Optical fiber couplers using self-aligned core-extensions, and their manufacturing methods

Abstract From the Canadian patent

The basic embodiment of the present invention comprises an optical fiber having a core and a cladding and a core-extension, wherein the individual core-extension is built onto the core end facet in a shape of the diverging horn-like structure with the sectional, area increasing gradually as the individual core-extension extends farther away from the core end facet. In one embodiment utilizing the core-extension, the core-extension may merge together with a neighboring core-extension so as to form a common core-extension for light mixing and coupling. The core-extension may be made of a photo-reactive material that is shaped after the diverging radiation pattern of light being emitted from …