Miniaturized Optical Circulator Using Polarization Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical circulators are bulky, expensive, and difficult to integrate into small optical components due to their large size and excessive use of optical components, limiting their application in optical communication systems.
Innovation Solution
A miniaturized optical circulator design utilizing fewer optical components, including a first polarized beam splitter, a 45-degree Faraday rotator, and a second polarized beam splitter, which separates optical signals into orthogonal polarization components to enable efficient single-fiber bidirectional communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional optical circulator design is used, then optical signal transmission function is achieved, but device volume is large and integration is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple optical components (polarized beam splitters, Faraday rotators, wave plates) into a single compact optical circulator device. By merging these previously separate components into one integrated unit, the overall volume is reduced while maintaining the optical signal transmission function, directly resolving the contradiction between small volume and integration ease.
2Device complexity
If conventional optical circulator design is used, then optical signal transmission function is achieved, but device complexity and cost are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical path design parameters by optimizing the arrangement and orientation of polarized beam splitters and Faraday rotators. This parameter optimization reduces the number of optical components needed while maintaining reliable optical signal transmission through the modified optical path configuration, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and transmission reliability.
3Productivity
If conventional optical circulator design is used, then bidirectional communication function is achieved, but optical fiber resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the optical circulator to handle both forward and reverse optical signals through the same optical fiber using polarization division multiplexing. The device separates and routes bidirectional communication signals efficiently, enabling single-fiber dual-directional communication without wasting optical fiber resources, thus resolving the contradiction between communication efficiency and resource utilization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The miniaturized design reduces the volume and cost of optical circulators, allowing for integration into small components and efficient single-fiber bidirectional communication while minimizing signal loss and delay.
Implementation Method 1
a 45-degree Faraday rotator
Implementation Method 2
a first polarized beam splitter, a second polarized beam splitter
Data Source
AI summary
A miniaturized optical circulator includes: two polarized beam splitters and a 45-degree Faraday rotator, wherein an optical signal of a first optical path is input from a common terminal and is separated into a first polarization component and a second polarization component by a first polarized beam splitter, the first polarization component passes through the 45-degree Faraday rotator, reached a second polarized beam splitter and is reflected back, and passes through the 45-degree Faraday rotator and the first polarized beam, and reached a receiving terminal; the second polarization component under goes one reflection of the first polarization beam splitter subsequent to being separated, and reaches the receiving terminal; the optical signal of a second optical path is input, passes through the second polarized beam splitter, the 45-degree Faraday rotator, and the polarized beam splitter, and is output by the common terminal.