OPTICAL DEVICE

Abstract

An optical device has an optical fiber, an optical demultiplexer having an optical demultiplexing member for demultiplexing a portion of an optical signal beam transmitted through the optical fiber, as a demultiplexed optical signal beam, and guiding the demultiplexed optical signal beam out of the optical fiber, an optical path changer for changing an optical path of the demultiplexed optical signal beam guided out of the optical fiber, a waveguide serving as at least a medium from which the demultiplexed optical signal beam is emitted to the optical path changer, and a filter disposed on a surface of the waveguide. An angle of incidence of the demultiplexed optical signal beam on the filter is equal to or greater than 0.5°.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an optical device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the optical device taken along line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an optical device according to a first specific example;

FIG. 3B is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an optical device according to a second specific example;

FIG. 4A is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an optical device according to a third specific example;

FIG. 4B is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an optical device according to a fourth specific example;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the results of an experiment which was conducted to observe attenuated levels of reflected light at different angles θ3 of inclination of a filter;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an optical device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an optical device according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an optical device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An optical device comprising: an optical fiber;an optical demultiplexer having an optical demultiplexing member for demultiplexing a portion of an optical signal beam transmitted through said optical fiber, as a demultiplexed optical signal beam, and guiding the demultiplexed optical signal beam out of said optical fiber;an optical path changer for changing an optical path of said demultiplexed optical signal beam guided out of said optical fiber;a waveguide serving as at least a medium from which said demultiplexed optical signal beam is emitted to said optical path changer; anda filter disposed on a surface of said waveguide;wherein an angle of incidence of said demultiplexed optical signal beam on said filter is equal to or greater than 0.5°.

2. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein said angle of incidence of said demultiplexed optical signal beam on said filter is equal to or greater than 1°.

3. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein said optical path changer comprises a totally reflecting mirror, and if it is assumed that said totally reflecting mirror is inclined to the optical axis of said optical fiber by an angle θ1, an angle θ2 is formed between said demultiplexed optical signal beam reflected by said totally reflecting mirror and said totally reflecting mirror, and said optical filter is inclined to the optical axis of said optical fiber by an angle θ3, then said angles satisfy the following equation: |{(θ1+θ2)−90°}+θ3|≧0.5°.

4. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein said optical demultiplexer has a slit defined in said optical fiber across an optical axis thereof, and said optical demultiplexing member inserted in the slit for demultiplexing the portion of the optical signal beam transmitted through said optical fiber.

5. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein said optical demultiplexing member comprises a wavelength demultiplexing filter, and said filter comprises a bandpass filter for passing a light beam in a particular wavelength range of said demultiplexed optical signal beam.

6. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein said waveguide serves as a medium from which said demultiplexed optical signal beam is emitted to said optical path changer and to which said demultiplexed optical signal beam is emitted from said optical path changer.

7. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein said waveguide is disposed directly above said optical fiber.

8. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein said optical path changer comprises: a guide, said waveguide and said guide being juxtaposed on a surface of said optical fiber; anda totally reflecting film disposed on an end face of said guide which faces said waveguide.

9. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein said optical path changer comprises a totally reflecting film disposed on an end face of said waveguide which is present on the optical path of said demultiplexed optical signal beam.

10. An optical device according to claim 1, further comprising: a light-detecting unit disposed on the optical path of said demultiplexed optical signal beam which has passed through said filter disposed on the surface of said waveguide.