors and the coated front edge configured to form at least one waveguide White cell.

Description

[0001] This utility application claims the benefit of the filing date of the U.S. Provisional Application 60 / 588,729, entitled “Optical Beam Combiner”, and filed Jul. 16, 2004.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to optical devices, in general, and more particularly, to an optical beam combiner for receiving a plurality of light beams and superimposing spot images of the plurality of light beams onto a single location with a single incident angle. [0003] Generally, an optical cross-connection device, like a White cell optical switch, for example, comprises a plurality of optical elements disposed in a predetermined spatial three dimensional pattern for directing one or more light beams from an input through a plurality of reflections to an output. Multiple light beams may bounce through various stages of the device simultaneously. A problem arises at the final or output stage of the White cell cross-connection device where the multiple light beams are ult...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

A problem arises at the final or output stage of the White cell cross-connection device where the multiple light beams are ultimately directed from different spatial locations and different incidence angles.

This variation in the angle of incidence complicates the coupling of the light beams into an optical fiber or a light detector.

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